Ordre des Arts et des Lettres facts for kids

Order of Arts and Letters
Insignia of an Officier and a Chevalier
Presented by	French Minister of Culture

The Order of Arts and Letters (which in French is Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) is a special award from France. It was created on May 2, 1957, by the French Minister of Culture. This award recognizes people who have made big contributions to the arts, literature, or who have helped spread these fields.

It is like a special "thank you" from the French government. The award's history goes back to the Order of Saint Michael, which was started way back in 1469.

Who Can Receive This Award?

To get this award, French citizens must be at least 30 years old. They also need to follow French laws. Most importantly, they must have helped make French culture richer.

But this award is not just for French people! Many famous people from other countries have also received it. For people who are not French, there is no age limit to receive the award.

Different Levels of the Award

The Order of Arts and Letters has three different levels, or "grades":

• Commandeur (Commander): This is the highest level. The medallion is worn around the neck. Only up to 20 people can receive this level each year.
• Officier (Officer): This is the middle level. The medallion is worn on a ribbon with a small flower-like decoration on the left side of the chest. Up to 60 people can receive this level each year.
• Chevalier (Knight): This is the first level. The medallion is worn on a ribbon on the left side of the chest. Up to 200 people can receive this level each year.

What Does the Award Look Like?

The award's medallion is shaped like an eight-pointed green star. For Commanders and Officers, it is gold-colored. For Knights, it is silver.

In the middle of the front side, you can see the letters "A" and "L" on a white background. Around this, a gold ring says "République Française" (French Republic).

On the back side, there is a picture of Marianne, who is a symbol of France. Around her, a gold ring says "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres". The Commander's badge has a special twisted ring at the top.

The ribbon for the award is green with four white stripes.

Famous People Who Have Received the Award

Many well-known artists, writers, and cultural figures from around the world have been honored with this award.

Ray Bradbury wearing the Commander's badge in 2009

Moving Up in Rank

If you are a French citizen and have received one level of the award, you can move up to a higher level. You usually need to wait at least 5 years before you can be considered for a promotion. You also need to show that you have done even more great things since you received your last award.

However, there is a special rule. If someone is already an Officer or Commander of the Legion of Honour (another very important French award), they can be directly promoted to an equal level in the Order of Arts and Letters. This means they might not have to wait the usual five years or start as a Knight.

More Information

• Ribbons of the French military and civil awards
• Ordre des arts et des lettres du Québec, a similar award from Quebec, Canada.

See also

In Spanish: Orden de las Artes y las Letras para niños