Prince Charles Creates A New Award For Arts Philanthropy

Prince Charles has created a new award for England's most generous arts benefactors.

The awards were given out during a ceremony organized by Arts and Business. The first seven recipients of the Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy were given earlier this week.

Prince Charles said: "Some people might think that, with all the news of global recession and the dreadful impact that recession could have on our world, that celebrating arts philanthropy is rather like moving the metaphorical deckchairs on the Titanic. But I do believe that nothing could be further from the truth because the arts act as a beacon of light in dark times and they are a hallmark of our humanity and a means by which we articulate our suffering and our joy."

Recent beneficiaries included the Royal Opera House, the South Bank Centre, and the Unicorn children's theatre company. Martin and Carmel Naughton, Lord and Lady Sainsbury, and the American pianist Carol Høgel also received medals.