Writer Julia Alvarez and musician Linda Ronstadt are among the recipients of the 2013 National Medal of the Arts.

The award, which is given to recognize renowned contributions to U.S. culture, will be presented by President Obama during a ceremony in the White House on July 28. The National Medal of Arts is the highest award from the U.S. government and given to artists and supporters of the arts.

Alvarez, a Dominican-American poet and novelist, is the author of hit novels such as "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents” and “In the Time of the Butterflies.” Her writings focus mainly on themes of issues surrounding culture, assimilation and identity.

Ronstadt, a musician of Mexican, German and English origins, has won numerous awards including 11 Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an ALMA Award and an Emmy Award.

The other award recipients include the Brooklyn Academy of Music, arts supporter Joan Harris, dancer and choreographer Bill T. Jones, musical theater composer John Kander, director and CEO of Dreamworks Jeffrey Katzenberg, writer Maxine Hong Kingston, documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, architects Billie Tsien and Tod Williams, and visual artist James Turrell.