The Vilcek Foundation, dedicated to highlighting the impact of immigrants on American culture and history, has revealed the winners of its 20th annual awards for excellence in the arts and sciences. Among the distinguished recipients is Matthew Bogdanos, a former classics scholar, US Marine colonel, and the current assistant district attorney in New York.
Bogdanos is well-known in the art community. In 2017, he established the Antiquities Trafficking Unit within the New York District Attorney's office, focusing on the recovery and repatriation of stolen artifacts. Since its formation, the unit has successfully seized over 5,000 items from museums, auction houses, and private collectors, with a total estimated value surpassing $300 million.
This year, Bogdanos was honored with the Marica Vilcek Prize in Art History, which includes a $100,000 award, recognizing his unwavering commitment to recovering looted artifacts and protecting cultural heritage. However, he chose to decline the monetary award, requesting that the foundation donate the funds to nonprofits of his preference.
A profile on the foundation's website states, "What makes Bogdanos's work remarkable is not just his success in any single endeavor, but his refusal to rest on those successes." It emphasizes that each conviction serves as a springboard for future missions. Bogdanos underscores the urgency of addressing illicit art trafficking, noting, "The battle must be joined today to stop the destruction before it is too late."
Since its inception in 2006, the Vilcek Foundation has awarded a total of $9.6 million to various recipients through its annual prizes.
