▁ann ually ▁by ▁Y oko ▁O no ▁L enn on ▁to ▁artists , ▁mus icians , ▁collect ors , ▁cur ators , ▁writers ▁who ▁sought ▁the ▁truth ▁in ▁their ▁work ▁and ▁demonstrated ▁leadership , ▁courage , ▁resource ful ness ▁in ▁their ▁work , ▁and ▁risk ed ▁their ▁care ers ▁by ▁purs uing ▁a ▁larger ▁vision ▁of ▁the ▁local ▁or ▁national ▁interest ▁despite ▁pressure ▁to ▁succ umb ▁to ▁commercial ▁and ▁political ▁constraints . ▁▁▁ ▁The ▁award ▁was ▁established ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁by ▁Y oko ▁O no ▁L enn on . ▁Cou rage ▁Award ▁for ▁the ▁Arts ▁la ure ates ▁receive ▁a ▁prize ▁of ▁US $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 . ▁ ▁Re cip ients ▁▁▁ 2 0 1 6 : ▁ ▁Laur ie ▁Anderson ▁Moh ammed ▁el ▁G har ani ▁▁ 2 0 1 4 : ▁ ▁Laur ie ▁Anderson ▁Val ie ▁Ex port ▁Marian ne ▁Fa ith full ▁Gustav ▁Met z ger ▁▁ 2 0 1 3 : ▁Julian ▁Ass ange ▁▁ 2 0 1 2 : ▁▁ ▁N abe el ▁Abb oud - A sh kar ▁ ▁Sab ine ▁Bre it w ies er ▁and ▁Jen ny ▁Sch len z ka ▁ ▁Kate ▁M ille tt ▁ ▁Car ole e ▁Schne emann ▁ ▁Mar tha ▁Wilson ▁▁ 2 0 1 1 : ▁▁ ▁Sim one ▁Fort i ▁ ▁Jean - Jac ques ▁Leb el ▁ ▁Mer ed ith ▁Mon k ▁ ▁Y v onne ▁R ainer ▁▁ 2 0 1 0 : ▁▁ ▁Gu err illa ▁Girls