The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honor society of 250 architects, composers, artists, and writers. The Academy's purpose is to foster and sustain an interest in Literature, Music, and the Fine Arts by identifying and encouraging individual artists. This is done by administering awards and prizes, exhibiting art and manuscripts, funding stage readings and performances of new works, and purchasing works of art to be donated to museums.

The Academy presents two exhibitions annually. The Invitational Exhibition of Visual Arts, which begins in March and ends in April, is a group show of works by approximately thirty contemporary artists who are candidates for the Academy's art awards and purchase program.

The Exhibition of Works by Newly Elected Members and Recipients of Honors and Awards opens in May to coincide with the Ceremonial, and ends in June. It includes art, architecture, books, manuscripts, and musical scores.