American Academy of Arts and Letters was an organization whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain an interest" in American literature, music, and art. Founded in 1898 by H. Holbrook Curtis and Simeon E. Baldwin as the National Institute of Arts and Letters, it changed its name in 1904 to the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, and in 1992 to its current title.

The original title reflects the two-tiered system of the Academy. There were 250 members in the Institute, selected from among the leading figures in American art and literature, and these members elected 50 members to form the Academy. This two-tiered system was abandoned in 1993, and today, all 250 members of the organization have equal standing.

Members of the Academy are chosen for life and have included some of the leading figures in the American art scene. They are organized into committees that award annual prizes to help up and coming artists achieve their potential.