Nomenclature and Significance
The term is confusingly used to translate two Russian language titles: Народный артист СССР (fem. Народная артистка СССР), awarded in performing arts and Народный художник СССР, granted in some visual arts.
Each Soviet Republic, as well as the Autonomous Republics (ASSRs), had a similar award held previously by virtually every receiver of the higher title of People's Artist of the USSR.
| Republic | performing arts | visual arts |
|---|---|---|
| Russian SFSR | народный артист РСФСР | народный художник РСФСР |
| Ukrainian SSR | народний артист Української РСР | народний художник Української РСР |
| Byelorussian SSR | народны артыст Беларускай ССР | народны мастак Беларускай ССР |
| Uzbek SSR | Ўзбекистон ССР халқ артисти | Ўзбекистон ССР халқ рассоми |
| Kazakh SSR | Қазақ КСР-ң халық әртісі | |
| Georgian SSR | საქართველოს სსრ სახალხო არტისტი | |
| Azerbaijan SSR | Азәрбајҹан ССР халг артисти | |
| Lithuanian SSR | Lietuvos TSR liaudies artistas | Lietuvos TSR liaudies dailininkas |
| Moldavian SSR | артист ал попорулуй дин РСС Молдовеняскэ | |
| Latvian SSR | Latvijas PSR tautas skatuves mākslinieks | Latvijas PSR tautas mākslinieks |
| Kyrgyz SSR | Кыргыз ССР эл артисти | |
| Tajik SSR | ||
| Armenian SSR | Հայաստանի ՍՍՀ ժողովրդական արտիստ | |
| Turkmen SSR | Түркмен ССР-иң халк артисти | Түркмен ССР-иң халк художниги |
| Estonian SSR | Eesti NSV rahvakunstnik |
As this title was granted by the government, honorees were afforded certain privileges and would often receive commissions from the Minister of Culture of the Soviet Union. Accordingly, artists and authors who expressed criticism of the Communist Party were seldom granted such recognition, if not outright censored.
Read more about this topic: People's Artist Of The USSR
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