Ava DuVernay and John Legend to receive American Ingenuity Awards

Director Ava Duvernay and singer John Legend have been unveiled as honorees for the 2017 American Ingenuity Awards.

The stars have been selected by officials at the Smithsonian magazine, the cultural and historical publication of the global museum group, to be recognized at their annual end-of-year celebration, which takes place on 29 November (17) at Washington, D.C.'s National Portrait Gallery.

Selma filmmaker DuVernay will be celebrated for her contributions to the visual arts, while the creators behind Sesame Street's first Muppet character to have a form of autism, Julia, will receive the accolade for social progress.

Others to be feted at the sixth annual awards ceremony include Legend, Apple's chief design office Jony Ive, and NASA scientist Natalie Batalha.

Legendary music producer Quincy Jones and musician Brandon Marsalis will be among the night's presenters.

Last year's (16) honorees included musician/filmmaker David Lynch and comedian Aziz Ansari.