The pioneering composer Philip Glass and Cai Guo-Qiang, the Chinese contemporary artist who designed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics, are among the winners of the Praemium Imperiale arts awards given out by the Japan Art Association. The awards, which recognize lifetime achievement in the arts, carry an $187,000 prize. The winners were announced at a ceremony at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on Wednesday. Cecco Bonanotte from Italy won the sculpture award, while Henning Larsen of Denmark was named in the architecture category and Yoko Morishita for theater and film.

The Sphinx Organization, a group based in Detroit, will also take home about $63,000 for winning the Grant for Young Artists.

“The arts are a common language for all people, reaching beyond national borders, rising above differences in religion, race and customs,” Hisashi Hieda, chairman of the Japan Art Association, said. “The arts also provide comfort and encouragement in times of crisis. After last year’s disaster in Japan we received warm encouragement and support from people all over the world, including many past laureates whose works offer hope for the future.”

The award ceremony will be held in Tokyo on Oct. 23.