Bob Dylan has honor to add to his chest of accolades. He has become the first rock act voted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is one of seven new inductees into the group, which honors artists in music, literature and visual arts. But because Academy officials could not decide whether he should be recognized for his words or music, executive director Virginia Dajani said they agreed to make an honorary member. Dylan was not available for comment.

Also being recognized are novelist Ward Just; minimalist artist Richard Tuttle; painter and printmaker Terry Winters; Spanish architect Rafael Moneo; South African writer Damon Galgut; and Belgian artist Luc Tuymans.