History

The Artist Performer Medal, also known as the People's Artist off the USSR was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. It was established on September 6, 1936. The medal was awarded for exceptional achievements in the performing arts of the Soviet Union.

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.

A total of 1,010 Artist Performer Medals were awarded. It was last awarded on December 21, 1991 to Sofia Pilyavskaya and Oleg Yankovsky. Conventionally, a person was to be at least 40 years old to be awarded this medal, however several exceptions were made for dancers and opera singers.