D.C.-based Americans for the Arts and the Arts & Business Council in New York City have announced that they will merge their operations, creating the largest-ever advocacy group for the arts in America.

According to Americans for the Arts president and CEO Robert L. Lynch, the merger will allow the organization to increase its efforts to secure increased funding for the arts from the private sector by stimulating support from individuals, corporations, and foundations through the development of innovative programming and the recruitment of national partners. While the Arts & Business Council will maintain its local chapters and program partners across the country, its programs serving New York will be re-branded as the Arts & Business Council of New York and have its own advisory body.

"By joining forces with Americans for the Arts, the Arts & Business Council will have substantially greater resources and programmatic opportunities," said Arts & Business Council president and CEO Gary P. Steuer. "The arts in America need enhanced and consolidated advocacy, and I am very pleased that our two organizations could agree to move forward in unison."