MERGER WILL CREATE LARGEST ARTS ADVOCACY GROUP IN US

The Arts & Business Council is merging with Americans for the Arts, creating the largest advocacy group for the arts in the US, Miriam Kreinin Souccar reports in Crain’s New York Business. Robert Lynch, president and chief executive of Americans for the Arts, will become president of the joint organization. Gary Steuer, president and CEO of the Arts & Business Council, will be vice president. The two groups, which will have a combined budget of $14.8 million, say they will be able to improve their efforts to increase private-sector support for the arts and arts education.