business committee for the arts to merge
with americans for the arts

Luis Castro, Philip Sanchez and Daniel Osheyack, Time Warner Inc. and; Christopher Forbes (second from right) at the 2007 THE BCA TEN

Private-sector support for the arts from individuals, foundations, and businesses represents a critical piece of arts funding in America. However in recent years, the larger private-sector relationship with the arts and arts organizations has changed dramatically. While business leaders continue to support the arts, recent modest gains in overall giving disguise the fact that the market share of total philanthropy devoted to the nonprofit arts has declined by nearly one-third since the early 1990s.

In the current economic climate, it is more important than ever for businesses to invest in the arts. This investment advances a company’s visibility and brand, improves employee morale, improves quality of life, and provides economic benefits to the entire community.

Because of these mutually held beliefs, the boards of directors of the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. and Americans for the Arts have decided to enter into a merger agreement to create the strongest national private sector arts advocacy organization in the country. Together, these two organizations will be able to more effectively achieve their goals of engaging and increasing business support of the arts in America. This merger transaction requires final approval of the New York State Attorney General and the New York Supreme Court and we expect the process to be completed within the next six months.

Tony Award Nominated Broadway Star, Brad Oscar at the 2007 THE BCA TEN

For more information on this intended merger, please read our press release.

To assist in answering questions about this intended merger, please utilize the following documents: 

• Frequently Asked Questions for Constituents (PDF, 102KB)—if you are a professional member or constituent of Americans for the Arts, we hope this document will assist in answering any questions you might have about this intended merger.
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF, 91KB)—if you are a member of the public with a vested interest in the arts, we hope this document will assist in answering any questions you might have about this intended merger.
• The board of directors of the Business Committee for the Arts, Inc. will continue to exist and function as the BCA Executive Board providing direct input into the programs and services developed to reach the business sector. A complete list of the members of the BCA Executive Board is available for dowload. (PDF, 58KB)
• More background information on business support for the art is also available in this Business Support to the Arts Fact Sheet. (PDF, 63KB)
• For more information on the Business Committee for the Arts, please visit their website.

For more information on Americans for the Arts, please visit the About Us section of our website.