Americans for the Arts is one of the nation s leading nonprofit organizations for advancing the arts in America. Americans for the Arts was created in 1996 as a result of the merger between the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies and the American Council for the Arts. It has offices in Washington, D.C., and New York, and has more than 5,000 organizational and individual members and stakeholders throughout the country. The organization partners with local, state and national arts organizations; government agencies; business leaders; individual philanthropists; and educators throughout the country. It also provides arts industry research and information and professional development opportunities for community arts leaders via specialized programs and services, including a Web site and an annual national convention. Americans for the Arts produces annual events that include Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., Nancy Hanks Lecture on Arts and Public Policy, the National Arts Awards and the Public Leadership in the Arts Awards.