As people travelled over this summer and took selfies and photos with their friends, often times public art ends up part of the backdrop - or the main focus of instagram photos and the like, whether or not people realize it.

Our CEO, Bob Lynch, reminds people public art can be found anywhere and everywhere - and the value of public art to a community - in this month's Huffington Post article. 

Robert Lynch, CEO and President of Americans for the Arts, and Jane Chu, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, wrote for a special insert on arts education and creative careers to Mediaplanet featured in today's edition of USA TODAY.

For the past seven years, Barry's Blog - an independent service of the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) - publishes an annual list of the most influential individuals in the nonprofit arts. 

Each year, Americans for the Arts, through the Business Committee for the Arts, recognizes ten U.S. companies for their exceptional commitment to the arts through local partnerships with artists and arts organizations, arts and culture grants and sponsorships, matching gift and corporate giving campaigns, volunteer programs and pro bono services, initiatives that engage employees and evoke creativity in the workplace, and board membership and leadership. This year, the BCA10 honorees will be celebrated in New York City at an evening gala on Oct. 1.

On Monday, August 11, the world lost one of its most loved comedians and most talented artists - Robin Williams. With over four decades in Hollywood under his belt, it's undeniable that he left his mark on pop culture forever. 

Today, the Independent Sector announced the 2014 American Express NGen Fellows - 12 individuals who will contribute to Independent Sector's work on nonprofit impact and leadership over the next year. These fellows are already innovators and leaders in the nonprofit sector, and through the Fellowship will interact with established mentors and collaborate with other leaders under 40 years of age. 

Americans for the Arts president and CEO Robert Lynch was named on The NonProfit Times' 2014 Power and Influence Top 50. This is the third consecutive year Lynch has been recognized by the publication for his leadership for Americans for the Arts.

The 2013 National Medals of Arts and Humanities were presented by President Obama in a ceremony on Monday, July 28th. This year's recipients consisted of a diverse selection of individuals and groups who have done groundbreaking work in the arts and humanities, including architecture, choreography, literature, and documentary filmmaking.

On July 9th, Senate confirmed Dr. William "Bro" Adams to lead the National Endowment for the Humanities, the independent federal agency that supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. He was nominated by President Obama on April 10^th.

Longtime arts advocate Anthony Turney passed away July 4, 2014.  Turney had a varied career, spanning several cities, starting in New York as an event producer. He would eventually become Deputy Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington, DC; Executive Director of the Dance Theater of Harlem; Administrative Director of the San Francisco Opera; and CEO of the NAMES Project Foundation. In 1996, he was ordained to the Episcopal diaconate and continued to work as a member of the clergy until his retirement.

Americans for the Arts held a leadership roundtable in Sun Valley, ID on June 26th - 28th. The Arts Leadership Roundtable brought together 30 artists, philanthropists, and corporate leaders in a proactive dialogue to explore how the arts can be utilized as a positive force for change. The focus of the roundtable was to explore the growing connection between the arts and technology.

On Wednesday, June 18, Bob Lynch and other members of Americans for the Arts' staff joined The Art Institutes for their Congressional Arts Reception honoring this year's Annual Poster Design Competition winners. This year's winners are Ameila Kohr who will be attending the Art Institue of Las Vegas, Madeleine Brackett who will be attending The New England Institue of Art, and first-place winner Ashley Devaney, who will be attending The Art Insititue of Charleston. 

On Wednesday, May 28^th, our President and CEO Bob Lynch keynoted the ArtsFund Annual Celebration of the Arts Luncheon in Seattle, Washington. He spoke about the state of the arts in the United States and their value to the country and to the Puget Sound region.

WASHINGTON—June 4, 2014—Nashville, Tennessee will celebrate Arts Leadership Weekend June 13-15 as the 2014 Annual Convention for Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit for advancing the arts and arts education, welcomes more than 1,000 arts professionals, community leaders, and supporters of the arts to the city.

Ben Folds, musician and arts education activist, will speak Friday, June 13 at 11:30 a.m. with Americans for the Arts' CEO and President, Bob Lynch, at our 2014 Annual Convention. He will share with attendees his personal history and transformation into an artist-acitvist, which has allowed him to witness the power of arts education in transforming the lives of young students.

This opening keynote session will also include Bob Lynch's State of the Arts speech, the Leadership Awards Lunch, and a welcome from Nashville mayor Karl Dean. 

American for the Arts CEO and President Robert L. Lynch wrote an article in The Tennessean on May 31 highlighting the recent Periscope: Arts Entrepreneur Training in Nashville as well as the economic impact of arts-related businesses, specifically in Tennessee. Lynch writes that Nashville is a perfect of example of how arts nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and the local government can work together to create a rich environment and a strong economy.