Contemporary Arts Center
Contemporary Arts Center is a nonprofit contemporary art museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, housed in a Zaha Hadid-designed building. It operates rotating exhibitions, K-12 outreach, artist residencies, and community programs serving the general public, schools, families, and local artists.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1939
- HeadquartersCincinnati, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Contemporary Arts Center does
Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is a private, nonprofit contemporary art museum founded in 1939 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 44 E. 6th Street in the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, a building designed by architect Zaha Hadid. The institution's core product is rotating exhibitions of contemporary art by local, national, and international artists, displayed across multiple gallery spaces and complemented by an interactive Creativity Center + UnMuseum for hands-on visitor experiences. CAC operates a portfolio of educational and community programs including the 42+ year-old School Outreach Program (the longest-running K-12 arts outreach program in Ohio), Teen Programs, Family Programs, and Public Programs, plus a Co-LAB initiative pairing artists with community organizations.
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure spanning six streams: ticketed daily admissions, recurring membership dues across multiple tiers, individual and corporate donations (including planned giving and donor societies), event space rentals for private functions, grants from ArtsWave, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, and private foundations (Andy Warhol Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation), and retail merchandise via Shop CAC. GTM motion is direct-to-consumer through the physical museum, with secondary community outreach to K-12 schools, libraries, and partner organizations, and digital extension via the Bloomberg Connects app. The institution serves four primary customer segments: general public visitors, K-12 schools and educators, families and youth, and local/regional artists, with secondary enterprise event rental clients.
Operationally, CAC is led by Director and Chief Curator Raphaela Platow, supported by specialized curatorial roles in lens-based art and performance. Technology integrations are limited to third-party SaaS platforms (ShowClix for ticketing, HoneyBook for event booking, Bloomberg Connects for digital tours), with no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed software products. CAC has been recognized with the 2018 Sotheby's Prize for Art and Race Matters for the Robert Colescott retrospective and partners with ArtsWave, FotoFocus, Queens Village, Wave Pool, and the Underworld Black Arts Festival. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, which approved updated Philanthropy Guidelines in July 2024.
Contemporary Arts Center firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Contemporary Arts Center
- Legal name
- Contemporary Arts Center
- Website
- https://contemporaryartscenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1939
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Contemporary Arts Center is a nonprofit contemporary art museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, housed in a Zaha Hadid-designed building. It operates rotating exhibitions, K-12 outreach, artist residencies, and community programs serving the general public, schools, families, and local artists.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Contemporary Arts Center industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Art Museum
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
Keywords
Where Contemporary Arts Center is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cincinnati
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Contemporary Arts Center business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Admission and Tickets: Revenue from daily admission tickets and special event tickets
- Membership Dues: Annual membership programs offering various benefit tiers including free admission, exclusive events, and discounts
- Donations and Philanthropy: Individual and corporate donations managed through structured giving programs including donor recognition societies, endowment gifts, and planned giving options
- Event Space Rentals: Venue rentals for private events including weddings, celebrations, receptions, and corporate functions in event spaces with city views
- Grants and Foundation Support: Funding from ArtsWave, National Endowment for the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, and other foundations supporting exhibitions and programs
- Shop CAC: Retail merchandise including books, art-related products, and exhibition catalogues
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Daily admission tickets for museum visitors |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Contemporary Arts Center product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) operates a contemporary art museum in downtown Cincinnati housed in the Zaha Hadid-designed Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center. The institution presents rotating exhibitions of local, national, and international contemporary art and provides educational programs for K-12 schools, teens, families, and the general public, alongside event space rentals, a retail shop, and a membership program.
Product overview
The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) is a contemporary art museum offering a unified portfolio of cultural offerings centered around rotating art exhibitions. The core product consists of exhibitions displayed across multiple galleries, complemented by educational programs (School Programs, Teen Programs, Family Programs, and Public Programs), facility amenities (Creativity Center + UnMuseum for hands-on experiences), and visitor services (Tours via Bloomberg Connects and video/audio formats, Event Space Rentals, Membership Programs, and Shop CAC). The Co-LAB Program represents a distinctive collaborative offering that pairs artists with community organizations for project-based work. The institution positions itself as a community cultural hub with accessibility as a core value.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Creativity Center + UnMuseum: A space for educational programs and creative experiences for children and families
- School Outreach Program
Products and services
- Exhibitions
- Creativity Center + UnMuseum Interactive educational space offering hands-on art activities and museum experiences for visitors of all ages.
- School + Educator Programs Educational outreach programs for K-12 students and teachers, including the School Outreach Program (SOP), the longest-running arts outreach program for K-12 students in Ohio.
- Teen Programs Programs designed for young adults including Teen Art Council, Teen Art Shows, and Teen Labs offering workshops.
- Family Programs Programs and activities designed for families including Thursday Art Play, Family Festivals, and homeschool workshops.
- Public Programs Public events including artist talks, performances, workshops, and community programming open to all visitors.
- Event Space Rentals Rental of CAC facilities including spaces with city views for private events such as dinners, weddings, receptions, and parties.
- Membership Programs Various membership tiers including Individual, Dual, Family, Contemporary Members, and corporate membership options providing benefits and recognition.
- Tours Guided and self-guided tour offerings including in-person tours, Bloomberg Connects app-based tours, and video/audio tours.
- Shop CAC Retail store offering merchandise, publications, and art-related items for purchase.
- Co-LAB Program Collaborative program pairing artists with community organizations to create immersive, project-based art experiences, often supported by ArtsWave.
Companies that use Contemporary Arts Center
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Contemporary Arts Center technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Contemporary Arts Center partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Queens VillagecoreFourth collaboration for the Through Her Eyes project, featuring 'Revolutionary Recipes' exhibition celebrating Black womanhood, with Queens Village Marketing Director participating in exhibition development.
- Underworld Black Arts Festival and Rush Arts FoundationsupportingPartnership featuring prints from Rush Arts 25th Anniversary Print Portfolio in coordination with the Underworld Black Arts Festival.
- Wave PoolcoreFirst co-production between Wave Pool and CAC for the 'Listen!' project bringing national artist Caroline Woolard to Cincinnati to respond to community needs in partnership with local organizations.
- FotoFocuscorePartnership for FotoFocus Biennial 2018 spanning over 90 projects across Greater Cincinnati region with more than 400 artists, curators, and educators participating.
- ArtsWavecoreMajor regional arts funding organization and corporate partner supporting CAC exhibitions, programs, and the annual Inspire Artist Grants program which has invested over $1 million in local artists since 2020.
- The Kroger Co.supportingCorporate partner providing sponsorship support for CAC programs and events.
- BloombergsupportingBloomberg Connects partnership providing digital guide and tour content for CAC exhibitions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Contemporary Arts Center competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Contemporary Arts Center social profiles
Digital presenceContemporary Arts Center financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Contemporary Arts Center leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Contemporary Arts Center funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Contemporary Arts Center M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Contemporary Arts Center
What does Contemporary Arts Center do?
Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) operates a contemporary art museum in downtown Cincinnati housed in the Zaha Hadid-designed Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center. The institution presents rotating exhibitions of local, national, and international contemporary art and provides educational programs for K-12 schools, teens, families, and the general public, alongside event space rentals, a retail shop, and a membership program.
Is Contemporary Arts Center a public or private company?
Contemporary Arts Center is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Contemporary Arts Center founded?
Contemporary Arts Center was founded in 1939. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Contemporary Arts Center based?
Contemporary Arts Center is headquartered in Cincinnati, United States, in the North America region.
How does Contemporary Arts Center make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Admission and Tickets are the primary driver. The others are membership Dues, donations and Philanthropy, event Space Rentals, grants and Foundation Support and shop CAC.
Does Contemporary Arts Center have an API?
No public API is recorded for Contemporary Arts Center.
What industry is Contemporary Arts Center in?
Contemporary Arts Center's product category is Art Museum. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAJ, Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions, with a secondary code of THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 7121.