What BRIC Arts Media does

BRIC Arts Media is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit arts and media organization founded in 1979, operating as one of New York City's longest-standing cultural anchor institutions. The organization delivers a portfolio of programming that includes the 47th annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! free outdoor performing arts festival at the Lena Horne Bandshell (8,000+ capacity), Emmy Award-winning BRIC TV and Brooklyn Free Speech TV (distributed across five cable channels on Spectrum, Optimum, Verizon, and RCN), BRIC Radio, the BRIC House Party music series, and the BRIClab multi-disciplinary artist residency program offering $2,500 stipends. Educational programming reaches 25,000+ individuals annually through the BRIC Media Center (6,000 adult students) and in-school and afterschool programs (3,800 students across 35+ public schools in 19+ Brooklyn neighborhoods). BRIC House at 20 Jay Street in Fort Greene serves as the operational hub, offering a Gallery, Ballroom, TV Studio, and Artist Studio available for space rentals at rates up to $6,250 daily.

Name

BRIC Arts Media

Legal name

BRIC Arts & Media

Website

https://bricartsmedia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

BRIC Arts Media is a Brooklyn nonprofit founded in 1979 that operates NYC's longest-running free outdoor performing arts festival, Emmy-winning community television and radio networks, artist residencies, and media education programs serving over 25,000 individuals annually across Brooklyn.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Media

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Media education classes
• Public access broadcasting
• Performing arts festivals
• Artist residency programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: BRIC generates revenue through tiered membership programs ranging from $75 Bronze to $2,500 Patron Circle, offering benefits including VIP access to events, discounts on classes, and member-only programming.
2. Event Tickets: BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! benefit concerts generate revenue through ticket sales, with general admission typically $60-65 and VIP packages ranging up to $215. Most shows are free with RSVP.
3. Media Education Classes: Classes are heavily subsidized but generate revenue through course fees. Examples include Podcast Intensive at $150 and free orientation sessions.
4. Space Rentals: BRIC House offers venue rentals including Ballroom ($6,250 daily private rate), Gallery ($5,500 daily), TV Studio ($2,200 daily), and Artist Studio ($150 hourly), with discounted nonprofit rates available.
5. Grants and Donations: Public support provided by New York State Council for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Council, and private foundations including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Con Edison, and Howard Gilman Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BRIC Arts Media operates as a Brooklyn-based nonprofit arts and media organization producing free public performing arts programming, Emmy Award-winning community television and radio content, artist residencies, contemporary art exhibitions, subsidized media education classes, and event venue rentals. Its offerings span BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival, BRIC TV, Brooklyn Free Speech TV/Radio, BRIClab, and BRIC House venue spaces.

Product overview

BRIC Arts Media is a Brooklyn-based arts and media organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of community-focused products and services. The core offerings include BRIC TV (an Emmy Award-winning TV and digital network producing local news, documentaries, and original series), Brooklyn Free Speech TV and Radio (community-produced media platforms across multiple cable channels), and BRIC Radio. The organization operates BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! (the city's longest-running free outdoor performing arts festival), BRIC House Party (a music-forward event series), and BRIClab (a multi-disciplinary artist residency program). Media education is delivered through subsidized classes in audio/podcasting, filmmaking, graphic design, photography, production, video editing, and writing. The Contemporary Art Exhibitions program curates exhibitions at the BRIC House Gallery. Additional services include a Membership Program with tiered benefits and BRIC House Space Rentals for events. The organization serves over 25,000 individuals annually through its arts education programs and reaches audiences through cable television distribution (Spectrum, Optimum, Verizon, RCN) and online streaming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!: New York City's longest-running, free outdoor performing arts festival held annually at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park
• BRIC TV
• Brooklyn Free Speech TV
• BRIC Radio
• BRIClab
• BRIC House Party
• BRIC House

Products and services

• BRIC TV An Emmy Award-winning TV and digital network for Brooklyn that produces local news, social justice reporting, music and arts coverage, documentaries, and original series programming distributed via cable television and online video.
• Brooklyn Free Speech TV An Emmy-winning, community-produced TV and podcast network featuring content created by Brooklyn residents, distributed across multiple cable channels (Channels 1-4 and HD) on Spectrum, Optimum, Verizon, and RCN.
• BRIC Radio A radio programming platform featuring music, interviews, and Brooklyn-focused audio content distributed via broadcast radio and digital streaming.
• Brooklyn Free Speech Radio A community-produced radio and podcast network featuring audio content created by Brooklyn residents through the Brooklyn Free Speech platform.
• BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival New York City's longest-running, free outdoor performing arts festival held annually at the Lena Horne Bandshell in Prospect Park, featuring concerts, dance, and cultural programming under the 2026 theme 'Radical Joy'.
• BRIC House Party A music-forward event series hosted by local DJs and collectives, providing platforms for diverse voices and artistic visions with a focus on community celebration experiences.
• BRIClab Residency Program A multi-disciplinary residency program for emerging to mid-career visual artists and media makers offering $2,500 stipends, mentorship, skills-based learning, professional development, and public programming opportunities across Contemporary Art, Film + TV, and Video Art tracks.
• Media Education Classes Subsidized arts and media education programs including Audio & Podcasting, Filmmaking, Graphic Design, Hip-Hop, Marketing, Photography, Production, Video Editing, and Writing, serving 6,000 adult students annually with in-school and afterschool programs reaching 3,800 students.
• BRIC Contemporary Art Exhibitions Curated exhibitions and programs focusing on emerging and mid-career artists at the BRIC House Gallery, including the annual Emerging Creators student exhibition featuring work from youth education programs.
• BRIC Membership Program A tiered annual membership program offering benefits including VIP entry to BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! and JazzFest, discounts on media education classes, member hours at the Contemporary Art Gallery, and invitations to BRIC TV screenings, with tiers ranging from $75 Bronze to $2,500 Patron Circle.
• Community Producers Program A program enabling Brooklyn residents to create and air their own TV shows and podcasts through Brooklyn Free Speech, with access to equipment, studio reservations, training, and free channel time.
• BRIC House Space Rentals Rental of versatile event spaces at BRIC House including Ballroom, Artist Studio, Lobby/Stoop, Gallery, TV Studio, and Dressing Rooms with state-of-the-art AV technology, offered at private and nonprofit rates.
• BRIC Media Center A production hub for creators in Brooklyn offering media production resources, equipment reservations, studio access, and opportunities for emerging artists, independent filmmakers, and content creators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25,000 individuals reached through arts and media education annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prospect Park AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival at the Lena Horne Bandshell. Partnership with NYC Parks for maintenance and operations of the Bandshell venue in Prospect Park.
• NYC ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing support and access to public park venues for BRIC's free programming including BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival.
• Rooftop FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! pop-up events including presentation at Brower Park with Black House Radio.
• NYC Council Member Chi OsséminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCouncil member partnership for BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! pop-up events at Brower Park in District 36.
• The Legal Aid SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Community Joy Day event celebrating Legal Aid Society's 150th anniversary at BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!
• Brooklyn Borough President Antonio ReynosominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Dominican Night at the Bandshell event as part of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! 2026 season.
• Seed&SparkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for film distribution and pitching workshops including Art of the Pitch series offering free classes for filmmakers.
• Brooklyn Film SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of Brooklyn Film Festival as part of BRIC's film programming.
• Brooklyn Book BodegaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Community Joy Day event providing children's book giveaways.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): BAM is Brooklyn's flagship performing arts presenter, operating multiple venues and running a curated season of theater, dance, music, and film. It is the most direct peer to BRIC in terms of Brooklyn-based performing arts presenting, multi-venue operations, and community-focused programming.
• Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN): MNN is NYC's largest community media center, operating public-access TV channels, radio, and media training programs serving Manhattan residents. It is the closest functional peer to BRIC's Brooklyn Free Speech TV/Radio and community producer programs, with a directly comparable cable-distribution and education model.
• Symphony Space: Symphony Space is a Manhattan-based multi-disciplinary performing arts venue presenting music, dance, comedy, and family programming, with a strong literary and education wing. Comparable to BRIC in operating a single multi-purpose venue that hosts diverse programming alongside educational offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Lincoln Center is NYC's largest performing arts complex, presenting music, dance, theater, and film across multiple resident organizations. Comparable to BRIC as a multi-venue performing arts presenter with educational programming, though at substantially greater scale and with a global brand.
• Park Avenue Armory: Park Avenue Armory is a NYC cultural institution that presents large-scale performing arts, visual arts, and interdisciplinary programming in a historic venue. Comparable to BRIC as an NYC arts presenter combining venue operations with curated programming and educational/outreach components.
• The Shed: The Shed is a NYC cultural center commissioning and presenting original works across art forms, with a flexible venue and cultural-equity mission. Comparable to BRIC for combining presenting, commissioning, and community programming, though newer and at a different price/scale tier.
• 92nd Street Y (92NY): 92NY is a NYC cultural and community center presenting performing arts, talks, and educational programming with a Jewish-cultural heritage. Comparable to BRIC for combining a presenting/performing arts program with deep educational classes, community engagement, and venue-style events.
• Carnegie Hall: Carnegie Hall is a globally recognized NYC concert presenter with a large-scale music education and social impact program. Comparable to BRIC for combining a flagship venue, presenting role, and robust education/community engagement, though specializing in music and at a much larger scale.

Regional players

• The Apollo Theater: The Apollo is an iconic NYC performing arts venue presenting music, dance, and cultural programming, with a strong education and emerging-artist development arm. Comparable to BRIC as a culturally-rooted NYC presenter with a youth talent pipeline (Amateur Night) and community programming ethos, though Harlem-based.

Others

• Prospect Park Alliance: Prospect Park Alliance is BRIC's core operational partner for the Lena Horne Bandshell and the Celebrate Brooklyn! festival, co-managing the venue and programming. Included as a peer because the partnership is foundational to BRIC's outdoor programming model rather than a competitive comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bricbrooklyn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/BRICTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/BRICBrooklyn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bric-arts-media
• Instagraminstagram.com/bricbrooklyn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BRIC Arts Media