Craft Contemporary

What Craft Contemporary does

Craft Contemporary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art museum (EIN 23-7442244) located at 5814 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles's Miracle Mile district, operating from a three-story 1930 neo-Georgian building. Founded in 1965 by painter Edith Robinson Wyle as The Egg and the Eye, the institution received nonprofit status in 1973 as the Craft & Folk Art Museum (CAFAM) and rebranded to Craft Contemporary in 2018 to signal its focus on craft as both material and process. The museum presents rotating exhibitions of contemporary art made from craft media, prioritizing established and emerging artists—particularly those underrepresented in larger institutions—and pairs each show with hands-on workshops, artist talks, and panel discussions.

The core programming portfolio comprises public workshops (Maker Nights, Craft Lab family sessions), the free Craft Youth Culture program for high school students, the Crafting Histories eight-week workshop series for adults 55+, free guided school tours for grades 3-12, and a Maker-in-Residence program. Signature events include the annual CLAY LA ceramic marketplace, the Holiday Marketplace, the benefit auction, and themed exhibitions such as Art Iran with Farhang Foundation and the four-year M&A courtyard installation series. The institution's archives covering 1965-1997 are housed at UCLA Special Collections, the largest museum archive in that collection.

Revenue is generated across six streams: general admission ($9 adults; $7 seniors/students; free for children 12 and under, members, and all LA schools; pay-what-you-wish Sundays), tiered annual membership dues ranging from $60 (Individual) to $1,000 (Director's Circle) with NARM reciprocal benefits, tax-deductible donations (including text-to-give, matching gifts, and legacy giving), e-commerce shop sales at craftcontemporaryshop.org, annual benefit auction proceeds, and grants from government agencies and private foundations (NEA, Getty Foundation, LA Department of Cultural Affairs, California Arts Council, LA County Department of Arts). Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer through walk-in visitors, membership, school group reservations, adult group tours, the e-commerce shop, and off-site programming at venues including LA Metro stations.

Name

Craft Contemporary

Legal name

Craft Contemporary

Website

https://craftcontemporary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Craft Contemporary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art museum in Los Angeles presenting rotating exhibitions of contemporary craft-based art for general audiences, students, and members, supported by admissions, memberships, donations, shop sales, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Crafts & DIY (Paper, Fiber, Wood, Resin, DIY Projects) (EDAAAGAB)

Keywords

• Contemporary craft museum
• Art exhibitions
• Museum education programs
• Artist residencies
• Community arts workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Museum Admission: General admission fees ranging from free (children 12 and under, members) to $9 for adults, with discounted rates for seniors and students. Sundays operate on pay-what-you-wish model.
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees across six tiers from $60 (Individual) to $1,000 (Director's Circle), providing recurring revenue with benefits including free admission, event access, and reciprocal museum privileges.
3. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations through online portal, text-to-give (CRAFT to 53-555), matching gifts, Donor-Advised Funds, and legacy giving programs. EIN 23-7442244.
4. Shop Sales: E-commerce sales of curated craft items from local and international artisans through craftcontemporaryshop.org, with 10% member discount.
5. Benefit Auction: Annual benefit and art auction events generating revenue through ticket sales, auction purchases, and sponsorships. Features works from exhibiting artists.
6. Sponsorships: Support from corporate sponsors, foundations, and government arts agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts, Getty Foundation, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, and California Arts Council.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Craft Contemporary is a non-collecting art museum in Los Angeles that presents rotating exhibitions of contemporary art made from craft media and processes. It complements exhibitions with hands-on educational programs (workshops, teen programs, school tours, adult programming), artist residencies, a tiered membership program, a curated retail shop featuring artisan-made items, and signature annual events including the benefit auction, CLAY LA ceramic marketplace, and Holiday Marketplace.

Product overview

Craft Contemporary is a non-collecting art museum in Los Angeles that operates as a unified physical-experience institution rather than a software platform. The organization presents dynamic exhibitions of contemporary art made from craft media and processes, complemented by educational programs including hands-on workshops (Craft Lab, Maker Nights), youth programs (Craft Youth Culture for teens, school tours for grades 3-12), adult programming (Crafting Histories for adults 55+), and artist residencies. Additional offerings include membership tiers, a retail shop, and signature events such as CLAY LA (annual ceramic marketplace), Holiday Marketplace, and the Art Iran exhibition series. The institution does not offer a software product, API, or digital platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitions Rotating exhibitions featuring contemporary art made from craft media and processes, presenting work by established and emerging artists who are often underrepresented in larger art institutions.
• Public Programs & Workshops
• Craft Youth Culture (CYC) Teen Program Free teen program designed for high school students to develop creativity, work with professional artists, engage in critical discussion around art, and connect with other youth.
• Crafting Histories Eight-week craft workshops designed for adults over 55 years to develop skills in ceramics, fiber arts, and book making.
• School Programs Guided school visits for 3rd to 12th grade including interactive gallery experiences and hands-on craft workshops, with free admission for LA schools.
• Adult Tours Self-guided and guided tours for adult and university groups to explore exhibitions and learn about craft; groups over 10 require reservation.
• Membership Program Tiered annual membership program (Individual, Household, Friend, Artist Circle, Curator's Circle, Director's Circle) offering free admission, reciprocal museum access at 900+ NARM museums, shop discounts, and exclusive events.
• Craft Contemporary Shop Curated retail selection of unique items from local and international artisans, including jewelry, ceramics, textiles, and craft supplies, with 10% member discount.
• Maker-in-Residence Program Artist residency program featuring makers on-site at the museum, allowing visitors to observe studio practice and engage with artists.
• CLAY LA Annual ceramic marketplace and fundraiser bringing together emerging and established ceramic makers from the greater Los Angeles area.
• Holiday Marketplace Annual festive shopping weekend showcasing curated contemporary craft and design by LA-based makers.
• Art Iran Curatorial Competition & Exhibition Curatorial competition and exhibition partnership with Farhang Foundation showcasing contemporary Iranian art and culture.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 NARM reciprocal museum partners for members
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Materials & Applications (M&A)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour-year partnership (2021-2026) for courtyard installations at Craft Contemporary, transforming the courtyard each summer with site-specific architectural projects. Final installation 'Earthen Comforts: Airing Earth' by Liz Gálvez explores passive cooling strategies for climate adaptation.
• Farhang FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramming and exhibition support for Art Iran exhibitions and curatorial competitions, celebrating Iranian art and culture. Partnered on Art Iran (2024) and Art Iran 2 curatorial competition (2027).
• The Institute for Art and OlfactioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramming partner supporting scent-based exhibitions and programs including IAO Olfactory Storylab Maker-in-Residence and Scent Fair LA events.
• Laguna ClayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProgramming and exhibition support providing materials and resources for ceramic arts programming.
• National Endowment for the ArtscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal arts funding supporting exhibitions and operations.
• KCRWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing radio coverage and promotion for exhibitions and events.
• UC Berkeley Arts Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership supporting Liz Gálvez's (Im)material Matters Lab and Earthen Comforts installation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bellevue Arts Museum: Pacific Northwest museum focused on craft, art, and design with rotating exhibitions and educational programming — comparable scale and regional nonprofit museum model.
• Society for Contemporary Craft: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit craft organization presenting exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational programs with a comparable craft-focused contemporary art mission.
• Contemporary Craft: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit advancing contemporary craft through exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational programming, with a comparable operational model and craft-focused mission.
• Houston Center for Contemporary Craft: Houston-based nonprofit gallery and education center dedicated to craft media with artist residencies and exhibitions, closely matching Craft Contemporary's craft-focused mission.
• Museum of Arts and Design (MAD): NYC museum dedicated to contemporary art, craft, and design with similar exhibitions, educational programs, and artist residency offerings — the most direct peer to Craft Contemporary in scope and mission.
• Museum of Craft and Design: San Francisco museum focused on craft and design with rotating exhibitions and educational programs, operating a similar nonprofit model with comparable programming categories.

Emerging players

• Center for Craft: Asheville, NC-based national nonprofit supporting craft through grants, residencies, and research — overlapping with Craft Contemporary's craft-advocacy mission while operating more as a funder/research entity than a museum.

Broad incumbents

• American Craft Council: National nonprofit organization supporting contemporary American craft through publications, events, and resources — a broader ecosystem player with overlapping mission but different delivery model than a single-site museum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CraftContemporary
• Instagraminstagram.com/craftcontemporary
• TikToktiktok.com/@craftcontemporary
• Xx.com/thecraftla

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Craft Contemporary