Blindspot Collective

What Blindspot Collective does

Blindspot Collective is a San Diego-based nonprofit theatre company founded in 2017 that produces theatrical programming at the intersection of advocacy, education, and entertainment. The organization creates immersive musicals, verbatim and documentary plays, forum theatre, site-specific performances, and large-scale puppetry productions that center historically excluded voices. Its core products span live productions (e.g., Dive Bar Time Machine, Untold, Qulili, Hall Pass, Safa's Story, Danny's Story, Kagitingan, Connecting Flights), K-12 educational programming (in-school tours, performing arts residencies, arts integration enrichment, and social-emotional learning programs), the Young Artist Collective for artists ages 14-24, and the CO-OP program supporting local artists through workspace residencies and a peer writers' group. Notable technical components include specialized verbatim theatre techniques drawing from over 100 interviews per production, Augusto Boal-style forum theatre, large-scale puppetry developed with Handspring Puppet Company, and site-specific performance design for non-traditional venues such as airports, schools, and libraries.

The organization's business model relies on a diversified mix of tax-deductible individual donations (one-time tiers from $50 to $1,000 and monthly subscriptions from $10 to $250), foundation and corporate sponsorships (including the San Diego Foundation, Conrad Prebys Foundation, Dr. Seuss Foundation, California Humanities, and the City and County of San Diego), ticket sales ($20-$25 per ticket through partner venues), and education programming fees delivered to K-12 schools (including Title I schools and the San Diego Unified School District). Its go-to-market is primarily event-driven and community-led, leveraging strategic partnerships with La Jolla Playhouse, ArtPower at UC San Diego, San Diego International Airport, Diversionary Theatre, and over 20 schools across San Diego County. Primary customer segments are K-12 schools and youth organizations, general public audiences, university partners, and emerging artists; donors and institutional sponsors are a secondary segment.

Operationally, the company is small (1-10 employees) led by Executive Artistic Director Blake McCarty and supported by five Producing Artists, with governance by a Board of Directors. Since its 2017 founding it has produced more than 25 original productions, reached thousands of students and audiences, and earned regional recognition including 2020 Theatre of the Year from the San Diego Union Tribune. Its footprint is concentrated in San Diego County, California, with no disclosed geographic expansion beyond Southern California, and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Blindspot Collective

Legal name

Blindspot Collective

Website

https://blindspotcollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Blindspot Collective is a San Diego-based nonprofit theatre company founded in 2017 that produces radically inclusive live performances, verbatim and forum theatre, K-12 educational programming, and artist development initiatives serving San Diego County communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts / Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI)

Keywords

• Live theatre productions
• Performing arts education
• Youth arts programs
• Artist development
• Community theatre

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible individual donations and monthly subscriptions from supporters, with various gift tiers based on contribution level.
2. Foundation and Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporations, foundations, and government agencies including the City of San Diego, San Diego Foundation, County of San Diego, and various cultural organizations.
3. Ticket Sales: Revenue from performances at venues including The Loft at UCSD, with tickets sold through ArtPower at UC San Diego.
4. Education Programming: Fees for school performances, workshops, residencies, and educational programming delivered to K-12 schools throughout San Diego County.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Blindspot Collective is a San Diego-based nonprofit theatre company that develops, produces, and tours original theatrical works including immersive musicals, verbatim/documentary plays, forum theatre for youth, and site-specific performances. The organization also operates educational programming for K-12 schools (in-school tours, performing arts residencies, arts integration, SEL programs) and artist development programs (Young Artist Collective for ages 14-24 and CO-OP providing rehearsal space and a writers' group). Revenue is generated through ticket sales, donations, foundation/corporate grants, school programming fees, and program registrations.

Product overview

Blindspot Collective is a San Diego-based nonprofit theatre company that produces radically inclusive programming at the intersection of advocacy, education, and entertainment. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of live theatrical productions including immersive musicals (Dive Bar Time Machine, Freshman Fifteen), verbatim and documentary plays (Untold, Qulili, Another Day in Paradise), forum theatre for youth (Danny's Story, Safa's Story), and community-specific works (Kagitingan, Refractions). Their educational division provides in-school tours, performing arts residencies, and arts integration enrichment programs for K-12 schools throughout San Diego County. The CO-OP program supports local artists through the Writers' Group incubator and Space Residency, while the Young Artist Collective offers pre-professional training for artists ages 14-24. The company also created site-specific works including Connecting Flights at San Diego International Airport and produced audio play series such as Unhallowed. The portfolio spans youth programming, social justice themes, mental health advocacy, and refugee stories, all delivered through professional theatre-making, forum theatre practices, and immersive audience experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dive Bar Time Machine An immersive jukebox musical mashup featuring songs spanning from the 1940s to present day, set in a dive bar where audiences experience music from every decade and genre. Targeted at general public audiences seeking live theatrical entertainment.
• Freshman Fifteen An immersive collection of short plays and musicals set on a college campus developed with La Jolla Playhouse, where audiences chart their own path through campus choosing which stories to follow. Targeted at general audiences and emerging artists submitting work.
• Young Artist Collective (YAC) A pre-professional program for artists ages 14-24 featuring mentorship and direction from professional artists, expanding skills in music, dance, and acting through intensive summer programming. $500 registration fee with pay-what-you-can options and fee waivers available. Targeted at emerging young artists in San Diego/Tijuana region.
• CO-OP Program A program empowering local San Diego artists through collaborative opportunities, including the Writers' Group peer incubator and Space Residency providing up to 40 hours of rehearsal space. Targeted at emerging artists in the San Diego/Tijuana region seeking workspace, mentorship, and collaborative development.
• In-School Tours In-school performances and extended learning opportunities led by professional teaching artists, exploring topics such as racism, bullying, and compassion using Forum Theatre practices. Targeted at K-12 schools including Title I schools across San Diego County.
• Performing Arts Residencies Customized performing arts residencies developed in consultation with schools, covering writing, poetry, performance, design, and verbatim theatre for elementary, middle, and high schools. Targeted at K-12 schools seeking curriculum-aligned programming.
• Arts Integration Enrichment Partnership programs introducing art skills while teaching core subject areas including California history, mythology, and science content through dance and creative movement. Targeted at K-12 schools seeking arts-integrated curriculum.
• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs Programs exploring personal storytelling, poetry, and performance art to support students in understanding emotions, demonstrating empathy, and developing social-emotional skills. Targeted at K-12 schools addressing SEL competencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Safa's Story reached 3,160+ students across 20 schools including 14 Title I schools for 52 performances
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• La Jolla PlayhousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration for productions including Freshman Fifteen, Hall Pass, and Without Walls Festival programming. Multiple co-productions and co-development of original works.
• ArtPower at UC San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for presenting Dive Bar Time Machine at The Loft at UCSD, ongoing collaboration on campus performances.
• Critical Refugee Studies CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership supporting refugee-focused productions like Qulili and ongoing research collaboration.
• San Diego Regional Arts and Culture CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts advocacy coalition providing regional arts sector support and collaboration.
• San Diego International AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst theatre company awarded performing arts residency for site-specific airport performances.
• Doctors Without BordersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for washed ashore production exploring refugee experiences alongside Little Amal.
• Students RebuildmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for washed ashore production and refugee-focused programming.
• Yalla San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRefugee service organization partner for Qulili development, supporting immigrant and refugee youth.
• Diversionary TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Danny's Story, a forum play about LGBTQ+ youth developed with Diversionary Theatre.
• Bocón ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Safa's Story world premiere production.
• Handspring Puppet CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPuppetry company collaboration for large-scale puppet productions.
• New Village ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre company partner for Untold development and Verbitas outreach program collaboration.
• San Diego Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary K-12 educational partner for school tour programming throughout the district.
• Juvenile Court & Community SchoolsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJCCS programming partner for workshops promoting social-emotional learning and self-expression.
• Canyon Crest AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for Young Artist Collective and Outrun the Wolf production.
• High Tech High, Liberty StationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for Hall Pass production.
• UCSD Department of Theatre and DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic department partner for productions and student involvement.
• The Old GlobemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor San Diego theatre institution partnership for regional arts collaboration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Sojourn Theatre: Portland-based company using verbatim and devised theatre around civic and social issues; directly comparable methodology to Blindspot's verbatim/forum approach though operating in a different geography.
• La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club: New York-based nonprofit incubator for experimental, inclusive, and diverse new work; comparable as a small-scale producing organization supporting emerging artists and radical theatrical forms.

Direct peers

• Cornerstone Theater Company: Los Angeles-based community-engaged theatre company producing original, culturally specific work with non-actors and underrepresented communities; closely aligned with Blindspot's verbatim, community-driven, inclusion-focused methodology.
• New Village Arts: North County San Diego theatre company that co-developed Untold and The Magic in This Soul with Blindspot; closely comparable as a producing company working on verbatim and original work in the same regional market.
• Cygnet Theatre: San Diego-based nonprofit theatre company producing a mix of original, musical, and classic work at a comparable mid-size scale, sharing the same regional audience and funding ecosystem as Blindspot.
• Diversionary Theatre: San Diego's LGBTQ+ focused theatre company and a direct Blindspot collaborator on Danny's Story; comparable as a mission-driven, identity-centered producing company with overlapping audiences and education work.
• MOXIE Theatre: San Diego-based nonprofit theatre producing original and contemporary work with a focus on diverse voices; comparable in scale, mission, and regional footprint.
• La Jolla Playhouse: Tony Award-winning San Diego theatre company that is Blindspot's most frequent co-producing partner and venue host through the Without Walls Festival; directly comparable as a producing regional theatre working with original work in San Diego.

Broad incumbents

• San Diego Repertory Theatre: Established downtown San Diego theatre producing new and contemporary works; competes for overlapping audiences, donors, and grant funding within the same metro.
• The Old Globe: Major San Diego theatrical institution and a listed Blindspot partner; operates at a much larger scale producing Broadway-bound work but serves the same San Diego audience and donor base for original and classical programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/blindspotco
• Instagraminstagram.com/blindspotco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blindspot-collective

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Blindspot Collective