Arts Corp
Arts Corps is a Seattle-based nonprofit founded in 2000 that delivers free youth arts education to 2,000+ K-12 students annually through in-school residencies, after-school enrichment, and paid teen internships across 25+ partner sites in the South Puget Sound region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Arts Corp does
Arts Corps is a Seattle-based nonprofit founded in 2000 by Lisa Fitzhugh that delivers free arts education to K-12 youth through partnerships with schools, school districts, and community organizations across Seattle, South King County, and the broader South Puget Sound region. Its program portfolio spans Creative Schools arts integration residencies, Out of School Time enrichment classes (priced at $6,000 per quarter), Interagency Academy programming for alternative high schools, paid teen internships such as Art 4 Life and Print 4 Life, and community-based initiatives including the All City Choir, Teen Art Jam, New Futures housing-community programming, and weekly classes at the King County Youth Detention Center. Delivery is anchored by professional teaching artists operating across more than 25 partner sites and reaching 2,000+ students annually, the majority of whom are students of color served at no cost to their families. The organization is governed by a board of directors and led by Executive Director Shawn Roberts and Director of Arts Education Jéhan Òsanyìn.
The organization operates without proprietary technology, relying instead on in-person teaching-artist delivery at partner sites supplemented by community venues such as Washington Hall, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, and The Vera Project. Revenue is a mix of foundation grants (Harvest Foundation, Laird Norton Family Foundation, Medina Foundation, Norcliffe Foundation, 4Culture, Arts WA, ArtsFund, Best Starts for Kids, and others), government funding, individual donations including a recurring Culture Club program, earned program fees from partner schools and organizations, branded merchandise sales, and interest income. Class sponsorship opportunities begin at $5,000 annually, and public giving tiers (e.g., $25,000 for 30 weeks of OST programming) frame donor asks against unit economics.
Competitive positioning rests on a 25-year operating history, a 2012 White House National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, and embedded relationships across education, juvenile justice, housing, and cultural-sector institutions. The go-to-market is community-led and partnership-driven rather than transactional, with school-district and county-government contracts acting as the primary revenue anchors alongside diversified foundation support. Expansion is measured and regional, with demand-side pull from schools requesting partnership and incremental verticals in juvenile justice and housing-community enrichment.
Arts Corp firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arts Corp
- Legal name
- Arts Corps
- Website
- https://artscorps.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Arts Corps is a Seattle-based nonprofit founded in 2000 that delivers free youth arts education to 2,000+ K-12 students annually through in-school residencies, after-school enrichment, and paid teen internships across 25+ partner sites in the South Puget Sound region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arts Corp industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Arts Education Services
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK), Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils) (EDAAAFAD)
Keywords
Where Arts Corp is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Arts Corp business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Grants and Foundation Support: Arts Corps receives significant funding from foundations and government grants. The organization lists numerous foundation supporters including Harvest Foundation, Laird Norton Family Foundation, Medina Foundation, Norcliffe Foundation, Rivers and Road Foundation, Ellison Foundation, and government sources including Arts WA, ArtsFund, and Best Starts for Kids. Class sponsorship opportunities are available for donors contributing $5,000 or more annually.
- Individual Donations: The organization receives donations from individuals, including monthly recurring donations through the Culture Club program. One-time and recurring gift options are available on the donation page. Stock donations are also accepted.
- Earned Income: Arts Corps generates earned income through program fees charged to schools and partner organizations. Out-of-School Time enrichment classes cost $6,000 per quarter, and Creative Schools arts integration residencies cost $10,000 for 3 classes.
- Merchandise Sales: Arts Corps sells merchandise including 'Make Art Anyway' branded items such as hoodies ($65), t-shirts ($25), ceramic mugs ($15), enamel mugs ($15), tote bags ($20), and embroidered beanies ($20).
- Interest Income: Arts Corps receives interest income as part of its funding mix.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Quarterly | Out of School Time Enrichment Classes - $6,000/quarter |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Creative Schools Arts Integration Residency - $10,000 for 3 classes |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Teaching Artist hourly rate: $72-$102/hour |
| Subscription | Annual | Class Sponsorship - $5,000+ annually |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Arts Corp product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arts Corps delivers free, culturally engaging arts education to K-12 youth in Seattle and South Puget Sound through professional teaching artist programs. Offerings include arts integration residencies in schools (Creative Schools), after-school enrichment classes (Out of School Time), alternative high school classes (Interagency Arts Program), paid youth internships (Art 4 Life, Print 4 Life), affordable housing community programs (New Futures), open studio sessions (Teen Art Jam), vocal training (All City Choir), and weekly classes at the King County Youth Detention Center. The organization also sells "Make Art Anyway" branded merchandise.
Product overview
Arts Corps is a nonprofit youth arts education organization offering a portfolio of programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include Creative Schools (arts integration residencies in schools), Out of School Time enrichment classes, Interagency Arts Programs, and youth internships such as Art 4 Life and Print 4 Life. Additional programs include New Futures (partnering with housing communities), Teen Art Jam (open studio sessions), All City Choir (vocal training), and detention center programming. The organization also sells branded merchandise through its store. These programs collectively address the race and income-based opportunity gap in access to arts education for K-12 students in South Puget Sound.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Creative Schools (Arts Integration) Arts integration residencies that place Arts Corps teaching artists in schools ($10,000 for 3 classes) to collaborate with classroom teachers during school hours, fostering deep relationships and student learning through collaborative projects.
- Out of School Time After-school arts enrichment classes ($6,000/quarter) offered once or twice weekly for 1-2 hours per class over eight weeks at partner schools and community sites, taught by community-based teaching artists specializing in various art forms and cultural expressions.
- Interagency Arts Program Arts classes delivered at five Interagency Academy alternative high school sites, serving students who have not found success at traditional schools through small group instruction in visual arts, graphic design, and printmaking.
- Art 4 Life Paid 1-2 week arts intensive for teens ages 13-19 offering workshops in analog/digital art, entrepreneurship, storytelling, and professional experiences with career exploration in creative and technology spaces; $300 stipend per student.
- Print 4 Life Screen printing and entrepreneurship program for Interagency Academy students, where participants design and sell products at local events while earning school credit; launched in 2018.
- New Futures Partnership with Southwest Youth & Family Services providing academic support, enrichment activities including arts classes, youth development, and family advocacy at four affordable housing communities in South King County.
- Teen Art Jam Monthly open studio program for teenagers ages 14-19 held every second Friday at the Arts Corps office, offering visual art activities led by Teaching Artists with supplies and dinner provided.
- All City Choir Free weekly vocal training program from September to July for young people ages 14-25 across King County, led by master teaching artist Erica Merritt, with rehearsals at Washington Hall.
- King County Youth Detention Center Program Weekly classes in graphic design, visual arts, dance, and spoken word at the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center for youth in secure detention ages 11-17.
- "Make Art Anyway" Merchandise Branded merchandise including hoodies ($65), t-shirts ($25), ceramic mugs ($15), enamel mugs ($15), tote bags ($20), and embroidered beanies ($20) featuring the 'Make Art Anyway' slogan.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 2,000 K-12 students served annually in South Puget Sound
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Arts Corp
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Arts Corp technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Arts Corp partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Highline School DistrictcorePrimary school district partner for Creative Schools arts integration and Out of School Time programming in Highline Public Schools.
- Seattle Public Schools - Interagency AcademycoreNetwork of alternative high schools partnered with Arts Corps for Interagency Arts Programs including Print 4 Life. Five Interagency sites receive arts classes.
- Southwest Youth and Family ServicescorePartner for New Futures program providing arts enrichment at four affordable housing communities in South King County.
- King County Department of Adult & Juvenile DetentioncoreDepartment partnered with Arts Corps to bring visual arts, movement, and spoken word to youth in detention at the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center.
- Amara Family ServicesminorPartner hosting Art 4 Life summer internship at their South Seattle location, serving youth ages 11-18.
- Common Area Maintenance (CAM)coreHost site for Art 4 Life summer internship program providing arts intensive for teens.
- Partners in Print (PiP)minorLetterpress nonprofit in Belltown that partnered with Arts Corps to introduce printmaking through provisional presses.
- KEXPminorRadio station partnered with Arts Corps to offer Youth Radio Program allowing students to work with KEXP DJs and gain music curation and broadcast skills.
- Langston Hughes Performing Arts InstituteminorVenue hosting Healing Drum Workshop taught by Arts Corps teaching artist.
- Washington HallminorSeattle's historically African-American theater venue hosting All City Youth Choir rehearsals every Friday.
- The Vera ProjectminorVenue hosting Art 4 Life Showcase performances.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Arts Corp competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Creative Youth Network (Boston): Nonprofit offering arts-based programming, performing-arts opportunities, and arts-career pathways to teens. Directly comparable teen leadership, paid internship (Art 4 Life equivalent), and arts-career exploration components of Arts Corps' model.
- National Dance Institute: New York-based nonprofit delivering in-school dance residencies to underserved K–12 students. Comparable teaching-artist-in-schools model, similar school-district partnership structure, and closely aligned arts-education mission for youth of color.
- Community Music Center of San Francisco: Long-running community-based music and arts school offering tuition-free or low-cost instruction to youth. Comparable nonprofit community-arts-education model with similar mixed funding (earned tuition + donations + grants) and youth-of-color focus.
- Performing Arts Workshop: San Francisco nonprofit providing arts residencies and after-school programs in dance, music, and visual arts to underserved youth. Closely comparable operating model (school-day residencies + after-school classes, paid teaching artists) and fundraising structure.
- Coyote Central: Seattle nonprofit that pairs professional artists with youth for multi-week studio classes in visual, performing, and media arts. Closest direct peer to Arts Corps' Out-of-School-Time enrichment model, including pricing/hourly-rate structure and partnership with Seattle Public Schools.
- AileyCamp (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater): National summer arts program serving low-income youth of color through dance. Highly comparable: same target audience, similar reputation, similar funded-foundation model; Arts Corps' Shawn Roberts previously directed STG AileyCamp.
- Urban Artworks: Seattle-based nonprofit that uses public art and mural-making to engage youth. Directly comparable to Arts Corps in mission (youth arts education), geography (Seattle), and delivery model (in-community teaching artists working on real-world projects).
Regional players
- Seattle Children's Theatre: Seattle-based theatre education organization offering classes and productions for young people. Shares the same Seattle market and K–12 theatre-arts education offering as Arts Corps' drama/theatre programs.
Others
- 826 National: Network of nonprofit writing and tutoring centers serving underserved youth ages 6–18. Comparable nonprofit, free-to-youth creative-education operating model though focused on writing rather than visual/performing arts; relevant for fundraising and after-school program benchmarks.
Emerging players
- AS220 Youth Theatre: Providence, RI nonprofit running free youth arts programming in theatre, music, and visual arts. Similar small-budget, community-anchored arts-education model and free-to-youth pricing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Arts Corp social profiles
Digital presenceArts Corp financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arts Corp leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles30 records
Arts Corp funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arts Corp 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 Arts Corp
What does Arts Corp do?
Arts Corps delivers free, culturally engaging arts education to K-12 youth in Seattle and South Puget Sound through professional teaching artist programs. Offerings include arts integration residencies in schools (Creative Schools), after-school enrichment classes (Out of School Time), alternative high school classes (Interagency Arts Program), paid youth internships (Art 4 Life, Print 4 Life), affordable housing community programs (New Futures), open studio sessions (Teen Art Jam), vocal training (All City Choir), and weekly classes at the King County Youth Detention Center. The organization also sells "Make Art Anyway" branded merchandise.
Is Arts Corp a public or private company?
Arts Corp is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Arts Corp founded?
Arts Corp was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Arts Corp based?
Arts Corp is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Arts Corp make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Grants and Foundation Support is the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, earned Income, merchandise Sales and interest Income.
Who are Arts Corp's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Creative Youth Network (Boston), National Dance Institute, Community Music Center of San Francisco, Performing Arts Workshop, Coyote Central, AileyCamp (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) and Urban Artworks. Seattle Children's Theatre is listed as a regional player. 826 National is listed as an others. AS220 Youth Theatre is listed as an emerging player.
Does Arts Corp have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arts Corp.
What industry is Arts Corp in?
Arts Corp's product category is Youth Arts Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs, with a secondary code of EDAJAFAK, Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing). Its NAICS code is 611610 and its SIC code is 8200.