Oxford Community Art Center

What Oxford Community Art Center does

Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts organization headquartered at 10 S College Ave, Oxford, Ohio, in the historic 1849 Oxford Female Institute building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The organization was established in 2006 under the leadership of founding Executive Director Caroline Lehman Croswell and currently operates under Executive Director Heidi E. Schiller, with a lean staff of approximately 11 full-time and part-time personnel. OCAC's mission is dual: preserving a historically significant property while providing diverse cultural and arts programming to the Oxford, OH community and surrounding Butler County area.

The organization's core product portfolio includes live performances (10SoCo Concerts, Magic Carpet Family Shows, OxACT theatrical productions, and 2nd Friday Art & Music celebrations), rotating art exhibitions in the First Floor Galleries, arts education classes and summer camps (registered through the Corsizio platform), free outdoor Summer Movies, signature annual events (Ox Chalks the Walks, the Annual Gala), and facility rentals covering the Brant Ballroom, theatre, studios, and Outdoor Pavilion. Underlying technology is limited to off-the-shelf web tools: The Events Calendar plugin for event management, PayPal for donation and payment processing, and Better Impact for volunteer management.

OCAC's revenue model is a hybrid of donations and grants, earned revenue, and event-driven income. Major institutional funders include ArtsWave, the City of Oxford, the Greater Oxford Community Foundation (including the Ernst Bever Fund), the Kiwanis Club of Oxford, and the Ohio Arts Council. Earned revenue streams include ticket sales ($7–$20 per ticket), facility rentals for weddings and events, class registrations, Art Shop consignment commissions, and Annual Gala tickets ($125 advance, $150 at the door). The center reaches customers primarily through organic digital channels (website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok, email newsletter) and through community partnerships, particularly with Miami University, local schools, Rotary Club, and regional arts organizations. The GTM motion is community-led: building local engagement and recurring participation through free and low-cost programming, volunteer programs, and word-of-mouth via partner organizations.

Name

Oxford Community Art Center

Legal name

Oxford Community Arts Center

Website

https://oxarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Oxford Community Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts organization in Oxford, Ohio, operating from the historic 1849 Oxford Female Institute building. It serves local residents and Miami University affiliates through performances, exhibitions, classes, summer camps, and facility rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Center

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Performing arts events
• Arts education classes
• Facility rental services
• Community theater productions

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on donations from individuals, annual campaigns, and gala fundraisers. They accept PayPal donations and have an Annual Campaign program.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed events including theatrical performances ($15), concerts ($20), magic carpet shows ($7), and contra dances ($7).
3. Space Rentals: Revenue from renting facilities for weddings, meetings, performances, and special events. Includes Resident Artists studio rentals on the third floor.
4. Class Registrations: Revenue from summer camps and arts education classes. Classes are managed through Corsizio registration platform.
5. Art Sales: The Art Shop sells artwork and the center takes a commission on sales.
6. Gala Revenue: Annual Gala with ticket sales ($125 advance, $150 at door) and auction items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Oxford Community Arts Center (OCAC) is a nonprofit community arts organization that develops, hosts, and presents a diversified calendar of live performances, rotating gallery exhibitions, classes, summer camps, and community events out of the historic 1849 Oxford Female Institute building in Oxford, Ohio. The center also rents its facilities (Brant Ballroom, theater, studios, outdoor pavilion) for weddings, meetings, and private events, and operates an Art Shop and fundraising programs including an annual gala.

Product overview

Oxford Community Arts Center is a community arts organization operating from the historic 1849 Oxford Female Institute building, offering a multi-faceted portfolio of arts programming including live performances (10SoCo Concerts, Magic Carpet Family Shows, OxACT theatrical productions), rotating art exhibitions, classes and summer camps, free outdoor summer movies, community events (Ox Chalks the Walks, Annual Gala, 2nd Friday celebrations), and facility rentals for weddings and events. The organization serves Oxford, Ohio and surrounding areas through its diverse programming calendar managed through its website and event systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Performances (10SoCo Concerts, Magic Carpet Family Shows, OxACT Theatre, 2nd Friday Art & Music) Year-round schedule of ticketed and free live performances including the 10SoCo concert series, Magic Carpet Family Shows with visiting children's troupes such as Lexington Children's Theatre and Madcap Puppets, OxACT resident-theatre productions, and monthly 2nd Friday Art & Music celebrations featuring musical guests, targeted at local residents, Miami University students, and families.
• Art Exhibitions Rotating visual art exhibitions in OCAC's First Floor Galleries featuring local, regional, and student artists, with opening receptions tied to the monthly 2nd Friday Art & Music events. Open to the general public.
• Classes and Summer Camps Year-round arts education for children and adults, including summer camps (e.g., D&D Camp), workshops, and the free Children's Garden program for ages 6-13 hosted on 2nd Fridays. Registration managed through the Corsizio platform.
• Summer Movies Free outdoor family film screenings held on the OCAC lawn in front of the Outdoor Pavilion, with free popcorn, cotton candy, and lawn games. Sponsored primarily by Jack & Sally Southard.
• Facility Rentals Rental of OCAC's historic spaces — Brant Ballroom, theatre, third-floor Resident Artists studios, North Parlor, and Outdoor Pavilion — for weddings, meetings, performances, and private special events, coordinated by the Facilities Coordinator.
• Ox Chalks the Walks Annual late-August chalk art festival featuring free drawing areas, a chalk art contest with cash prizes, live entertainment, face painting, food trucks, and craft vendors, held on and around the OCAC grounds.
• Annual Gala Annual themed fundraising gala (e.g., 2026 theme "Route 66: Get Your Kicks") with ticketed attendance ($125 advance, $150 at door) and an auction, raising unrestricted support for OCAC operations.
• Art Shop On-site retail of artwork in which OCAC takes a commission on sales, supporting both artists and the center's operations.

Named customers12 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered program partner, sponsor and core partner.

• Rotary Club of Oxfordprogram partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of community events including Howl at the Moon family fall event.
• The Elms HotelsponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal hospitality partner sponsoring 2nd Friday celebrations and other community events. Contributes to event promotion and community engagement.
• Jack & Sally SouthardsponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndividual sponsors providing ongoing support for Summer Movies series, free movie screenings, and other events. Primary sponsor for movie nights.
• Miami Universitycore partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor university partner providing student involvement, faculty exhibitions, and collaborative programming. Students and faculty regularly use OCAC facilities for performances and art exhibitions.
• Talawanda Band Boostersprogram partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool support organization hosting artisan craft market during OCAC Holiday Fest event.
• OxACT (Oxford Community Theatre)core partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident theatre company producing dramatic performances at OCAC including main stage productions.
• Flowing Grace School of Danceprogram partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance school providing performances at OCAC events including Holiday Fest.
• Oxford Visual Arts Connectionprogram partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization hosting exhibitions at OCAC including the 9th Annual Calendar Artists Exhibition.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fitton Center for Creative Arts: Community arts center in Hamilton, OH (same Butler County region) offering classes, exhibitions, performances, and special events from a historic building. Highly comparable in mission, programming mix, and scale to OCAC.
• Heights Arts: Cleveland Heights, OH nonprofit presenting music, dance, theater, film, and visual arts programming plus exhibitions. Comparable community-arts nonprofit with multi-discipline offerings.
• Carnegie Center for Art & History: Community arts and history center in Covington, KY operating from a historic Carnegie library building with exhibitions, performances, and educational programming. Highly comparable venue type and programming.
• Kennedy Heights Arts Center: Cincinnati-area community arts center offering classes, exhibitions, performances, and artist residencies. Comparable in nonprofit operating model, multi-discipline programming, and reliance on donations/grants.

Regional players

• Massillon Museum: Ohio community museum offering exhibitions, programming, and events in a single historic facility. Comparable scale, regional scope, and nonprofit operating model.
• Springfield Museum of Art: Regional Ohio art museum presenting exhibitions, classes, and community events. Comparable single-site nonprofit arts programming with similar donor/revenue mix.
• Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum: Hamilton, OH (Butler County) arts organization combining outdoor sculpture park with indoor exhibitions and events. Comparable regional footprint and donor-supported operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBUrDdS_xSrtLPWrzqcNXRg
• Facebookfacebook.com/OxfordCommunityArtsCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/65409467
• Instagraminstagram.com/oxcomartscenter
• TikToktiktok.com/@oxcomartscenter?lang=en
• Xx.com/OxComArtsCenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Oxford Community Art Center