Burlington City Arts

What Burlington City Arts does

Burlington City Arts (BCA) is a nonprofit arts organization and public body of the City of Burlington, Vermont, established in 1990 by a Burlington City Council resolution (originally as the Mayor's Arts Council) and led by Executive Director Doreen Kraft. The organization is governed by an Advisory Board appointed by the Mayor of Burlington, with board membership comprising a President (Sarah Rogers), Vice President (Laura McDonough), Treasurer (Michelle Buswell), Secretary (Billi Gosh), and Past President (Lori Rowe). BCA operates two physical facilities: the BCA Center at 135 Church Street, which functions as the main gallery and office, and the BCA Studios at 405 Pine Street, which houses artist studio memberships and the clay studio.

BCA's programming spans five core lines: a rotating Exhibitions Program at the BCA Center; an Events and Festivals calendar anchored by the 14-year-running Summer Concert Series, Festival of Fools, Splash Dance, and the Highlight New Year's Eve Festival; an Education portfolio that includes studio memberships, adult and youth classes, gallery learning for school groups, and the Art from the Heart hospital-arts program at UVM Medical Center and UVM Children's Hospital; a Public Art program that curates and manages sculptures, murals, and community art projects throughout Burlington (including named installations such as Lakebone, Anthology, and the Embrace and Belonging sculpture); and grant programs including the annual $5,000 Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award and BCA's co-sponsorship of the $5,000 Vermont Prize.

The business model is hybrid nonprofit: BCA earns revenue across six streams — philanthropy and major gifts, individual and business memberships, corporate sponsorships and event underwriting (with named underwriters including the Pomerleau Family Foundation and supporting sponsors such as Burlington Telecom, Myti, Soundtoys, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and American Flatbread), government and foundation grants, paid program fees for classes and studio memberships, and space-rental income. Most public-facing programs (exhibitions, Summer Concert Series, community events) are offered free of charge under a freemium pricing model, while classes, studio memberships, and facility rentals carry fees. GTM is community-led and event-driven: marketing runs primarily through earned media in outlets such as Seven Days, WCAX, NBC5, the Burlington Free Press, and Vermont Biz, supplemented by organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), an email newsletter segmented by Calls to Artists, Exhibitions and Events, Classes, Volunteering, and a Monthly Newsletter, and formal community partnerships with the City of Burlington's REIB and CEDO offices, Church Street Marketplace, and UVM Medical Center. BCA does not operate a technology platform, mobile app, or public API; its operations are fundamentally physical and event-based in a single Burlington, Vermont market.

Name

Burlington City Arts

Legal name

Burlington City Arts

Website

https://burlingtoncityarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Burlington City Arts is a nonprofit arts organization and designated public body of the City of Burlington, Vermont, operating the BCA Center gallery and BCA Studios to deliver free exhibitions, concerts, festivals, public art, and arts education programming to the Burlington community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Cultural Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Art exhibitions gallery
• Arts education classes
• Public art installations
• Festival event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropy and Donations: Individual donations, major gifts, and planned giving from supporters. Board members are expected to participate in giving and fundraising efforts.
2. Membership Programs: Organizational membership support from individuals and businesses.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Underwriting and sponsorship from local businesses including Pomerleau Family Foundation, Burlington Telecom, Soundtoys, Lake Champlain Chocolates, American Flatbread, and others for specific programs and events.
4. Government and Foundation Grants: Grant funding from city, state, and federal sources, as well as private foundations to support arts programming and public art initiatives.
5. Program Fees: Revenue from classes, workshops, studio memberships, and educational programs for youth and adults.
6. Space Rentals: Rental income from BCA's spaces for events and community use.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Burlington City Arts (BCA) is a nonprofit arts organization that runs rotating gallery exhibitions, year-round free community events and festivals, arts education for youth and adults, public art installations across the city, and signature programming such as Summer in the City and Highlight New Year's Eve. It operates two physical facilities — the BCA Center gallery at 135 Church Street and BCA Studios at 405 Pine Street — and administers grant programs including the Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award and the Vermont Prize.

Product overview

Burlington City Arts (BCA) is a nonprofit arts organization that operates as a single unified entity offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include: Exhibitions Program (rotating gallery shows at the BCA Center), Events and Festivals (concerts, block parties, seasonal celebrations), Education Programs (classes, camps, studio memberships, Art from the Heart hospital program), Public Art (curating sculptures and murals citywide), and annual signature events including Summer in the City and Highlight New Year's Eve Festival. BCA also operates two physical facilities—the BCA Center gallery at 135 Church Street and BCA Studios at 405 Pine Street—and administers grant programs including the Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award ($5,000) and co-sponsors the Vermont Prize ($5,000). The organization functions primarily as a community arts provider and event organizer rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitions Program Rotating gallery exhibitions featuring contemporary visual artists, including current, upcoming, and past exhibitions as well as external exhibitions, offered at the BCA Center for the Burlington community.
• Events and Festivals Year-round public events including the Summer Concert Series, Festival of Fools, Splash Dance, Discover Jazz Festival performances, Main Street Block Party, and other seasonal celebrations, offered to community members free of charge.
• Education Programs Arts education offerings including studio memberships, adult and youth classes and camps, gallery learning for schools and community groups, and the Art from the Heart program at UVM Medical Center, serving youth, families, and adult learners.
• Public Art Program Curates and manages public art installations throughout Burlington, including sculptures on Main Street, murals, and community art projects that beautify public spaces and honor community values.
• BCA Studios (Studio Membership and Clay Studio) Artist studio spaces and community rooms located at 405 Pine Street, Burlington, available for studio memberships and rentals, serving visual artists and community members who need creative workspace.
• BCA Center Gallery and Venue Primary BCA gallery and event venue located at 135 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont, hosting exhibitions, events, and space rentals, with free admission to the public during open hours.
• Diane Gabriel Visual Artist Award Annual $5,000 visual artist award supporting Vermont artists, with applications opening in January each year, administered by Burlington City Arts.
• Summer in the City Annual free outdoor concert and art event series running June through September featuring 80+ free concerts, festivals, market, movies, and more across downtown Burlington venues including City Hall Park.
• Highlight New Year's Eve Festival Annual New Year's Eve celebration with live music, art installations, and community activities, featuring the burning of a Champ effigy and Caribbean cultural performances, offered to the Burlington community.
• Art from the Heart Program Brings arts experiences to patients and families at UVM Medical Center and UVM Children's Hospital, including patient rooms and waiting areas, delivered through BCA staff and volunteers.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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.

• City of Burlington (Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2026BCA partners with the City of Burlington's Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (REIB) for community events including Juneteenth celebrations and other cultural programming at City Hall Park.
• Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2026BCA collaborates with CEDO on community development initiatives, public art projects, and economic development programs that enhance Burlington's cultural landscape.
• Church Street MarketplacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2026BCA partners with Church Street Marketplace for events and festivals in the downtown district, including co-producing Juneteenth Burlington 2026.
• Seven DaysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing press coverage and promotional support for BCA events and programs.
• WCAXminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing press coverage and promotional support for BCA events and programs.
• UVM Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCA operates the Art from the Heart program at UVM Medical Center and Children's Hospital, bringing arts experiences to patients and families.
• Vermont Business MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEarned media coverage of BCA news, events, and community impact through press releases and editorial coverage.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• MASS MoCA: Large-scale contemporary art museum in North Adams, MA with rotating exhibitions, education, and festivals. Comparable in mission (exhibitions + programming + education) but operates at significantly greater scale and budget.
• Vermont Arts Council: Statewide arts funding and policy organization distributing grants and supporting Vermont artists and organizations. Comparable as a Vermont arts intermediary that competes for similar state, federal, and foundation grant dollars.

Direct peers

• Flynn Center for the Performing Arts: Burlington, VT-based performing arts presenter that programs concerts, festivals, and educational programming. Directly comparable to BCA's concerts/events arm and shares the same Burlington funding and audience pool.
• Shelburne Museum: Vermont museum operating exhibitions, educational programs, and public programming on a larger scale. Closely comparable as a Vermont nonprofit cultural institution with similar mission, programming mix, and funding model.
• Brattleboro Museum & Art Center: Vermont community art museum presenting rotating exhibitions and arts education. Directly comparable as a Vermont nonprofit running exhibitions, education, and community programming on a similar operating scale.

Others

• Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit arts services organization providing advocacy, research, and tools to local arts agencies. Comparable as an enabling/thematically related institution shaping the policy and funding environment in which BCA operates.
• Vermont Community Foundation: Statewide grantmaker that funds Vermont nonprofits including arts organizations. Comparable as a counterparty in BCA's funding ecosystem and as an adjacent institution competing for donor attention across the Vermont nonprofit landscape.
• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies: Membership organization of state and jurisdictional arts agencies influencing federal arts funding policy. Comparable as a peer in the broader arts policy ecosystem that affects BCA's access to state and federal grant funding.

Regional players

• Middlebury College Museum of Art: Vermont college museum presenting exhibitions and educational programs. Comparable as a Vermont exhibition and education institution, but anchored in a college setting with different funding base than BCA's municipal nonprofit model.
• Currier Museum of Art: Manchester, NH community art museum with exhibitions, education, and public programs. Comparable as a community-anchored art museum operating exhibitions and education, but in a different regional market from BCA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/burlingtoncityarts
• Facebookfacebook.com/BTVCITYARTS
• Instagraminstagram.com/btvcityarts
• Xx.com/btvcityarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-pearl-theatre-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 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 Burlington City Arts