Columbia Basin Allied Arts

What Columbia Basin Allied Arts does

Columbia Basin Allied Arts (CBAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization based in Moses Lake, Washington, founded in the late 1970s (firmographics cite 1976; one source cites 1978). It operates as the regional Local Arts Agency for Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties, serving a 300 square mile rural area that includes some of Washington's smallest school districts. The organization delivers cultural programming through three primary series: the Premier Series (in-theater performances featuring national touring companies at Wallenstien Theater on the Big Bend Community College campus), the Green Turtle Series (children's theater camps and K-12 in-school outreach, anchored by a 40+ year Missoula Children's Theatre residency), and the Civic Series (community festivals in non-traditional venues including Arts Quest, UMANI Festival, and Music at the Market). Additional offerings include a Friday Film Series, Kids Comedy Camp, Dinner Theater, visual arts/mural projects, a Children's Art Fund for financial assistance, and community directories connecting musicians and music teachers.

CBAA reaches nearly 5,000 students through in-school outreach and over 15,000 community members through free arts opportunities annually, while selling more than 1,200 tickets to live in-theater performances and paying approximately $58,000 to local and traveling artists each year. Its revenue is diversified across five streams: ticket sales (general admission $12 for films, $7 for children's theater performances), annual memberships, donations and fundraising events (including a Kentucky Derby Luncheon fundraiser targeting $35,000 in 2026), foundation grants (from MJ Murdock Trust, National Endowment for the Arts, Creative West, Washington State Arts Commission, Icicle Fund, and Innovia Foundation), and corporate sponsorships. The organization is led by Executive Director Shawn Cardwell with a small team (1-10 employees) and a Board of Directors; ticketing runs across multiple platforms (Arts People, Vendini, OvationTix, Eventbrite). It has received the Washington Governor's Arts Award for Artistic Excellence, one of a select few arts organizations so honored.

Name

Columbia Basin Allied Arts

Legal name

Columbia Basin Allied Arts

Website

https://cba-arts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Columbia Basin Allied Arts is a Moses Lake, Washington nonprofit arts organization serving Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties with theater performances, children's camps, community festivals, and film screenings. It operates as a regional Local Arts Agency, reaching over 15,000 community members and nearly 5,000 students annually through ticketed and free programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts and Cultural Programming

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Performing arts presentations
• Youth theater education
• Cultural festival production
• Local arts agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Moses Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from live theater performances, film screenings, and event admissions. Tickets sold through Arts People platform and at-door. General admission $12 for films, $7 for children's theater performances.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership program offering benefits including free popcorn, reduced wait times, and exclusive access. Promoted on website with membership sign-up options.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Annual Kentucky Derby Fundraiser Luncheon and other fundraising events. Donation drive with prize incentives (e.g., $50 per entry into drawing). Goal of $35,000 for 2026 fundraiser.
4. Foundation Grants: Major funding from MJ Murdock Trust Capital Grant, plus support from National Endowment for the Arts, Creative West, Washington State Arts Commission, MJ Murdock Trust, Icicle Fund, and Innovia Foundation.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorships from local businesses including EDUBS C/S, Midway Beverages, and others for specific programs and events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Columbia Basin Allied Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that produces and presents cultural programming across Washington's Columbia Basin region. It operates three core series — the Premier Series (in-theater performances by national touring companies), the Green Turtle Series (children's theater camps and school outreach), and the Civic Series (free community festivals) — alongside membership programs, fundraising events, and artist/teacher directories.

Product overview

Columbia Basin Allied Arts is a nonprofit arts organization offering a diverse portfolio of cultural programs and events across Washington's Columbia Basin region. The organization operates primarily through its Premier Series (professional in-theater performances), Green Turtle Series (children's theater camps and school outreach), and Civic Series (community festivals in non-traditional venues). Programs span live theater, music performances, film screenings, visual arts, and arts education for all ages. Key offerings include Missoula Children's Theatre residencies, the UMANI Festival celebrating Hispanic heritage, Arts Quest mobile arts festival, music programming at local markets, and youth comedy camps. The organization also maintains community resources including Musician and Music Teacher directories, operates a Children's Art Fund for financial assistance, and offers membership programs. The portfolio functions as a unified cultural programming ecosystem serving Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties with both ticketed and free community events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Premier Series In-theater performances featuring nationally and internationally acclaimed acts including dance, theater, and music performances at Wallenstien Theater on Big Bend Community College campus. Target audience: general public and theater patrons in the Columbia Basin region.
• Green Turtle Series Children's programming focused on engaging youth through theater camps and in-school outreach performances in public schools throughout Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties. Target audience: K-12 students and families.
• Civic Series Community programming serving new audiences in non-traditional venues including festivals in downtown Moses Lake such as Arts Quest and UMANI Festival. Target audience: general community members and families.
• Missoula Children's Theatre Week-long theater residencies during Spring Break and other times, welcoming K-12 students for auditions, rehearsals, and performances. Camp is free for participants; performance tickets $7 each. A 40+ year tradition engaging families across generations.
• Friday Film Series Curated film screenings held at Moses Lake Civic Center Auditorium, often with thematic events and community partnerships. General admission $12. Target audience: general community members.
• Arts Quest: Mobile Arts Fest Mobile arts festival bringing basic arts activities to several communities throughout the Columbia Basin during summer. Target audience: families and community members of all ages.
• UMANI Festival Major community-wide collaboration celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, featuring lowrider car show, live music, artists, workshops, vendors, food trucks, and beer garden in downtown Moses Lake. Target audience: general community, Hispanic families, cultural enthusiasts.
• Music at the Market Live local music performances at Moses Lake Farmers Market as part of the Civic Series, featuring rotating local musicians throughout the market season. Target audience: market patrons and local music supporters.
• Kids Comedy Camp Week-long Youth Improv Comedy Camp in collaboration with MG Teams, teaching improv fundamentals, scene work, devising, and performance skills for ages 8-18. $295.29 per student; scholarships available. Target audience: youth ages 8-18.
• Dinner Theater Live theater performances combined with dinner, presented in partnership with venues such as Best Western Plus Lakefront Hotel. Target audience: adult patrons seeking a combined dining and theatrical experience.
• Children's Art Fund Financial assistance program ensuring no child is excluded from arts activities due to cost, including in-school outreach performances, free theater camp tickets, and student attendance programs. Target audience: K-12 students with financial need.
• Musician Directory Online resource connecting local musicians with community members, organizations, and event organizers for performances, bookings, and collaborations throughout the Columbia Basin.
• Music Teacher Directory Community resource connecting students and families with qualified music instructors offering lessons across various instruments and disciplines throughout the Columbia Basin.
• Membership Program Annual membership offering benefits including free popcorn, reduced wait times at events, and exclusive access to performances. Target audience: regular patrons and supporters of CBAA.
• Visual Arts and Murals Visual arts programming including mural projects such as the Pieced Together Mural Project at Grant County Fair. Target audience: general community, public art viewers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 5,000 students reached through in-school arts programming annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Moses Lake Museum & Art CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor collaborator on UMANI Festival, a Hispanic heritage celebration. Joint community-wide collaboration between cultural institutions.
• Moses Lake Creative DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner on UMANI Festival and film series events. Joint programming for community cultural events.
• Big Bend Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost institution for Wallenstien Theater venue. Collaborator on events including Nosferatu screening. Located at 6989 College Pkwy NE.
• EDUBS C/SminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for UMANI Festival and American Me film screening. Corporate sponsor supporting arts programming.
• Midway BeveragesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for Nosferatu drive-in screening. Please drink responsibly campaign.
• Moses Lake High School MEChAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization collaborator on UMANI Festival programming.
• Artisans Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal artisan collaborative partner for UMANI Festival vendor and craft programming.
• Missoula Children's TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership (40+ years) providing theater camp residencies for K-12 students. Free theater camp program for participants.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pentangle Arts Council: Pentangle Arts Council is a small community arts presenter in Woodstock, Vermont that books touring performing arts, runs film series, and serves a rural regional audience. Closely comparable in size, mission, and presenting-based business model to Columbia Basin Allied Arts.
• Ross Ragland Theater & Cultural Center: Ross Ragland Theater is a community performing arts presenter in Klamath Falls, Oregon serving a rural Southern Oregon region. Comparable as a mid-sized community arts organization presenting touring professional acts and community programming in a small-city market.
• Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts: Columbia Theatre is a historic performing arts presenter in Longview, Washington that programs touring professional performances and community events. Highly comparable geography (Pacific Northwest rural) and similar presenter-led model serving small-city audiences.
• Tower Theatre Foundation: Tower Theatre Foundation is a community performing arts presenter in Bend, Oregon that books touring acts, films, and community programming. Comparable to CBAA in scale and as a Pacific Northwest regional presenter with mixed ticketed and free programming.
• Cascade Theatre: Cascade Theatre is a regional performing arts venue and presenter in Redding, California offering touring concerts, films, and community events. Comparable as a regional nonprofit arts presenter serving a similar-sized inland market with a multi-programming model.
• Pendragon Theatre: Pendragon Theatre is a community theater in Saranac Lake, New York producing and presenting live performances for the rural Adirondack region. Comparable to CBAA in serving a small rural community with a combined producing/presenting model and significant educational outreach.
• Barter Theatre: Barter Theatre is the State Theatre of Virginia, located in Abingdon, producing and presenting professional theater and community programming in a small Appalachian city. Comparable rural-region community arts model with multi-stream programming and educational outreach, though at larger scale than CBAA.

Broad incumbents

• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA): NASAA is the national membership association for state and jurisdictional arts agencies, including ArtsWA which directly funds CBAA. Comparable as a nonprofit arts intermediary in the public-arts funding ecosystem, though operating at a national policy scale rather than as a direct presenter.

Others

• Missoula Children's Theatre: Missoula Children's Theatre is a national touring theater company that has partnered with CBAA for 40+ years to deliver children's theater residencies. Related ecosystem participant (partner/supplier of programming), not a direct peer since MCT is a touring production company rather than a local presenter.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CBAlliedArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/cballiedarts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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 Columbia Basin Allied Arts