River Gallery School

What River Gallery School does

River Gallery School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit visual arts education organization founded in 1976 in Brattleboro, Vermont by Ric Campman and Barbara Merfeld Campman. The school offers weekly classes, multi-day workshops, and summer art camps across painting, drawing, printmaking, encaustics, sculpture, mixed media, and portraiture for children, teens, adults, and seniors, delivered in studios at 32 Main Street, online, and at offsite community venues. Its most distinctive asset is the Sequencing painting method, a tactile, brush-free technique developed by Ric Campman that emphasizes direct engagement with paint, surface, metaphor, color, and awareness; the method is monetized both through direct instruction and through a 26-hour Sequencing Teacher Training certification program that builds a credentialed instructor network.

The school operates multiple revenue streams: tuition from weekly classes and workshops (with payment plans and tuition assistance), fees for summer art camps and school vacation programs, an annual Off the Wall art lottery fundraiser ($35-$200 per ticket), monthly Gallery 34 exhibition rental fees with no commission on sales, international art retreats (including a San Miguel de Allende, Mexico retreat scheduled for March 2027), and contributed income from individual donors plus institutional grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Clowes Fund, Wolf Kahn Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation, Vermont Arts Council, The Windham Foundation, and others. The Art for All initiative segments inclusive programming across five focus areas: Creative Aging, Art for New Vermonters, Ability Arts, Making Community, and Art in Schools, supported by 20+ documented community partnerships with local schools, libraries, and social service organizations.

The organization is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees (chaired by Robert Davis as President/Treasurer), led by Executive Director Kimberly Carmody with Artistic Director Emeritus Lydia Thomson, and operates with a small administrative team of roughly six plus teaching artists working across multiple visual media. The school is currently in its 50th anniversary year (2026) and is using the milestone to drive a Golden Anniversary Gala, the Off the Wall fundraiser, and special programming. Geographic footprint is regional, centered on Brattleboro and broader Vermont, with limited but growing international reach through art retreats.

Name

River Gallery School

Legal name

River Gallery School

Website

https://rivergalleryschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

River Gallery School is a Brattleboro, Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts school founded in 1976 that offers inclusive visual arts classes, workshops, camps, and retreats for all ages, anchored by the proprietary Sequencing painting method and a community partnership network of 20+ organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Photography & Videography Arts Programs (EDAMAAAC)

Keywords

• Art education
• Visual arts classes
• Community arts programming
• Painting workshops
• Inclusive arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Class and Workshop Fees: Tuition fees for weekly classes and 1-2 day workshops across various visual media including painting, drawing, printmaking, encaustics, sculpture, mixed media, and portraiture for all ages. Payment plans available for multi-week classes.
2. Art Camps and Vacation Programs: Summer art camps running through August and school vacation programs for children, offering full-week or individual day options.
3. Art Trips and Retreats: International art retreats including Making is Knowing: A Collage + Assemblage Retreat in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (March 14-20, 2027). 100% of profits benefit RGS arts programming.
4. Off the Wall Fundraiser: Annual art lottery fundraiser where ticket holders receive original artwork. Early bird tickets $175, full price $200, non-participant tickets $35.
5. Gallery 34 Rental: Monthly gallery rental fees for artists to exhibit work. RGS does not take commission on sales.
6. Donations and Grants: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants support inclusive arts programming. Major funders include The Clowes Fund, Wolf Kahn Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

River Gallery School is a nonprofit community arts school that delivers weekly visual arts classes, multi-day workshops, summer art camps, school vacation programs, and international art retreats across disciplines including painting, drawing, printmaking, encaustics, sculpture, mixed media, and portraiture. Programming is offered for all ages (children, teens, adults, and seniors) at its Brattleboro studios, online, and at offsite community venues, and is supported by tuition, donations, sponsorships, and grants. A signature offering is the proprietary Sequencing painting method developed by founder Ric Campman, paired with a certification-based Sequencing Teacher Training program.

Product overview

River Gallery School is an in-person and online art education center offering a comprehensive portfolio of visual arts programming for all ages. The core offerings include weekly art classes across multiple disciplines (painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, encaustics) through Adult, Child, and Teen Studios; seasonal summer art camps; and specialized programs. Unique offerings include Sequencing, a proprietary painting methodology developed by founder Ric Campman, along with Sequencing Teacher Training for certification. The school operates Gallery 34, a community gallery space featuring monthly exhibitions. Additional offerings include Art for All inclusive programming (Creative Aging, Art for New Vermonters, Ability Arts, Making Community, Art in Schools), video lessons, art trips/retreats (including international retreats to Mexico), and community events like Gallery Walk and the annual Off the Wall art lottery fundraiser. The school also provides tuition assistance and payment plans to ensure accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gallery 34: A community gallery space at 34 Main Street in Brattleboro, operated by River Gallery School, showcasing local artists with monthly rotating exhibitions.

Products and services

• Art Classes (Adult, Child, Teen Studios) Weekly art classes and workshops in painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, and related visual arts disciplines, offered to children, teens, and adults through dedicated studios.
• Summer Art Camps Day camps for children and teens running through the summer months, featuring diverse art-making activities such as board game design, illuminated trash projects, and Gelli plate printing.
• Sequencing Painting Method A proprietary tactile painting approach developed at River Gallery School by Ric Campman that allows both beginners and experienced artists to engage in painting without brushes, focusing on presence, metaphor, color, and direct engagement with materials.
• Sequencing Teacher Training A 4-day certification workshop (26 hours) that trains individuals to teach the Sequencing painting method, including philosophy, technique, and certification requirements to join the network of certified Sequencing teachers.
• Art for All Inclusive community arts programming centered on five focus areas: Creative Aging, Art for New Vermonters, Ability Arts, Making Community, and Art in Schools, providing accessible art experiences for diverse populations.
• Gallery 34 An intimate community gallery space at 34 Main Street in Brattleboro featuring monthly exhibitions by established and emerging local artists, with large window spaces for street-side viewing.
• Art Trips / Retreats Travel-based art experiences including the Making is Knowing collage and assemblage retreat in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (March 14-20, 2027), offering dedicated studio space, plein air painting, and cultural exploration.
• Video Lessons Pre-recorded art lessons and demonstrations by RGS teaching artists, available online for self-paced learning, covering various techniques and media.
• Gallery Walk Monthly art celebration on the first Friday of every month in downtown Brattleboro, featuring new exhibitions at Gallery 34 and upstairs student or faculty work.
• Off the Wall Art Lottery Fundraiser Annual art lottery fundraiser where local artists donate artwork, ticket holders purchase tickets (early bird $175, full price $200; non-participant $35), and each participant wins an original piece of art.

Quantifiable outcome

• Art has the power to restore dignity and foster belonging within individuals and across social fabric
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oak Grove SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly art programming bringing RGS teaching artists into local public elementary school for hands-on art experiences.
• Guilford Central SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly art programming in partnership with local public elementary school.
• NewBrook Elementary SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly art programming for elementary school students.
• Townshend Village SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly art programming for elementary school students.
• Brooks Memorial LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree Art & Exploration program - a book group and art-making program for seniors held at the library.
• The Boys and Girls Club of BrattleborocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing collaborative art experiences for youth.
• Big Brother Big Sister VermontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting youth through mentoring and art programming.
• Retreat FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for Golden Anniversary Gala and Off the Wall 2026 fundraiser. Located in Brattleboro.
• Brattleboro Museum and Art CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in local arts ecosystem.
• 118 ElliotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity arts venue partner.
• Turning Point of Windham CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services partner for Making Community programs.
• Women's Freedom CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for healing arts programming.
• Youth ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth services organization partner.
• Windham/Windsor Housing TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing organization partner for community art programs.
• Greater Falls Restorative JusticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestorative justice organization partner for community art.
• The Root Center Social Justice CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial justice organization partner for art programming.
• HatchSpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal maker space partner.
• InSight Photography ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhotography organization partner.
• First Proof PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrintmaking partner organization.
• Latchis HotelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric hotel adjacent to RGS offering 10% discount for Sequencing Teacher Training participants.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts: Chicago-based nonprofit fine arts academy offering studio classes in painting, drawing, and sculpture, plus exhibitions. Comparable as a membership-driven community fine arts school.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center: Alexandria, VA nonprofit art center with working artist studios, classes, and gallery exhibitions. Comparable in combining studio-based art education with community gallery programming.
• Fleisher Art Memorial: Philadelphia-based nonprofit community art school offering tuition-assistance-supported classes in painting, drawing, sculpture, and other media for all ages. Directly comparable in mission, programming, and inclusive philosophy.
• Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts: Tennessee-based nonprofit arts and crafts school offering workshops, residencies, and community programming. Comparable as a long-standing nonprofit arts education institution with summer programming and teacher training.
• Main Line Art Center: Suburban Philadelphia nonprofit art center offering classes, workshops, summer camps, and exhibitions for all ages. Directly comparable in mission, programming mix, and community-integration approach.
• Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Maine-based nonprofit craft school offering intensive workshops in visual arts media. Comparable as a nonprofit arts school with summer programming and foundation/grant support.
• Penland School of Craft: North Carolina-based nonprofit craft school offering multi-week workshops in ceramics, painting, printmaking, and other media. Comparable in workshop-based instructional model and nonprofit funding structure.
• Worcester Center for Crafts: Massachusetts-based nonprofit craft education center offering classes, workshops, and exhibitions. Comparable in multi-discipline visual arts programming and community education focus.
• Art Students League of New York: Long-standing nonprofit fine arts school offering studio classes in painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpture. Comparable in instructional model, multi-discipline adult/teen programming, and nonprofit community education focus.

Regional players

• Brattleboro Museum and Art Center: Local Brattleboro, VT museum and exhibition space that is an RGS community partner. Comparable as a regional nonprofit visual arts institution serving the same Brattleboro audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/rivergalleryschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/RiverGallerySchool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 River Gallery School