Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

What Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center does

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center (SRBCC) is a Chicago-based 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1971, operating as the longest-standing Latiné cultural center in the city. Its mission is the preservation and promotion of Puerto Rican and Latin American culture, with a deliberate focus on African heritage (Afro-Boricua and Afro-Caribbean traditions including bomba, plena, and salsa). The organization delivers a portfolio of interconnected programs anchored in a 13,000 sq. ft. historic venue in the Hermosa neighborhood: the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Apprenticeship (paid program for ages 14-22), La Cantera performance ensemble (ages 19-24), Los Pleneros de Don Segundo professional plena ensemble, La Resi artist residency with on-site housing, the Arts & Culture Series of subsidized performances, the monthly Barrio Bugaú salsa dance event, and a youth-led urban garden initiative.

SRBCC's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure combining foundation grants (MacArthur Foundation, NEA, Illinois Arts Council, Donnelley Foundation, Field Foundation, Chicago Cultural Treasures), individual donations through GiveButter, ticketed event revenue (suggested donations $5-$40, premium concert tickets $20-$35), and venue rentals. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with programming reaching audiences through in-venue events, citywide festival appearances (Chicago Jazz Festival, Sueños, Night Out in the Parks), and a transnational cultural corridor with Puerto Rico. Customer segments include youth and emerging artists, professional BIPOC touring artists, Latiné and Afro-Latin communities in Chicago, and peer arts organizations renting the venue.

Operational scale is modest — 11-50 employees with a core team of 5 named leaders — and the center is governed by a Board of Directors under Executive Director Omar Torres-Kortright (appointed 2015, longest-tenured ED in organizational history). The organization has no AI/technology platform, no parent/subsidiary structure, and no venture capital or private equity exposure; it operates as an independent private nonprofit with diversified institutional and individual funding.

Name

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

Legal name

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

Website

https://segundoruizbelvis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center is a Chicago-based nonprofit cultural center, founded in 1971, that preserves and promotes Puerto Rican and Afro-Caribbean arts through youth apprenticeships, professional artist residencies, performance ensembles, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Cultural Center

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

Keywords

• Community arts education
• Cultural preservation
• Afro-caribbean music
• Artist residency programs
• Performance venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Illinois City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: Partial funding from Illinois Arts Council, MacArthur Foundation, Arts Work Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, Chicago Cultural Treasures, The Field Foundation of Illinois, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and Sueños Festival
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations through online platforms (GiveButter), fundraising events, and supporter contributions
3. Ticket Sales and Event Revenue: Revenue from ticketed concerts and events, with suggested donations ranging from $5-$40 per event
4. Venue Rentals: The 13,000 sq. ft. venue is available for community events, collaborations, and rentals

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SRBCC preserves and promotes Puerto Rican and Latin American culture with a focus on African heritage by operating a 13,000 sq. ft. cultural venue that hosts paid Afro-Caribbean music apprenticeships for youth ages 14–22, the La Cantera emerging-musician ensemble (ages 19–24), an artist residency program (La Resi) with on-site housing, professional ensembles such as Los Pleneros de Don Segundo, and recurring community events and concerts. Programs are delivered free or at low cost, funded primarily through foundation grants, individual donations, ticket sales, and venue rentals.

Product overview

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center operates as a cultural arts organization offering multiple interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include La Cantera (Afro-Caribbean Jazz ensemble for emerging musicians ages 19-24), the Afro-Caribbean Jazz Apprenticeship (paid program for ages 14-22), professional artist ensembles such as Los Pleneros de Don Segundo, the La Resi artist residency with on-site housing, and a 200-seat performance venue with rehearsal spaces. Additional programs include the youth-led Urban Garden, monthly Arts & Culture Series with subsidized performances, and regular community events including the Barrio Bugalú salsa dance series. The venue is available for community events and collaborations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• La Cantera: SRBCC's Afro-Caribbean Jazz performance ensemble for emerging musicians ages 19-24, founded in 2018 under the direction of pianist Adrian Ruiz.
• La Resi
• Los Pleneros de Don Segundo

Products and services

• Afro-Caribbean Jazz Apprenticeship Paid apprenticeship program for youth ages 14–22 to learn Afro-Caribbean jazz and percussion from master teaching artists. Connects young musicians with Caribbean diaspora rhythms including bomba, plena, and salsa, emphasizing music education and cultural heritage.
• La Cantera SRBCC's Afro-Caribbean Jazz performance ensemble for emerging musicians ages 19–24, bringing together musicians who have completed SRBCC's Afro-Caribbean Jazz and Afro-Latin Percussion apprenticeships to receive mentorship, performance opportunities, and industry exposure under the direction of pianist Adrian Ruiz.
• Los Pleneros de Don Segundo SRBCC's professional plena music ensemble performing original plena music since 2016. One of Chicago's most sought-after Afro-Puerto Rican folkloric groups, known for original compositions and celebrating plena as music of resistance.
• La Resi (Artist Residency) On-site artist residency program providing housing and workspace for touring artists visiting Chicago. Artists collaborate with local talent and connect with the community during their stay at the venue's two on-site artist apartments.
• SRBCC Performance Venue A 13,000 sq. ft. historic venue in Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood, originally built in 1925 as the Karlov Theater. Features a 200-seat multipurpose theater, media center, rehearsal space, dance studio, and two apartments for touring artists. Fully ADA compliant with private parking for up to 15 cars. Available for community events, collaborations, and rentals.
• Arts & Culture Series Monthly subsidized performances supporting BIPOC artists through subsidized shows, free rehearsal spaces, and media center access for documentation. Prioritizes artists and productions aligned with cultural preservation, artistic innovation, and community impact.
• Barrio Bugalú Monthly salsa, boogaloo, and Afro-Caribbean dance music celebration held on the last Friday of each month. Features free salsa classes, all-vinyl DJ sets curated by Agúzate DJ Crew, and community dancing with a $12 suggested donation and BYOB policy.
• Urban Garden Youth-led urban garden initiative featuring ornamental and edible plants. Designed and cultivated by paid apprentices ages 19–24 in partnership with Prevention First and Human Scale, serving as a green oasis and learning space for community engagement and sustainability education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists gain performance experience at prestigious venues including Chicago Jazz Festival, Sueños Latin Music Festival, Millennium Park, and international festivals in Puerto Rico
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Human ScaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to help youth turn their vision for the urban garden into reality; expertise in sustainable design
• Prevention FirstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting garden's productivity and expansion of edible plants for community nutrition
• Fulcrum Point New Music ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented the 'QUISQUEYA' Album Release Concert with their Discoveries Auxin: Connected! Series
• Night Out in the ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity partnership bringing free SRBCC programming to Chicago parks including performances at Walsh Park, Portage Park, and Kedvale Park
• Chicago Cuatro OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced 'Mano a Mano con 20 Cuerdas' event; SRBCC provided facilities and production support
• International Latino Cultural Center of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced Las Karamba event; partnership for Latino cultural programming across Chicago
• Ágora Cultural Architects / BoriCorridorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered as Community Co-Presenter for Versos de Mujer; BoriCorridor connects cultural workers in US and Puerto Rico, supported by Mellon Foundation
• Agúzate DJ CrewminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurating vinyl sets for Barrio Bugalú monthly dance events

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture: Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to preserving Puerto Rican arts and culture, with exhibits, performances, and education programming. Highly comparable given shared Puerto Rican cultural preservation mission, Chicago footprint, and similar nonprofit operating model.
• International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago: Chicago nonprofit producing Latino cultural programming, film, and performing arts events. SRBCC co-produces events with this organization, making it a directly comparable peer with overlapping Latiné cultural mission and audience.
• Old Town School of Folk Music: Chicago nonprofit music school offering folk and world music education, performance, and community programming. Comparable as a Chicago music education nonprofit with ensemble programming, paid teaching artists, and a venue-based business model.
• Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute: New York-based nonprofit presenting Caribbean and African diaspora arts, culture, and education. Comparable as a Caribbean diaspora cultural preservation organization with performance, education, and residency programming rooted in Afro-Caribbean heritage.
• Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM): Chicago nonprofit collective supporting creative music with deep roots in Black music traditions and artist development. Comparable as a Chicago-based BIPOC arts and music nonprofit with similar artist pipeline and community-anchored programming model.
• Hyde Park Jazz Festival: Chicago nonprofit producing an annual jazz festival and year-round jazz programming. SRBCC regularly performs at Hyde Park Jazz Festival; comparable as a Chicago jazz-forward nonprofit with event-driven programming and BIPOC artist focus.
• Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center: New York-based Latino cultural nonprofit operating an artist residency, performance venue, and community programming on the Lower East Side. Comparable as a Latino cultural center with venue-based residencies, artist development, and community arts programming serving diaspora populations.
• Chicago Jazz Institute: Chicago nonprofit preserving and promoting jazz through education and performance programming. Comparable as a Chicago jazz-focused nonprofit with educational programming and community performance, intersecting directly with SRBCC's La Cantera and Afro-Caribbean jazz work.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC): National service organization supporting Latino arts organizations across the US through funding, advocacy, and convening. Comparable as a broader ecosystem player in the same cultural mission space, though operating at national scale rather than as a single community anchor.
• National Guild for Community Arts Education: National nonprofit supporting community-based arts education organizations. SRBCC's Operations Manager serves on its board; comparable as a broader infrastructure organization supporting arts education providers similar to SRBCC's apprenticeship and ensemble programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=zmvLzDEbjsE
• Xx.com/SRBCC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center