What Chesapeake Arts Center does

Chesapeake Arts Center (CAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts center founded in 2001 and headquartered at 194 Hammonds Lane in Brooklyn Park, Maryland, within Anne Arundel County near the Baltimore Beltway. The organization operates a multi-facility complex comprising two professional gallery spaces (Hal Gomer Gallery and Patricia Barland Gallery, 800 sq ft added in 2022), the Michael Stanley MakerSpace (woodshop, screen printing, laser/vinyl cutting, 3D printing), a ceramics department with kiln, glaze, and studio classrooms, and two theatre venues (Hammonds Lane Theatre and Studio 194). CAC also operates an off-site location, CAC @ The Severn Center, extending programming beyond the main campus.

CAC's core offerings span arts education, exhibitions, performances, and community events. In FY25, the organization reported over 45,000 people served by its theatres, nearly 3,000 students across 400+ arts classes, over 1,450 students receiving free creative arts experiences through grant-funded programs, 217 artists featured in 16 exhibitions, and over 1,000 attendees at the annual Arts in the Park festival. Education programs include free after-school classes, early childhood music, pre-K arts, ceramics, MakerSpace, performing arts, and scholarships.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining earned income (class and workshop fees, ticket sales from CAC Presents, venue rentals, and festival vendor fees) with contributed income (individual donations, memberships, corporate sponsorships, and grants from Maryland State Arts Council, Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Anne Arundel County, TEDCO, and private foundations). The organization has no proprietary technology platform, relying on Canvas LMS for class registration, Eventbrite for ticketing, and standard social media channels for outreach. Leadership is led by Executive Director Donna Anderson and Artistic Director Nicole Caracia.

Name

Chesapeake Arts Center

Legal name

Chesapeake Arts Center

Website

https://chesapeakearts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chesapeake Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts center in Brooklyn Park, Maryland, operating two galleries, two theatres, a MakerSpace, and ceramics studios. It serves Anne Arundel County and the Baltimore region with arts education, exhibitions, performances, and community festivals for students, artists, and the general public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Center

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Community arts education
• Arts classes workshops
• Ceramics studio classes
• Maker space programs
• Gallery exhibitions rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn Park

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Box office ticket sales for CAC Presents performances and events, including live theater, concerts, and special performances
2. Class and Workshop Fees: Fees for arts education classes including ceramics, MakerSpace, performing arts, and other workshops. Pricing varies by program.
3. Venue Rental: Rental income from external organizations using CAC facilities including Hammonds Lane Theatre, Studio 194, and other spaces
4. Donations and Memberships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and membership program providing year-round benefits to supporters
5. Festival and Event Revenue: Vendor fees, sponsorship packages, and vendor participation fees for events like Arts in the Park festival

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Chesapeake Arts Center is a nonprofit community arts center that delivers arts education classes and workshops (including ceramics, MakerSpace, and performing arts), operates two professional gallery spaces, runs two theatre venues for live performances, and provides community outreach programming including free after-school arts classes and an annual Arts in the Park festival. Earned revenue comes from class fees, ticket sales, venue rentals, and festival vendor fees, supplemented by donations, memberships, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Chesapeake Arts Center is a community arts center operating as a multi-facility complex that offers diverse arts programming. The core offerings include two professional gallery spaces (Hal Gomer Gallery and Patricia Barland Gallery), the Michael Stanley MakerSpace with digital fabrication equipment, a Ceramics department with studios, and two theatre venues (Hammonds Lane Theatre and Studio 194 Theatre). Education programs span free community outreach to fee-based classes for all ages. Annual signature events include the Arts in the Park festival and the Artisan Marketplace online platform. The center also operates an Arts Partnership Program supporting regional arts organizations through venue sharing and collaborative programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Michael Stanley MakerSpace: A maker space that integrates STEM and the ARTS, providing an environment for hands-on skills, design, and critical thinking development with woodshop, screen printing, laser/vinyl cutting, and 3D printing.
• CAC Presents
• Arts in the Park

Products and services

• Arts Education Programs Comprehensive arts education offering including free after-school arts classes, early childhood music classes, pre-K arts classes, and classes for adults across multiple disciplines. Served nearly 3,000 students across more than 400 classes in FY25.
• Michael Stanley MakerSpace A maker space that integrates STEM and the arts, providing hands-on skills, design, and critical thinking development. Includes woodshop, screen printing studio, laser and vinyl cutting lab, and 3D printing lab. Open to the public during Open Studio hours for makers of all skill levels.
• Ceramics/Open Studio Ceramics department featuring a kiln room, glaze room, and three studio classrooms (one for hand-building and two for wheel throwing and handbuilding). Serves students from children to adults and beginners to intermediate makers.
• Gallery Exhibitions (Hal Gomer Gallery and Patricia Barland Gallery) Two professional gallery spaces hosting year-round exhibitions and related education programs. Hal Gomer Gallery comprises two adjoining sections (374 sq ft and 363 sq ft). Patricia Barland Gallery is an 800 sq ft space. Combined they hosted 16 exhibitions featuring 217 artists in FY25, attracting nearly 1,000 attendees to opening receptions.
• CAC Presents (Performing Arts Programming) Branding banner under which CAC presents theatrical productions, musical performances, dance presentations, and other arts activities at Hammonds Lane Theatre and Studio 194 Theatre, serving over 45,000 people annually through theatrical programming.
• Venue Rentals (Hammonds Lane Theatre and Studio 194 Theatre) Rental of CAC's performance and event venues — fully accessible Hammonds Lane Theatre (with ramp access and designated seating) and Studio 194 Theatre (with lift access) — to external organizations, schools, and community groups for performances, theatrical productions, and events.
• Arts in the Park Festival CAC's annual free community festival celebrating the arts with vendors, performances, and workshops. The 11th annual festival attracted 70+ arts and community vendors and over 1,000 attendees, featuring live entertainment, hands-on art activities, local vendors, food trucks, and creative fun for all ages.
• CAC @ The Severn Center Off-site arts programming delivered at The Severn Center, extending CAC's classes and workshops beyond its main Brooklyn Park campus.
• Free Community Programs Community outreach programming including free after-school arts classes, free family arts workshops, Mini Makers pre-K arts classes, and Stories & Art in the Galleries. Provided free creative arts experiences to over 1,450 students through grant-funded programs in FY25.
• Artisan Marketplace Online marketplace connecting local artisans and vendors with community buyers, featuring vendors across categories including jewelry, ceramics, paintings, woodworking, food, crochet, and custom crafts.
• Art Exchange Box Project Community art project facilitating artistic exchange within the community through take-and-leave art boxes.
• Arts Partnership Program Program creating collaborations between CAC and local/regional arts organizations for program growth, organizational capacity, and audience expansion. Current partners include Arts On Stage, Maryland Concert Series, STAR LTD., and B.Lined.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 45,000 people served by theatres annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arts Council of Anne Arundel County (ACAAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-host of the annual Building Bridges Conference (3rd annual in 2024) devoted to ensuring access to the arts for every community member. Provides support for CAC's 25th Anniversary exhibitions.
• Arts On StagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrings live theater and performances to students from around the region by coordinating school trip experiences. CAC hosts 10-15 performances each year typically on weekday mornings. Mission is to artistically, culturally and educationally enrich the minds of children through live, professional theatre productions.
• Maryland Concert SeriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll-volunteer, community-based nonprofit presenting 6 performances annually in CAC's Hammonds Lane Theatre from September through May. Dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive.
• STAR LTD.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit providing opportunities for creative growth, personal development and leadership in the visual and performing arts for youth and young adults ages 4-19 in Baltimore-D.C. region through musical theatre.
• B.LinedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents quality stage productions conveying messages of real life trials, troubles, and triumphs. Platform for entertainment reaching those who may not respond to mainstream traditional ministry or the African-American experience and mental health.
• The AngelWing ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the annual Building Bridges Conference with CAC and Arts Council of Anne Arundel County, devoted to ensuring access to the arts for every community member.
• Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor educational partner providing student programming, field trips, teacher exhibitions, and school collaborations. CAC follows AACPS emergency closings protocols.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Creative Alliance: Baltimore-based nonprofit arts center combining a community arts venue (theatre, galleries) with arts education and maker programming. Directly comparable to CAC in mission, multi-program facility model, and regional Mid-Atlantic scope.
• Pyramid Atlantic Art Center: Hyattsville, MD nonprofit art center focused on printmaking, papermaking, and book arts with gallery exhibitions and education programs. Comparable as a Maryland-based community arts center with studios, classes, and gallery operations.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center: Alexandria, VA nonprofit arts center housing artist studios, galleries, and art classes in a repurposed industrial facility. Closely comparable community-arts-center model with gallery/studio/class offerings in the same DC-Metro region.
• VisArts (Visual Arts Center of Richmond): Richmond, VA nonprofit community art center offering multi-discipline classes, three gallery spaces, and visiting-artist programming. Comparable Mid-Atlantic multi-facility community arts nonprofit serving a similar urban/suburban catchment.
• Center for Creative Arts (COCA): St. Louis, MO nonprofit community arts center providing classes, camps, and gallery programming. Comparable multi-discipline arts-education nonprofit model, though operating at larger scale and in a different metropolitan market.
• Houston Center for Contemporary Craft: Houston, TX nonprofit art center combining artist residencies, gallery exhibitions, and craft education programming. Comparable nonprofit arts-center structure with maker/studio focus, though outside the Mid-Atlantic region.

Regional players

• Strathmore: Bethesda/North Bethesda, MD nonprofit performing arts presenter with education programs and venue rentals (Music Center, Mansion). Comparable as a Maryland-based nonprofit arts venue, but anchored more heavily in music programming and larger in scale.
• The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center: University of Maryland (College Park) presenting organization with theatres, classrooms, and arts-education programming. Comparable Maryland-based presenting/education mission; differs via university affiliation and larger institutional scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ChesapeakeArtsCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/chesapeakeartscenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 Chesapeake Arts Center