CITYarts
CITYarts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that engages youth with professional artists to create public murals and mosaics in New York City and 120+ countries, funded through donations, government grants, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and annual galas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CITYarts does
CITYarts, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public arts and education organization founded in 1989 by Tsipi Ben-Haim and headquartered at 77 Bleecker St in Manhattan, New York City. The organization engages youth with professional artists to create public art, primarily murals and mosaics, with the stated mission of empowering, educating, and connecting young people locally and globally to transform their communities. Its program portfolio includes Community Identity, Global HeART Warming (environmental awareness through art), Young Minds Build Bridges, Kids for Justice, Windows of Opportunity, and the Peace Walls and Pieces for Peace global initiatives; signature projects include the Shakespeare Steps in the Bronx, Always in Bloom in Manhattan's Upper West Side, and the CITYarts Liberty Mural at Freedom Plaza.
CITYarts operates an event-driven and community-led go-to-market model, reaching supporters through annual galas (Spreading Light Instilling Hope, Inspiring Peace, Rise Together), the Affordable Art Fair, volunteer programs, school partnerships, social media, and email newsletters. Its revenue is generated through a mix of individual donations (tiered from $10-$2,000+), government and public grants (New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Manhattan Borough President's Office, NYC DOT Art Program), corporate and foundation sponsorships (including over 1,500 sponsors such as The Soloviev Foundation), merchandise and artist-edition sales via its online store ($15 pocket squares to $35,000 limited-edition prints), and event-based fundraising.
The organization reports reaching over 100,000 kids, 200,000+ volunteers, and 600+ artists across 380+ projects in 120+ countries on 6 continents, working with 1,400+ schools through its Pieces for Peace project. CITYarts is not a technology company: it has no public APIs, no AI/ML capabilities, and no software products. Its primary competitive advantages are a 37-year operating history, an extensive sponsor and school network, and seven international Peace Walls that function as permanent brand assets.
CITYarts firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CITYarts
- Legal name
- CITYarts, Inc.
- Website
- https://cityarts.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CITYarts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1989 that engages youth with professional artists to create public murals and mosaics in New York City and 120+ countries, funded through donations, government grants, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and annual galas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CITYarts industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Arts Education and Public Art Programs
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Historical Sites (712120)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils) (EDAAAFAD)
Keywords
Where CITYarts is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CITYarts business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Public donations from individuals supporting youth arts education and community transformation
- Corporate & Foundation Sponsorships: Partnerships with over 1,500 sponsors including The Soloviev Foundation and other institutional funders
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of art prints, artist editions, merchandise (pocket squares, scarves, coasters), and publications (Peace Books, stamps)
- Gala Events: Annual benefit galas including Spreading Light Instilling Hope Gala, Inspiring Peace Gala, Rise Together Gala, and Affordable Art Fair
- Government & Public Grants: Funding from New York State Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Manhattan Borough President's Office, and NYC DOT Art Program
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Small Material Donations ($10-$100) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Medium Project Donations ($250-$500) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Large Project Sponsorship ($1,000-$2,000+) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Merchandise Items |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CITYarts product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CITYarts engages youth with professional artists in the creation of public art, including murals and mosaics. Through this creative process, the organization empowers, educates, and connects youth and children locally and around the world to become active participants in realizing their potential and transforming communities. It operates signature programs such as Peace Walls, Pieces for Peace, Community Identity, Global HeART Warming, Young Minds Build Bridges, Kids for Justice, and the 50 States of Peace Initiative, and sells peace-themed merchandise and limited-edition artist prints via its online store.
Product overview
CITYarts is a nonprofit arts organization offering a portfolio of youth empowerment programs centered on public art creation. The core programs include Community Identity (murals and mosaics), Global HeART Warming (environmental awareness through art), Young Minds Build Bridges (international youth connection), Kids for Justice, Windows of Opportunity, and Peace Walls. Major initiatives include the 50 States of Peace Initiative aiming to create murals in all U.S. states culminating in a National Peace Wall in Washington D.C. in 2026, and Pieces for Peace Global Project connecting youth in over 120 countries. CITYarts also operates an e-commerce store selling merchandise (Peace Book, silk pocket squares, stamps) and an Artist Editions program featuring limited prints by professional artists. The organization provides internship opportunities across various disciplines and engages volunteers in community art projects. CITYarts is not a technology product company; it does not offer software, APIs, or AI-powered features.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Community Identity Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 kids impacted by programs
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CITYarts
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CITYarts technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CITYarts partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.
- NYC Department of Transportation Art Program (DOT Art)flagshipPresented the Shakespeare Steps (formerly Joker Stairs) project as part of the DOT Art Arterventions initiative, providing official city partnership for the public art installation.
- Spanish Palate (Winemaker)minorPartnered with CITYarts to create wine labels featuring Pieces for Peace artworks from youth around the world, with proceeds benefiting Young Minds Build Bridges program.
- Benefit Print ProjectcoreCollaborated on artist editions including Alec Soth 30 for 30 Edition celebrating CITYarts 30th Anniversary, and Tim Hawkinson prints.
- Sean Kelly GallerycoreGallery partner for Alec Soth limited edition print collaboration benefiting CITYarts.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CITYarts competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mural Arts Philadelphia: The largest public mural program in the United States, operating since 1984 as a Philadelphia city-affiliated nonprofit. Directly comparable to CITYarts as a nonprofit producing community-driven public murals with measurable social impact, but at significantly greater scale and institutional integration.
- Groundswell: NYC-based nonprofit that produces public murals by and with community youth participants, employing young artists in paid fellowships. Closely comparable to CITYarts' youth-artist collaborative mural model and NYC geographic footprint.
- Studio in a School: NYC nonprofit founded in 1977 providing visual arts instruction and residencies to public school students. Comparable to CITYarts on youth visual arts education in NYC public schools, though its delivery model is classroom residencies rather than public art creation.
- Public Art Fund: NYC-based nonprofit presenting temporary public art exhibitions across the city for nearly 50 years. Comparable as a NYC public art nonprofit, though focused on curating contemporary art exhibitions rather than youth co-creation.
- The Laundromat Project: NYC nonprofit that creates community-based art projects in laundromats and neighborhood spaces, often engaging local residents and youth. Directly comparable on the community-arts placemaking model in NYC neighborhoods.
- DreamYard Project: Bronx-based nonprofit using arts, equity, and education to empower youth, including mural-making programs. Comparable to CITYarts on NYC-based youth public art creation, particularly in Bronx schools.
Broad incumbents
- Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit advocating for the arts sector across the U.S. Comparable as an arts-services nonprofit in the same broader space as CITYarts, but focused on policy, research, and advocacy rather than direct youth public art delivery.
Emerging players
- Creative Arts Team (NYU): NYU-affiliated program using drama and visual arts for youth empowerment in NYC schools. Comparable on youth arts education delivery in NYC, with academic institutional backing rather than independent nonprofit structure.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CITYarts social profiles
Digital presenceCITYarts financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CITYarts leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CITYarts funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CITYarts M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CITYarts
What does CITYarts do?
CITYarts engages youth with professional artists in the creation of public art, including murals and mosaics. Through this creative process, the organization empowers, educates, and connects youth and children locally and around the world to become active participants in realizing their potential and transforming communities. It operates signature programs such as Peace Walls, Pieces for Peace, Community Identity, Global HeART Warming, Young Minds Build Bridges, Kids for Justice, and the 50 States of Peace Initiative, and sells peace-themed merchandise and limited-edition artist prints via its online store.
Is CITYarts a public or private company?
CITYarts is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CITYarts founded?
CITYarts was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CITYarts based?
CITYarts is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does CITYarts make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate & Foundation Sponsorships, merchandise Sales, gala Events and government & Public Grants.
Who are CITYarts's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mural Arts Philadelphia, Groundswell, Studio in a School, Public Art Fund, The Laundromat Project and DreamYard Project. Americans for the Arts is listed as a broad incumbent. Creative Arts Team (NYU) is listed as an emerging player.
Does CITYarts have an API?
No public API is recorded for CITYarts.
What industry is CITYarts in?
CITYarts's product category is Youth Arts Education and Public Art Programs. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAH, Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs. Its NAICS code is 7121.