UCCA

What UCCA does

UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is a Chinese non-profit museum institution founded in 2007 by collectors Guy and Myriam Ullens, originally as the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art. In 2017, ownership transitioned to a group of Chinese and international patrons and shareholders, and the institution was rebranded to UCCA Center for Contemporary Art. UCCA is officially registered as a non-profit museum by the Beijing government, with the UCCA Foundation supporting charitable operations. The core product is contemporary art exhibition programming, delivered through four physical museum venues: UCCA Beijing (flagship in 798 Art District, Bauhaus-influenced industrial space renovated by Jean-Michel Wilmotte and OMA), UCCA Dune (Beidaihe beach museum designed by OPEN Architecture), UCCA Clay (Yixing ceramics museum designed by Kengo Kuma, opened 2024), and UCCA Edge in Shanghai. Supporting sub-brands include UCCA Lab (cross-disciplinary platform for brand and government collaborations), UCCA Kids (children's art education), UCCA Store (retail with Paragon Book Gallery and Badmarket collaborations), and membership programs. The underlying technology is a museum management platform with integrated digital ticketing, membership management, WeChat mini-program services, and online retail.

UCCA's business model is a hybrid of museum revenue streams: ticket sales across venues (50-150 RMB range), annual membership subscriptions, corporate sponsorships (Dior as flagship Chief Strategic Partner, along with Aranya, Bloomberg, Donjon Winery), retail operations, public program fees (workshops, guided tours), and foundation donations. The customer base is split across general public visitors, families (UCCA Kids), corporate sponsors seeking brand alignment with cultural prestige, art collectors and philanthropists, and government entities seeking cultural city development support. The institution has presented over 200 exhibitions and welcomed more than 10 million visitors since 2007, systematically exploring Chinese contemporary art history alongside major international artists including Matisse, Picasso, Duchamp, Rauschenberg, and Warhol. The market is single-country (China), primarily concentrated in the Beijing-Beidaihe-Yixing-Shanghai corridor.

Name

UCCA

Legal name

UCCA尤伦斯当代艺术中心

Website

https://ucca.org.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

UCCA Center for Contemporary Art is a Chinese non-profit museum institution operating four venues (Beijing, Beidaihe/Ningbo, Yixing, Shanghai) with sub-brands including UCCA Lab, UCCA Kids, UCCA Store, and UCCA Foundation. It serves general public visitors, families, corporate sponsors like Dior, and government partners through contemporary art exhibitions, education, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Contemporary art museum
• Art exhibitions
• Cultural programs
• Art education
• Museum membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 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. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from admission tickets to exhibitions at UCCA Beijing, UCCA Dune, and UCCA Clay venues. Pricing varies by exhibition with standard, concession, and membership discounted rates.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership subscriptions providing benefits including discounted or free admission, exclusive events, and other privileges.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Strategic partnerships with corporate sponsors including Aranya (strategic partner for UCCA Dune), Dior, and others. Includes gala events, exhibition sponsorships, and ongoing institutional support.
4. Retail Operations: UCCA Store operations including merchandise, books, and collaborations with partners like Badmarket and Paragon Book Gallery (佳作书局).
5. UCCA Foundation Support: Charitable donations and foundation support through UCCA Foundation for Art and Education, accredited by Beijing Bureau of Civil Affairs in 2017.
6. Public Program Fees: Revenue from educational activities, workshops, guided tours, and special events such as the '严肃游戏' workshop at 30 RMB per person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

UCCA operates a constellation of three contemporary art museums (UCCA Beijing in the 798 Art District, UCCA Dune in Beidaihe, and UCCA Clay in Yixing) plus UCCA Edge in Shanghai, presenting ticketed exhibitions of Chinese and international contemporary art. The institution generates revenue through exhibition admissions, annual memberships, on-site retail (UCCA Store and the Paragon Book Gallery), corporate sponsorships, public educational programs, and foundation donations, while operating sub-brands UCCA Lab (brand/government collaborations) and UCCA Kids (children's art education).

Product overview

UCCA Center for Contemporary Art operates as a multi-site museum organization with three distinct museum locations: UCCA Beijing (the flagship in a converted 1950s factory in Beijing's 798 Art District), UCCA Dune (a cave-like beachfront museum in Beidaihe designed by OPEN Architecture), and UCCA Clay (a ceramics-focused museum in Yixing designed by Kengo Kuma, opened 2024). The organization also operates UCCA Edge in Shanghai. Supporting operations include UCCA Lab for cross-disciplinary brand and government collaborations, UCCA Kids for children's education, UCCA Store including the Paragon Book Gallery bookstore, and membership programs. Since its founding in 2007, UCCA has presented over 200 exhibitions systematically exploring Chinese contemporary art alongside international artists. UCCA functions as a non-profit museum accredited by the Beijing government, supported by UCCA Foundation and international patron networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UCCA | Paragon Book Gallery: Bookstore collaboration with Paragon Book Gallery, established in 2020, specializing in contemporary art publications within UCCA premises.
• Badmarket x UCCA
• UCCA Lab
• UCCA Kids

Products and services

• UCCA Beijing (UCCA北京) UCCA's flagship museum venue in Beijing's 798 Art District, housed in a renovated 1950s Bauhaus-influenced industrial building of over 10,000 square meters. Hosts contemporary art exhibitions, public programs, and educational activities for general museum visitors.
• UCCA Dune (UCCA沙丘) Beach-side contemporary art museum in Beidaihe designed by OPEN Architecture, featuring naturally lit cave-like galleries. Focuses on emerging Chinese and global contemporary artists, supported by strategic partner Aranya.
• UCCA Clay (UCCA陶) Museum at the intersection of ceramics and contemporary art, located in Yixing, Jiangsu. Designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates, the 2,400 sqm building uses clay as a primary architectural material. Open to the public since October 2024.
• UCCA Edge (UCCA Edge Shanghai) UCCA's Shanghai-based exhibition space presenting contemporary art exhibitions and public programs for the Shanghai market.
• UCCA Lab Cross-disciplinary platform under UCCA that develops art collaboration projects with brands, government entities, and cultural organizations. Delivers curated exhibitions, public art installations, and bespoke cultural programming for corporate and institutional partners.
• UCCA Kids (UCCA儿童) Children's art education service under UCCA offering art education programs and family-oriented cultural activities for young audiences.
• UCCA Store (UCCA商店) Retail operation offering art-related merchandise, books, and limited-edition products online and at museum venues, including the Badmarket x UCCA collaborative line.
• UCCA | Paragon Book Gallery (佳作书局) Art bookstore located within UCCA, operated in collaboration with Paragon Book Gallery. Specializes in contemporary art publications and hosts cultural events with writers, scholars, artists, and curators.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.

• Consortium Museum (法国第戎当代艺术中心)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2026Co-presenter of 'Raw Modernism: Accolay Clay Today' exhibition at UCCA Clay. The Consortium Museum is one of France's oldest and most influential independent contemporary art institutions, founded in 1977. The partnership involves joint exhibition development and cultural exchange between the two institutions.
• OneM Contemporary Art CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026UCCA announced partnership with OneM Contemporary Art Center in 2026, representing new strategic collaboration for exhibition and programming synergies between the two contemporary art institutions.
• DiorflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Dior is listed as a Chief Strategic Partner supporting UCCA's exhibitions and cultural programs, representing a major luxury brand partnership with the institution.
• Donjon Winery (多纳姆酒庄)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Listed as Chief Strategic Partner contributing to UCCA's institutional support alongside Dior and Aranya.
• Bloomberg (彭博)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Listed as a Joint Strategic Partner supporting UCCA's exhibition and programming activities.
• French Consulate Shanghai & French Cultural CentermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The Accolay Clay exhibition received strong support from the French Consulate General in Shanghai and the French Cultural Center, and was included in the 2026 'Spring of French Culture in China' (中法文化之春) program.
• Aranya (阿那亚)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Aranya is UCCA's strategic partner for UCCA Dune, the beach-side contemporary art museum located at Aranya Gold Coast. Aranya is a seaside cultural and lifestyle community that supports the museum's operations and programming.
• Shanghai Urban Space Art Season (上海城市空间艺术季)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023UCCA Lab served as co-curatorial team for the 2023 Shanghai Urban Space Art Season (SUSAS 2023), collaborating with Shanghai Planning and Design Institute, Tongji University, and Nature Conservancy. The '共栖' (Biosis) exhibition was held at Xuhui Riverside with public art installations.
• Shenzhen Mixc World (万象天地)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration partner for the Shenzhen stop of the Mickey Art Exhibition at Mixc World North District L4 Art Project venue.
• Kiddy Art Museum (碰碰儿童艺术博物馆)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Joint presenter of Eric Carle children's exhibition at UCCA Lab Beijing, bringing interactive museum experiences for families.
• DisneyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint presenter of 'Mickey: The True Original' global art exhibition tour in China (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Beijing). UCCA Lab collaborated with Disney to bring international artists' Mickey-themed works to Chinese audiences.
• Mercedes-Benz V-ClassmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Chief sponsor of the Mickey Art Exhibition tour in China, providing vehicle support for the mobile exhibition.
• Voyage UCCA Lab (沃捷艺术空间)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Joint venture art space established with outdoor media company Voyage Group (沃捷集团) at Shanghai Golden Eagle International Shopping Center, focusing on new media art exhibitions.
• AdidasmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborated on 'Rebuild the Blue' sustainability-themed art exhibition, with artists creating works from recycled materials collected by Adidas runners.
• Wenqingfang (永庆坊)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021UCCA Lab partnered with Wenqingfang in Guangzhou to present 'Something Begets Something More - Xiguan Stories Reimagined', a non-heritage themed art exhibition at the historic Xiguan district.
• Yiyouth (应漾工场)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Co-presented 'Waves and Waves' exhibition at Shanghai chi K11 Museum exploring youth culture and digital transformation themes.
• Hou Kun & Wu Jingyu (侯琨、吴静钰)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Olympic collectors who partnered with UCCA for 'Home·Complete' exhibition showcasing Olympic memorabilia collection at UCCA Beijing.
• Voyage Group (沃捷集团)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Outdoor media company that co-founded Voyage UCCA Lab art space in Shanghai, combining UCCA's art resources with Voyage's media expertise.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tate Modern (London): UK's leading contemporary art museum, part of the Tate network. Comparable as a global benchmark for contemporary art exhibition scale, corporate sponsor activation, retail operation, and membership program — the international reference point for UCCA's ambitions.
• K11 Art Foundation / K11 Musea: Art-museum-integrated commercial real estate and art foundation founded by Adrian Cheng. Comparable for the integration of contemporary art exhibitions, retail (K11 Musea), and brand collaborations — the same hybrid art-commerce model UCCA Lab pursues.
• Centre Pompidou: France's national museum of modern and contemporary art and active touring/IP licensor (e.g., Centre Pompidou × West Bund Museum Shanghai). Comparable as a multi-venue contemporary art institution with active cross-border touring partnerships — directly relevant given UCCA's 2026 collaboration with France's Consortium Museum.
• M+ Museum (Hong Kong): West Kowloon Cultural District's flagship visual culture museum in Hong Kong. Comparable as a leading contemporary art institution serving the Greater China audience with major international exhibitions and significant corporate sponsorship; competes for the same regional prestige and partner brands.

Direct peers

• Yuz Museum Shanghai: Private contemporary art museum in Shanghai founded by Indonesian-Chinese collector Budi Tek. Comparable as a single-name, collector-founded contemporary art museum in China with international exhibition programming and similar revenue model (tickets, sponsorships, retail).
• M WOODS Museum: Private Beijing-based contemporary art museum chain (M WOODS 798, M WOODS Tongzhou) founded by collector Lin Han. Most directly comparable peer in China: similar multi-site, non-profit-leaning model, same collector/sponsor funding logic, and identical contemporary art exhibition focus as UCCA Beijing.
• Power Station of Art: China's first state-run contemporary art museum, housed in a former power station in Shanghai. Comparable for contemporary art exhibition programming, large physical footprint, and major institutional/brand collaboration model in the same Chinese market as UCCA.
• HOW Art Museum: Shanghai-based private contemporary art museum (HOW昊美术馆) operating multi-site venues. Comparable as a private Chinese contemporary art museum chain competing for the same exhibition programming, sponsors, and visitor audience as UCCA.
• Long Museum (Long Museum West Bund / Pudong): Founded by collectors Liu Yiqian and Wang Wei, Long Museum operates twin contemporary art venues in Shanghai. Directly comparable as a China-based private collector-founded contemporary art museum with multi-site operations and large-scale ticketed exhibitions.

Others

• Aranya Sanya (Ares Sanya文化艺术中心 / Aranya Art Center): The Aranya lifestyle community that hosts UCCA Dune and is UCCA's strategic partner. Listed as OTHERS because it is a sponsor/host site rather than a peer institution, but materially comparable as a hybrid cultural-real estate platform blending hotels, retail, performance venues, and museum programming.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UCCA798

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 UCCA