What 1708 Gallery does

1708 Gallery is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1978 by Virginia Commonwealth University-affiliated artists and headquartered at 319 West Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia. It operates as an artist-run institution, governed by a board of directors composed of a majority of professional artists, with a core staff of four led by Executive Director Emily Smith. Its programming spans a rotating main exhibition program, a pilot Artist Residency Program (launched in 2024 with $1,250 monthly stipends and live/work space for artists within a 500-mile radius), the annual Monster Drawing Rally (featuring 80 artists selling works at $100 each), the annual Cabin Fever art auction, and satellite exhibitions at the Linden Row Inn.

The organization serves contemporary artists seeking exhibition and residency opportunities, the Richmond general public engaging with community arts programming, corporate and foundation sponsors, and aspiring arts professionals via non-paid internship and volunteer positions. Its underlying technology is minimal — a Squarespace-hosted website, email newsletter, online submission system, and an online store — with no public APIs, no proprietary software, and no AI-driven capabilities.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model combining individual donations via the Annual Fund, corporate sponsorships (including Altria, Capital One, Oliver Properties, NewMarket, and Sifter), foundation grants (the National Endowment for the Arts, Andy Warhol Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, and Allan and Margot Blank Foundation), and event-based transaction revenue from art sales and auctions. In December 2021, the organization purchased its building, a milestone tied to plans for an expanded international residency program.

Name

1708 Gallery

Legal name

1708 Gallery

Website

https://1708gallery.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

1708 Gallery is a Richmond, Virginia nonprofit arts organization founded in 1978 by VCU artists, operating an artist-run exhibition program, a pilot residency, signature fundraising events, and satellite shows for contemporary artists and the local community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Culture / Nonprofit Gallery

NAICS

Museums (71211)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Artist residency programs
• Nonprofit arts organization
• Art auctions and events
• Community art engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Annual Fund: Tax-deductible contributions to the Annual Fund support exhibitions, educational programs, and outreach. Donations are solicited through email, postcards, and direct appeals. The gallery also participates in employer matching gift programs.
2. Corporate & Foundation Sponsorships: Sponsorship benefits include signage, recognition on street banners, mention in press/media campaigns, acknowledgment on website, and verbal acknowledgment at events. Sponsors include National Endowment for the Arts, Andy Warhol Foundation, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Altria, Capital One, and others.
3. Art Auction (Cabin Fever): Annual art auction featuring Richmond artists. Live and silent auctions with artworks sold to raise funds for exhibitions and programs. The 2026 event is scheduled for February 21, 2026.
4. Art Sales (Monster Drawing Rally): Monster Drawing Rally event features artworks created live by artists, sold at $100 per piece. Artists can receive up to 50% commission on sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

1708 Gallery operates a contemporary art exhibition program at its Richmond, Virginia venue, complemented by a pilot artist residency program (free with $1,250 monthly stipend), signature annual events (Monster Drawing Rally, Cabin Fever auction, InLight Richmond), satellite exhibitions at Linden Row Inn, and internship/volunteer programs. The organization functions as a nonprofit arts platform that provides exhibition space, professional development, and community engagement for contemporary artists and Richmond audiences.

Product overview

1708 Gallery is a nonprofit arts organization founded in 1978 by artists from Virginia Commonwealth University. It operates as a single unified organization offering multiple interconnected programs: the main exhibition program featuring rotating contemporary art exhibitions at its Richmond venue; the Pilot Artist Residency Program providing live/work space and stipends for artists; the annual Monster Drawing Rally event; the Cabin Fever annual art auction; satellite exhibitions at the Linden Row Inn; and internship/volunteer opportunities. These programs collectively fulfill the gallery's mission to empower artists' ideas and voices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1708 Gallery Main Exhibition Program Rotating program of contemporary art exhibitions at 1708 Gallery's 319 West Broad Street venue, showcasing emerging and established artists across curated and juried shows including the current 2×3: A More Perfect Union exhibition (June 22 - August 15, 2026). Free admission with gallery hours Tuesday through Sunday.
• Pilot Artist Residency Program Free artist residency on the second floor of 1708 Gallery's building providing private live/work space, a $1,250 monthly stipend, access to basic equipment, and professional development opportunities for artists residing within a 500-mile radius of Richmond. The first year (2024) hosted six artists/artist groups.
• Monster Drawing Rally Annual family-friendly art-making event featuring 80 artists creating new artworks in front of a live audience across four one-hour shifts. Completed artworks are sold for $100 each, with artists eligible to receive up to 50% commission on sales. The 2026 event is scheduled for August 22, 2026.
• Cabin Fever Annual Art Auction Annual art auction featuring live and silent auctions of works by Richmond artists, raising funds for the gallery's annual exhibitions and programs while providing resources for artists to produce and present artworks. The 2026 event is scheduled for February 21, 2026.
• Satellite Exhibitions at Linden Row Inn Curated satellite exhibitions displayed at the historic Linden Row Inn at 100 East Franklin Street in downtown Richmond, with artwork shown in the lobby, parlor, main hallway, and courtyard. The venue participates in First Fridays Art Walk with monthly receptions.
• Internship Program Part-time non-paid internship program offering hands-on experience in gallery operations, exhibition installation, event planning, educational programs, fundraising, PR, and marketing. Available for college credit or non-credit, with internships lasting approximately five months.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer program engaging community members in installations, deinstallations, exhibition openings, and special events to support gallery operations and connect volunteers with the Richmond creative community.
• InLight Richmond Biennial light-based public art event that draws regional audiences and has received National Endowment for the Arts grant support in 2012, 2015, and 2017. Held in Richmond and serves as a signature community engagement and awareness-building program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1708 Gallery's InLight 2017 received NEA Grant support
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

One partnership is on record.

• Linden Row InncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric inn partnership for satellite exhibitions. 1708 curates exhibitions displayed in lobby, parlor, main hallway and courtyard. Venue participates in First Fridays Art Walk with monthly receptions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Second Street Gallery: Nonprofit artist-run contemporary art gallery in Charlottesville, VA. Highly comparable to 1708 in nonprofit artist-led model, contemporary programming, and Virginia regional footprint. (Emily Smith previously served as Assistant Director here.)
• VisArts: Nonprofit visual arts center in Rockville, MD offering rotating exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational programs. Closely comparable mission and programming structure to 1708. (Staff member previously worked in VisArts Gallery Department.)
• School 33 Art Center: Nonprofit contemporary art center in Baltimore operated by the Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, featuring rotating exhibitions, artist studios, and community programming. Comparable nonprofit-gallery and residency model.
• Page Bond Gallery: Contemporary art gallery in Richmond, VA representing regional and national artists. Operates in the same Richmond Arts District market and comparable contemporary-programming focus. (Staff member previously worked in fine art logistics here.)
• Contemporary Art Center of Virginia: Nonprofit contemporary art center in Virginia Beach offering rotating exhibitions, educational programming, and community engagement. Closely comparable nonprofit contemporary-art model within Virginia.
• Piedmont Arts: Nonprofit regional arts center in Martinsville, VA offering rotating exhibitions and educational programming. Comparable small-staff nonprofit gallery model serving a Virginia regional audience. (Emily Smith previously served as Director of Exhibitions here.)
• The Kitchen: Nonprofit artist-run space in New York City supporting experimental contemporary art across visual and performing arts. Comparable artist-led nonprofit identity and risk-taking curatorial philosophy, though at larger scale and urban context.

Broad incumbents

• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: State-supported art museum in Richmond, VA. Anchors the Richmond visual-arts ecosystem and serves as a curatorial pipeline (1708's ED was a former Curatorial Fellow here), but operates at vastly larger scale and with permanent-collection focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1708gallery
• Facebookfacebook.com/1708GalleryArt
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1708-gallery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 1708 Gallery