Long Beach Museum of Art

What Long Beach Museum of Art does

The Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA) is a nonprofit art museum founded in 1950 and operating under a public-private partnership between the City of Long Beach and the LBMA Foundation (since 1985). It runs two campuses: the historic LBMA Ocean at 2300 E Ocean Blvd, housed in the landmark 1911 Elizabeth Milbank Anderson House and Carriage House with an oceanfront sculpture garden, and LBMA Downtown at 356 E 3rd St in the East Village Arts District, which opened in 2019 following a 2018 merger with Long Beach Art Exchange. Its permanent collection comprises over 4,300 art objects spanning three centuries of American, European, and international art, with concentrations in Southern California art, California modernism, women artists, early 20th-century European art, and decorative arts; its LBMA Video program (1974) was a pioneer in institutional video art collecting and was transferred to the Getty Research Institute in 2006.

The museum monetizes through a diversified revenue model: general admissions (transaction-based, ticketed via Eventbrite), annual memberships (subscription, providing access to both campuses and benefits at Claire's restaurant and the gift shop), venue rental for weddings and corporate events (with Claire's as exclusive caterer), gift shop retail, Claire's at the Museum restaurant operations, and donations/corporate sponsorships/foundation grants/legacy giving. It serves distinct customer segments including general public visitors, K-12 students (notably Long Beach Unified School District through the KidsVisions program established in 1999), event renters, artists, and foundation/major donors. Supporting infrastructure includes a 16-member Board of Trustees, an Advisory Board, and a leadership team headed by Executive Director Ron Nelson.

LBMA's technology footprint is minimal and conventional: a public website (lbma.org), a webkiosk for collection browsing, Eventbrite ticketing, social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and standard CRM/newsletter tools. There are no proprietary AI/ML capabilities or software products. Strategic priorities evident from recent activity include expanding exhibition partnerships (Jordan D. Schnitzer Family Foundation, RVCA Artist Network Program), reinforcing educational pipelines (LBUSD), and leveraging its two-campus footprint to drive admissions, memberships, and event revenue. The institution was reaccredited by the American Alliance of Museums in 2025 for an unusually extended 15-year term.

Name

Long Beach Museum of Art

Legal name

Long Beach Museum of Art

Website

https://lbma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Long Beach Museum of Art is a nonprofit art museum operating two campuses in Long Beach, California, displaying a permanent collection of 4,300+ artworks. It serves the local community through exhibitions, educational programs, special events, venue rentals, and Claire's restaurant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Art museum exhibitions
• Museum education programs
• Event venue rental
• Museum membership programs
• Permanent art collection

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Revenue from general admission tickets to LBMA Ocean and LBMA Downtown locations, with discounted rates for members and special pricing for events.
2. Membership Programs: Annual membership tiers providing unlimited admission, VIP exhibition openings, member discounts at shop and restaurant, and exclusive events.
3. Venue Rental and Special Events: Rental of Claire's restaurant space, outdoor patios, Historic Anderson House for weddings, corporate events, and private functions. Catering provided exclusively by Claire's at the Museum.
4. Gift Shop Sales: On-site museum gift shop featuring artist-driven products, books, wearables, and home items. Proceeds support museum operations.
5. Restaurant Operations: Claire's at the Museum restaurant operates on-site, generating revenue from food and beverage sales. Open for breakfast and lunch with oceanfront dining.
6. Donations and Sponsorships: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and legacy giving programs support exhibitions and educational programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Long Beach Museum of Art (LBMA) operates a two-campus art museum in Long Beach, California. LBMA Ocean is the historic original campus in a 1911 craftsman home, and LBMA Downtown is a contemporary gallery space in the East Village Arts District opened in 2019. The museum preserves and exhibits a permanent collection of more than 4,300 art objects spanning American, European, and international art across three centuries, and rotates temporary exhibitions drawn from this collection and from external lenders. Educational programming (KidsVisions, Docents, Group Visits, Stroller Tours, Downtown Draws), an on-site restaurant (Claire's at the Museum), a gift shop, membership, and special event venue rentals supplement the core exhibition offering.

Product overview

The Long Beach Museum of Art operates as a two-campus museum institution offering exhibitions, educational programming, and event venue rental services. LBMA Ocean (2300 E Ocean Blvd) is the historic main campus in a 1911 craftsman home featuring Southern California art and the Claire's at the Museum restaurant. LBMA Downtown (356 E 3rd St), opened in 2019, is a contemporary gallery space in the East Village Arts District. The museum's core offerings include rotating exhibitions drawn from its permanent collection of over 4,300 art objects, educational programs (KidsVisions, Docents, Group Visits, Stroller Tours, Downtown Draws), special events hosting (weddings, corporate events, photoshoots), a gift shop, and membership. The museum also maintains the LBMA Video Program, one of the first institutional video art collections in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Museum Admission Pay-as-you-go ticket for entry to either LBMA Ocean (Thursday-Sunday 11AM-5PM) or LBMA Downtown (Thursday-Sunday 11AM-4PM), granting access to the permanent collection of over 4,300 art objects and rotating exhibitions. Targeted at general public visitors, tourists, and walk-in guests.
• LBMA Annual Membership Annual subscription membership providing unlimited free admission to both LBMA campuses, VIP exhibition opening invitations, member previews, 10% discounts at the museum store and Claire's restaurant, education and workshop discounts, and exclusive member eNEWS. Targeted at recurring visitors, local art enthusiasts, and supporters of the museum.
• Special Event Venue Rentals Rental of museum event spaces — outdoor patios at LBMA Ocean (up to 250 seated / 1000 standing), Historic Anderson House (up to 60 guests), and LBMA Downtown — for weddings, corporate meetings, presentations, seminars, rehearsal dinners, receptions, photoshoots, and commercial filming. Catering is provided exclusively by Claire's at the Museum. Targeted at engaged couples, corporate event planners, and commercial production clients.
• Claire's at the Museum Restaurant Oceanfront on-site restaurant at LBMA Ocean campus open for breakfast and lunch, serving an artisanal menu from tray-passed hors d'oeuvres to plated dinners, with panoramic views of the Queen Mary, Catalina Island, and Claire Falkenstein's Structure and Flow fountain. Open to the public and also provides exclusive catering for museum-rented events.
• Museum Gift Shop On-site retail shop at LBMA Ocean offering curated artist-driven products, books, museum-branded items, wearables, and home objects at various price points. Proceeds support museum operations. Open to museum visitors and the general public.
• KidsVisions School Field Trip Program Free school field trip program with transportation provided to all LBUSD fifth-grade students, plus annual juried elementary, middle, and high school exhibitions hosted at LBMA. Established via the Miller Foundation gift in 1999. Targeted at Long Beach Unified School District students and educators.
• Adult Art Workshops Artist-led hands-on workshops (e.g., Star Book Workshop) for adults and members, including materials, light refreshments, and beverages provided by Claire's at the Museum. Priced at $25 for members and $30 for non-members.
• Stroller Tours Pre-opening stroller-friendly guided museum tours for caregivers and their children ages 0-2. Advance registration required; free with general admission. Targeted at parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers.
• Downtown Draws Free drop-in drawing program at LBMA Downtown inspired by current exhibitions, the gallery space, and downtown Long Beach, with prompts provided. Materials may be borrowed from the front desk or brought by attendees (pencils only in galleries). Targeted at casual visitors and the local community.
• Docent Program Trained volunteer docent ambassador program established in 1979, providing guided tours, group visits, and public engagement workshops for museum visitors. Targeted at general visitors, school groups, and community audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free field trips provided to all LBUSD fifth-grade students through KidsVisions program
• +2 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Major exhibition partnership providing over 180 prints from the collection for the Positive Fragmentation exhibition (June 26-September 27, 2026). Organized by National Museum of Women in the Arts, curated by Virginia Treanor and Kathryn Wat. Schnitzer is a prominent collector supporting museum exhibitions nationally.
• RVCA Artist Network ProgramcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 February 2026Ongoing program showcasing accomplished and emerging artists, providing support for exhibitions and creative growth. RVCA is a lifestyle brand that developed ANP to give back to artists and provide a voice for creative development. Supports Robert Williams: Fearless Depictions exhibition.
• Long Beach City College Visual and Media Arts DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 November 2024Faculty exhibition program (Practice and Pedagogy) showcasing studio art faculty works at LBMA Downtown. Second iteration following 2018 inaugural exhibition, highlighting VMA's dedication to nurturing art careers and contributing to local arts education.
• Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing free field trips (KidsVisions program) and transportation to all LBUSD fifth-grade students. Partnership expands to include annual elementary, middle school, and high school juried exhibitions at LBMA, supporting career exploration in arts.
• Getty Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2006, Getty acquired LBMA's entire video collection: 5,000 tapes, documents, and ephemera transferred for stewardship. More than one-third of collection has been reformatted. Getty collaborated on Shared Realities exhibition (LBMA Video 50th anniversary).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Laguna Art Museum: Regional art museum focused on California art with a similarly sized collection and educational mission; structurally analogous regional competitor for art-focused tourism and Southern California donor dollars.
• Bowers Museum: Santa Ana-based museum operating with a similar campus model combining a permanent collection, special exhibitions, educational programming, and venue rentals for private events.
• California African American Museum: Los Angeles-based museum with educational programming, permanent collections, and rotating exhibitions; structurally analogous nonprofit operating model targeting similar regional audiences and community engagement goals.
• The Broad: Downtown Los Angeles contemporary art museum offering free general admission and rotating exhibitions; closely comparable as a SoCal contemporary art venue competing for visitors and contemporary art donor support.
• Palm Springs Art Museum: Regional California art museum combining permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and event venue operations under a nonprofit structure comparable to LBMA.
• Orange County Museum of Art: Southern California contemporary art museum with comparable exhibition focus, educational programs, and event-driven revenue model, competing in the same regional arts ecosystem.
• Santa Barbara Museum of Art: Regional California art museum with permanent collection, rotating exhibitions, educational programming, and venue event operations directly parallel to LBMA's operating model and audience base.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): Los Angeles-based contemporary art museum with comparable exhibition programming, educational outreach, and nonprofit operating model; serves a similar Southern California art enthusiast base and competes for the same donor pool.

Broad incumbents

• Norton Simon Museum: Established Pasadena-based art museum with a significant permanent collection and special exhibitions; operates as a larger, well-funded Southern California art institution overlapping with LBMA on educational and exhibition programming.
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA): Much larger and more broadly resourced Los Angeles art institution; overlaps with LBMA on California art, educational programming, and major exhibitions, and represents the dominant SoCal art museum incumbent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@longbeachmuseumofart4452
• Facebookfacebook.com/LongBeachMuseumofArt
• Instagraminstagram.com/lbmaorg
• Xx.com/LBMAorg

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Long Beach Museum of Art