Studio Institute

What Studio Institute does

Studio Institute, operating as Studio in a School Association, is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that delivers visual arts education programs to students from kindergarten through college age. Founded approximately 50 years ago by philanthropist Agnes Gund, the organization places professional working artists as instructors directly inside NYC public schools across all five boroughs, supplemented by high school and teen programs, a paid college internship pipeline (Arts Intern College, established 1999, placing 1,024 interns across 9 cities over 27 years), and public exhibitions of student artwork at venues including Christie's galleries and the Studio In A School Gallery. The organization has served more than 1 million students cumulatively since its founding.

The organization's product portfolio consists of school-based K-12 visual arts instruction, high school portfolio and career-preparation programs, the Arts Intern College paid internship program, recurring exhibitions (Young Visions, Studio in the Community, Young Perspectives), and Teach and Create Studio, a free online platform providing lesson plans and art-making activities to educators, families, and students. There is no proprietary technology platform underlying instruction; the core delivery model is in-person teaching by professional artists within school facilities. Supporting infrastructure includes the Studio In A School Gallery and partnerships with cultural institutions such as Christie's, Hauser & Wirth, Montefiore Einstein, A.I.R. Gallery, and the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations, grants, and charitable support from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors, with no fees charged to participating schools or students. The go-to-market model is community-led: direct partnerships with NYC public schools drive program delivery, while awareness and fundraising are generated through exhibitions at high-profile venues, an annual review publication, organic social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and charity partnerships with the TD Five Boro Bike Tour and TCS New York City Marathon. The organization is headquartered at 75 West End Avenue in Manhattan and operates exclusively within New York City for its school-based programs, with the internship program extending placement reach across 9 cities.

Name

Studio Institute

Legal name

Studio in a School Association

Website

https://studioinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Studio Institute (Studio in a School Association) is a NYC-based nonprofit that places professional working artists in public schools to deliver visual arts education to K-12, high school, and college students, funded entirely through donations and charitable support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Visual Arts & Media Arts Programs (Art Club, Photography, Film) (EDAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Visual arts education
• Arts education programs
• Artist residencies
• K-12 art programs
• Nonprofit arts organization

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Support: As a nonprofit organization, Studio in a School Association relies primarily on charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate sponsors to fund its visual arts education programs in NYC public schools. The website prominently features donation options including general donations and purchase of limited edition prints.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Studio Institute (legally Studio in a School Association) provides visual arts education programs delivered by professional working artists to NYC public school students. Programs span K-12 classroom residencies, high school and teen programming, college-level courses, and paid internships and apprenticeships, with all school-based programs offered free of charge to partner schools.

Product overview

Studio Institute operates as a single unified offering focused on visual arts education for students across all levels—from K-12 public schools to high schools and colleges—through direct instruction by professional artists. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs including school-based visual arts instruction, paid internship/apprenticeship opportunities at arts institutions (Arts Intern College), and public exhibition spaces showcasing student work. Additionally, Teach and Create Studio serves as a digital resource platform offering free online art lessons and teaching materials. The programs are offered at no cost to students and aim to expand access to arts education from classrooms to careers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,024 college interns placed at arts and culture organizations across 9 cities over 27 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Christie'sflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Christie's galleries host the annual Young Visions exhibition featuring over 130 student artworks from Studio in a School programs. The partnership provides prestigious exhibition space for student work and generates significant visibility for the organization's mission.
• Hauser & WirthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHauser & Wirth gallery exhibitions are paired with Teach and Create Studio lesson plans. The partnership connects gallery visits with art education, creating curriculum resources inspired by current exhibitions (e.g., Firelei Báez exhibition 'feet squelching on wet grass, nourished by uncertainty').
• Montefiore Einstein (Fine Art Program and Collection)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership presenting Young Perspectives: Art by Students from the 5 Boroughs, an exhibition featuring student artworks in partnership with Montefiore Einstein's Fine Art Program and Collection.
• TD Five Boro Bike TourminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudio in a School is an official charity partner of the 2026 TD Five Boro Bike Tour, engaging supporters and community members in fundraising while promoting the organization's mission.
• TCS New York City MarathonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudio in a School is an official charity partner of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, with student artwork featured on charity bibs and collateral, raising visibility and funds.
• Arts Intern Program (Bloomberg Arts Intern)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arts Intern College program, which began at Studio in a School in 1999, places college students in paid internships at arts and cultural institutions. The program has hosted 1,024 interns across 9 cities over 27 years. Bloomberg Arts Intern is a specific program track providing internship opportunities.
• Renee & Chaim Gross FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts Intern College places curatorial and collections interns at the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation, providing professional development opportunities for college students interested in arts administration.
• A.I.R. GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA.I.R. Gallery hosts Arts Intern program participants, providing real-world experience at a professional arts institution. Gallery staff have provided testimonials about the program's impact on diversifying the arts workforce.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lincoln Center Education: Lincoln Center's education arm delivers arts programming in NYC public schools and is among the most direct comparables: a nonprofit placing professional artists in classrooms, serving the same school system and donor base as Studio Institute.
• DreamYard Project: Bronx-based nonprofit that partners with NYC public schools to deliver arts education (visual, performing, and media) directly in classrooms — a closely analogous model, donor-funded, and free to participating schools.
• ArtsConnection: NYC nonprofit that places teaching artists in public schools and provides professional development — directly comparable operating model, geography, and customer base to Studio Institute.
• Studio Museum in Harlem: Visual-arts-focused NYC cultural institution with deep education programming in Harlem public schools, comparable in mission (visual arts access, artist development) and donor base.
• Alvin Ailey Arts in Education: Long-running NYC nonprofit that places professional artists (in dance) directly in public schools — directly comparable operating model and customer base, though the art form differs.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Hall (Weill Music Institute): Larger, broader arts-education institution that places professional musicians and artists in NYC schools; overlaps with Studio Institute on school-partnership delivery but is a much larger organization with a wider portfolio.
• Whitney Museum of American Art (Education): Major NYC art museum with a sizable K-12 and public-school education program; broader portfolio but overlapping in serving the same NYC public-school students and donors.
• MoMA Education: Museum-of-Modern-Art's education department provides free K-12 school programs across NYC, comparable in audience, donor base, and free-to-schools delivery model.

Emerging players

• The Joan Mitchell Foundation: Visual-arts-focused foundation that funds working artists and runs arts-education programming; comparable mission around working-artist support and youth arts access, but operates via grants rather than direct school delivery.
• New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): NY-based arts-service nonprofit with education, grantmaking, and career-development programming for artists — partial overlap with the Arts Intern College component of Studio Institute.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StudioInst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@studioinaschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/Studio-in-a-School-152126784791
• Instagraminstagram.com/studioinaschool

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Studio Institute