Urban Arts Partnership

What Urban Arts Partnership does

Urban Arts Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in New York City that teaches digital game design as a pathway to college and career for students from low-income and underrepresented communities. The organization operates a multi-product educational platform anchored by two core offerings: Game Academy, a multi-level in-person and online program (2D Game Development, 3D Game Development, Studio Capstone, Play Lab, summer intensives, and the Founders Lab AI-powered incubator track) that teaches coding, pixel art, animation, music composition, and narrative design using industry-standard tools (Unity3D, C#, Blender); and Game On by Urban Arts, a College Board-endorsed AP Computer Science Principles curriculum for high schools and the only such curriculum powered by Unity's platform. Supporting programs include Creative Coders (a middle-school Minecraft Education program), the College Access Program, Community Schools partnerships with the NYC Department of Education, a Mentorship Program, and the annual NextGen Hiring Summit for alumni.

Name

Urban Arts Partnership

Legal name

Urban Arts Partnership

Website

https://urbanarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Urban Arts Partnership is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that provides free digital game design education, college access support, and teacher training to underserved high school students in NYC and 10+ states, using a College Board-endorsed AP CS Principles curriculum built on Unity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth STEAM Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D) (EDAMACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Game design education
• Youth STEAM programs
• College access services
• Nonprofit education services
• Teacher professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: Individual and corporate donations from supporters who contribute to the organization's mission of providing free game design education to underserved students.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Philanthropic investments from technology, gaming, media, and entertainment companies that support the organization's programs and student outcomes.
3. Foundation & Government Grants: Funding from foundations (e.g., Hearst Foundation, Charles Hayden Foundation) and government agencies (U.S. Department of Education EIR grants) to support curriculum development and national expansion.
4. Event Fundraising: Annual events like Color Ball gala generate significant donations (raised $1.1M in 2026) through ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Urban Arts Partnership is a national nonprofit that delivers free digital game design education and computer science instruction to underserved NYC high school students as a pathway to college and career. Its core offerings are Game Academy (a multi-level student game design program using Unity3D, C#, and Blender) and Game On (a College Board-endorsed AP Computer Science Principles curriculum for teachers and schools). Programs are provided at no cost to students and eligible public schools, with comprehensive college access, mentorship, and industry connection services bundled in.

Product overview

Urban Arts Partnership operates a multi-product educational platform centered on digital game design as a pathway to college and career. The core offerings include Game Academy (a three-level game design and computer science program with courses in 2D/3D development, Studio Capstone, summer intensives, Founders Lab, and StoryQuest Camp) and Game On (a College Board-endorsed AP Computer Science Principles curriculum for high schools). Supporting services include the College Access Program, Mentorship Program, and NextGen Hiring Summit. Programs are delivered through in-person learning at the NYC Learning Lab, online via Discord, and in partnership with schools through Creative Coders (middle school) and Community Schools. The organization recently opened a Google-powered sound studio for music production and game audio design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Game On by Urban Arts: College Board-endorsed AP Computer Science Principles curriculum that teaches students to design, code, and build video games using Unity.
• Game Academy
• Creative Coders
• College Access Program

Products and services

• Game Academy Multi-level game design and computer science program for NYC high school students. Teaches coding (C#), pixel art and 2D sprite animation, 3D art using Blender, digital music composition, narrative writing, and version control with GitHub using Unity3D. Delivered tuition-free in-person at the Manhattan Learning Lab and online via Discord, with laptops, meals, and Metrocards provided.
• Game On by Urban Arts College Board-endorsed AP Computer Science Principles curriculum that teaches CS through game design using Unity. Includes 108+ hours of curriculum and 40+ hours of teacher professional development, freely available to eligible Title-1 high schools through Department of Education funding and corporate/foundation support.
• Creative Coders Professional development program for middle school teachers delivering a 72-session curriculum that teaches introductory computer science through Minecraft Education and game design. Targets grades 6-8 with beginner-friendly engagement through familiar gaming platforms.
• College Access Program Free college access services including one-on-one counseling, workshops, scholarship lists, financial aid support, parent engagement, and SeniorXP Fellowship college application support to help Urban Arts students graduate college debt-free.
• StoryQuest Camp Free two-week virtual game design sprint for high school students using the Godot engine. Students design original levels, create characters, and build complete projects, earning an industry-recognized microcredential through collaboration with Endless Access and ASU Endless Games and Learning Lab.
• Community Schools Program NYC Department of Education Community Schools Initiative partnership in which Urban Arts serves as lead community-based organization partner for three Manhattan schools. Delivers technology and arts-based education, wraparound services, and STEAM programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate for graduating seniors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Unity TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationFlagship technology partner providing the Unity game engine platform for all programs. Partnership includes curriculum collaboration, philanthropy, and board representation (Alex Blum serves on Urban Arts Board).
• GooglecoreTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner providing funding and Google-powered sound studio at Urban Arts facility. Partnership includes community development support.
• HasbrocoreTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner supporting programs and industry connections. Includes employee volunteering and mentorship opportunities.
• NBCUniversalcoreTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner providing field trips, mentorship, and industry exposure for students. Partnership includes gala sponsorship and honoree recognition.
• Take-Two InteractivecoreTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner providing industry connections, field trips to NYC office, and student mentorship opportunities.
• NintendomajorTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner providing industry exposure and support for programs.
• ParamountmajorTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner with executive leadership involvement. CTO Phil Wiser honored at Color Ball 2026.
• ComcastmajorTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner supporting programs and student opportunities.
• PwCmajorTechnology or IntegrationCorporate partner providing funding and professional expertise.
• PACOAmajorTechnology or IntegrationBoard member Steven Geismar hosts Golf Classic event. Corporate partner supporting fundraising events.
• Endless AccessmajorTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for StoryQuest Camp and Godot-based game design programs. Collaboration includes industry-recognized microcredentials through ASU Endless Games and Learning Lab.
• Minecraft EducationmajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing Minecraft Education platform for Creative Coders middle school program.
• NYC Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary education system partner for delivering programs in NYC public schools, including Community Schools Initiative partnership.
• College BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial endorsement of Game On AP CSP curriculum. Curriculum meets AP Computer Science Principles standards and is freely available to eligible Title-1 schools.
• Manhattan Early College School for Advertising (MECA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC school partnership for Workplace Challenge program where students tackle real game design problems using Godot engine.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• ScriptEd: NYC-based nonprofit providing free coding education and career pathways to underserved high school students. Highly comparable mission, NYC geography, and student demographic, with similar corporate volunteer engagement model.
• Mouse (formerly MOUSE.org): NYC-based youth development nonprofit focused on technology, design, and STEM skills for under-resourced students. Comparable in geographic focus on NYC public schools and the integration of design-thinking and technology skills.

Direct peers

• Girls Who Code: National nonprofit working to close the gender gap in technology through K-12 programming, college programs, and career placement. Shares Urban Arts' focus on supporting girls and gender-nonconforming students (50% and 10% of Urban Arts students respectively) into tech careers.
• TEALS (Microsoft): Microsoft philanthropy program that pairs tech industry volunteers with high school teachers to expand CS education. Operates in a similar K-12 CS curriculum space with a comparable teacher-training model supported by major tech industry sponsorship.
• Black Girls CODE: National nonprofit providing technology education to Black girls and other youth of color. Targets the same demographic disparities that Urban Arts addresses (only 17% of tech leaders are people of color) and runs similar school and community-based CS programs.
• Code.org: The largest U.S. nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science education in K-12 schools. Both organizations pursue the mission of broadening CS access for underrepresented students and offer free curriculum and teacher professional development to schools nationwide.
• iD Tech: For-profit operator of technology summer camps and online programs including game design, coding, and creative media courses for K-12 students. Most directly comparable competitor in the youth game-design education category, though operating on a paid tuition model rather than free.

Broad incumbents

• KIPP Foundation: One of the largest U.S. charter school networks serving low-income communities with a college-prep mission. Operates at much larger scale in the same equity-in-education space and serves a comparable demographic of students.

Emerging players

• Bottom Line: Nonprofit focused on college access and success for first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. Overlapping student demographic and similar outcomes focus on college acceptance and persistence, though without the game-design curriculum angle.
• NAF (National Academy Foundation): National education nonprofit operating career academies in high schools with strong industry partnerships, focused on college and career readiness. Comparable in the career-pathway-for-underrepresented-students niche and similar corporate partner ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/urbanartsorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UrbanArtsPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-arts-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbanartsorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

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 Urban Arts Partnership