Creative Time
Creative Time is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that commissions and presents public art projects — over 350 to date — engaging millions through free programming in NYC, nationally, and internationally, funded by foundations, government grants, and individual donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Creative Time does
Creative Time, Inc. is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit public arts organization founded in 1974 that commissions and presents ambitious public art projects in the public realm. Over nearly 50 years, it has produced more than 350 projects throughout New York City, across the United States, internationally, and in outer space, engaging millions of people through free, accessible programming. Its work is anchored by three core values: art matters, artists' voices are important in shaping society, and public spaces are places for creative and free expression.
The organization's core products are artist commissions presented as public installations and programs, supported by two platforms: CTHQ (Creative Time Headquarters), a physical gathering space at 59 East 4th Street in Manhattan that opened in 2023 and hosts thematic program series; and the Creative Time Summit, an international convening at the intersection of art and social justice. Notable commissions include Kara Walker's sugar sphinx at the Domino Sugar Factory, Duke Riley's illuminated pigeons at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Pedro Reyes's haunted house at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and the 2025 MTA Broadcast System project 'If You Hear Something, Free Something' by Chloë Bass — the first artist project on that platform, featuring multilingual sonic artworks across NYC subway stations. There is no proprietary technology product; the underlying 'technology' is institutional access to public venues (MTA, parks, plazas) and curated programming frameworks such as Sonic Commons and Toward Sanctuary.
Creative Time's business model is that of a grant- and donation-funded cultural nonprofit rather than a commercial enterprise. All programs are free and open to the public. Revenue is sourced from tax-deductible individual donations and memberships, foundation and institutional grants (Mellon Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Rockefeller Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation, Booth Ferris Foundation, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Lambent Foundation Fund), and public funds from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The organization is governed by a board, led by Executive Director Jean Cooney, and operates with 11–50 employees. It does not sell products or services commercially; its GTM motion is community-led, relying on free public access, earned media coverage, and foundation relationships rather than a sales pipeline.
Creative Time firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Creative Time
- Legal name
- Creative Time, Inc.
- Website
- https://creativetime.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Creative Time is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that commissions and presents public art projects — over 350 to date — engaging millions through free programming in NYC, nationally, and internationally, funded by foundations, government grants, and individual donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Creative Time industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Arts & Cultural Programming
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)
Keywords
Where Creative Time is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Creative Time business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Membership: Tax-deductible gifts from individuals and organizations support Creative Time's programs. Membership program enables ongoing support from donors who believe in the organization's mission of presenting ambitious public art accessible to everyone.
- Foundation and Institutional Grants: Major programmatic support provided by foundations including Mellon Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Lambent Foundation Fund, Rockefeller Foundation, and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. These grants fund specific projects and operational costs.
- Government Funding: Public funds from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council and Mayor, as well as New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Creative Time product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Creative Time is a nonprofit public arts organization that commissions and presents large-scale public art projects across New York City and beyond. It operates CTHQ, a physical gathering space hosting free workshops and programs, and runs the Creative Time Summit, an international convening on art and social justice. All programs are free and open to the public, funded through donations, memberships, foundation grants, and government support.
Product overview
Creative Time is a single unified non-profit organization that commissions and presents public art projects. The core offering consists of artist commissions presented in public spaces, supported by two main platforms: CTHQ (Creative Time Headquarters), a physical gathering space hosting thematic program series, and the Creative Time Summit, an international convening on art and social justice. Notable named projects include 'If You Hear Something, Free Something' (a Chloë Bass public art commission with MTA Arts & Design), 'Toward Sanctuary' (sanctuary-themed programming series), and the 'Sonic Commons' thematic program at CTHQ exploring urban soundscapes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Creative Time Public Art Commissions Creative Time commissions and presents large-scale public art projects throughout New York City and beyond, free and accessible to the public. Over 350 projects have been produced since 1974.
- CTHQ (Creative Time Headquarters) A free public gathering space at 59 East 4th Street, 7th Floor, NYC, open Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-4pm, hosting workshops, performances, and community events supporting artists working at the intersection of art and politics.
- Creative Time Summit An international convening bringing together artists, activists, scholars, and cultural workers for dialogue and collaboration at the intersection of art and social justice.
- If You Hear Something, Free Something A public art commission by artist Chloë Bass featuring 24 poetic announcements played on NYC Transit PA systems in key station mezzanines in English, Spanish, Arabic, Bangla, Haitian Kreyòl, and Mandarin.
- Toward Sanctuary A programming series about sanctuary as a living history and ongoing aspiration, with events at CTHQ and across NYC venues including a nightclub and an urban farm.
- Sonic Commons A 2025 thematic programming framework at CTHQ exploring urban soundscapes and how sound shapes community, history, power, and industry in public spaces.
Companies that use Creative Time
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Creative Time technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Creative Time partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- MTA Arts & DesignflagshipCreative Time partnered with MTA Arts & Design for 'If you hear something, free something,' a public art commission by artist Chloë Bass. The project featured sonic artworks played on NYC Transit PA systems in key station mezzanines from September 3 to October 5, 2025. This marked the first innovative artist project on the MTA Broadcast System, reaching hundreds of thousands of daily riders.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Creative Time competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- MASS MoCA: Large contemporary art institution presenting major commissions and immersive installations. Comparable in commissioning ambition and nonprofit operating model, though it is venue-based in Massachusetts rather than public-space-focused.
- Dia Art Foundation: Nonprofit that commissions, presents, and maintains large-scale contemporary art projects, including site-specific and long-duration works. Comparable in commissioning scale and nonprofit structure, though focused on permanent collections and site commissions outside NYC.
Direct peers
- Public Art Fund: NYC-based nonprofit that commissions and presents contemporary public art across the city. Direct peer to Creative Time in mission, funding model (foundation + government + individual), and public-space commissioning activity.
- High Line Art: Public art program of the High Line in NYC commissioning site-specific works in a public park. Comparable in public-space commissioning in NYC and nonprofit-driven artist selection process.
- Art Production Fund: NYC nonprofit that produces ambitious site-specific public art projects. Comparable to Creative Time in scale, nonprofit structure, and focus on placing contemporary art in non-traditional public spaces.
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC): NYC arts nonprofit supporting artists through residencies, public programming, and community-based cultural projects. Comparable in residency-driven model and public-facing programming anchored in Manhattan.
- Creative Capital: Nonprofit that supports innovative artist projects through funding and professional development. Comparable to Creative Time in its artist-commissioning model and reliance on foundation and government support, though Creative Capital operates nationally rather than NYC-anchored.
Emerging players
- More Art: NYC nonprofit producing socially engaged public art projects and commissioning artists. Comparable in mission of socially engaged public art in NYC, though at smaller scale than Creative Time.
Regional players
- SculptureCenter: NYC nonprofit commissioning and exhibiting experimental sculpture and installation. Comparable in artist-commissioning model and NYC nonprofit structure, though more venue-tied than Creative Time's public-space focus.
- Queens Museum: NYC borough-based museum with a strong public programming and community engagement mandate. Comparable in NYC nonprofit cultural programming and government funding reliance, though housed in a permanent venue.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Creative Time social profiles
Digital presenceCreative Time financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Creative Time leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Creative Time funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Creative Time M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Creative Time
What does Creative Time do?
Creative Time is a nonprofit public arts organization that commissions and presents large-scale public art projects across New York City and beyond. It operates CTHQ, a physical gathering space hosting free workshops and programs, and runs the Creative Time Summit, an international convening on art and social justice. All programs are free and open to the public, funded through donations, memberships, foundation grants, and government support.
Is Creative Time a public or private company?
Creative Time is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Creative Time founded?
Creative Time was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Creative Time based?
Creative Time is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Creative Time make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Membership is the primary driver. The others are foundation and Institutional Grants and government Funding.
Who are Creative Time's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are MASS MoCA and Dia Art Foundation. Direct peers are Public Art Fund, High Line Art, Art Production Fund, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC) and Creative Capital. More Art is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are SculptureCenter and Queens Museum.
Does Creative Time have an API?
No public API is recorded for Creative Time.
What industry is Creative Time in?
Creative Time's product category is Public Arts & Cultural Programming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAD, Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAG, Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7900.