AbrasiveMedia

What AbrasiveMedia does

AbrasiveMedia is a Nashville-based non-profit artists' organization founded in 2011 that helps artists grow, connect, produce, and give back to the community through creative collaboration and artistic cross-pollination. It operates an integrated set of community programs including seasonally changing art classes (13 seasons completed), artist residencies, recurring Art Crawl events, and event programming such as Project Awake (a school show targeting Tennessee students, premiered November 2019). The organization also runs a signature body of work, Th3 Anomaly — a gallery-sized graphic novel by resident artist David Landry comprising 321 paintings across more than 2,000 square feet, created over four-plus years and 8,000+ hours.

The business model mixes donation-based non-profit funding with fee-for-service revenue streams. Earned revenue comes from venue rentals (dedicated studio space up to 2,500 sqft at $150/hr with discounts over 10 hours; shared studio up to 1,850 sqft at $35/hr), community workshops (e.g., "Make Your Story Yours" at $50 for a three-hour session), and fundraiser event tickets (e.g., $35 early bird for Build the Future). Donations and giving-day campaigns such as The Big Payback anchor contributed income. Customers include individual artists of all disciplines, Nashville community members attending free events, Tennessee students reached through Project Awake, and event organizers renting flexible creative space. The organization has reached "tens of thousands" of Nashville citizens and supported "hundreds of artists" cumulatively.

AbrasiveMedia operated for six years out of Houston Station before the studio permanently closed in 2019 amid rising neighborhood costs and reduced accessibility; the organization has since run programs through partner venues including Metro Parks Nashville and Track One while seeking a new permanent location. Leadership comprises Executive Director Audra Almond-Harvey and Director of Project Awake Justin Harvey. The organization maintains no proprietary technology platform, app, or API; its distribution is entirely physical, community-driven, and supported by organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram), email newsletter, and event-based word-of-mouth.

Name

AbrasiveMedia

Legal name

AbrasiveMedia

Website

https://abrasivemedia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AbrasiveMedia is a Nashville non-profit arts organization, founded in 2011, that supports local artists through community classes, artist residencies, Art Crawl events, school programming, and venue rentals. It serves individual artists, Nashville community members, Tennessee students, and event organizers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Services

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Studio space rentals
• Artist residency programs
• Art education classes
• Creative venue events

Headquarters

HQ city

Tennessee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on donations from the community, including participation in giving days like The Big Payback. They conduct periodic fundraising events and campaigns to support operations and programs.
2. Venue Rentals: AbrasiveMedia offers dedicated studio rentals (up to 2,500 sqft starting at $150/hour with discounts for 10+ hours) and shared studio access (up to 1,850 sqft at $35/hour). Revenue generated from hosting events, shoots, meetings, and performances.
3. Classes and Workshops: Community art classes taught by professional artists on a seasonally changing basis. Workshop offerings include programs like 'Make Your Story Yours' at $50 for a 3-hour session. Aerial arts classes were offered through resident artist FALL.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AbrasiveMedia is a non-profit artists' organization in Nashville that runs seasonally changing community art classes, an artist residency program, and signature events such as Art Crawls, exhibitions, and the Project Awake school show. It also rents dedicated and shared studio space for events, shoots, meetings, and performances, functioning as a unified venue and program provider that helps artists grow, connect, produce, and give back to the community.

Product overview

AbrasiveMedia is a non-profit artists' organization in Nashville that operates as a unified community arts venue and program provider. Its core offerings include community art classes (featuring aerial arts, dance, yoga, and creative workshops across thirteen seasons), event space rentals (dedicated and shared studio options), and event programming (Art Crawl exhibitions, gallery shows, and multi-media performances). The organization also supports artists through a residency program and produces Project Awake, a school show for Tennessee students. The offerings function together as an integrated arts ecosystem supporting artists in growing, connecting, producing, and giving back to the Nashville community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art Classes Program Seasonally changing community art classes taught by professional artists, covering aerial arts, dance, yoga, and creative workshops for varied skill levels.
• Event Space Rentals Rentable Nashville event space offering dedicated studio (up to 2,500 sqft from $150/hour with 10+ hour discounts) and shared studio access (up to 1,850 sqft at $35/hour) for events, shoots, meetings, and shows.
• Art Crawls and Events Signature multi-discipline shows and creative programs including the Art Crawl exhibition series, gallery showings, and multi-media performances hosted at the venue and partner locations.
• Artist Residency Program Program supporting resident artists to make and show art, facilitating growth, peer connections, and production, including resident artist partnerships and program support.
• Project Awake

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached tens of thousands of Nashville citizens through artist programming

Named customers6 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FALL (formerly resident artist)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017FALL (aerial and contemporary dance) began as a resident artist program at abrasiveMedia. Their aerial arts classes ran for over 7 years as an aM program. In 2017, FALL transitioned to become an independent non-profit organization, with aerial classes transferred to FALL's direction while maintaining collaborative community ties.
• Houston Station (Gilbreath family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGordon and Elizabeth Gilbreath of Houston Station provided a generous 6-year residency that allowed abrasiveMedia to operate in the 130+ year old building with original hardwood floors, exposed brick, and high ceilings. This partnership ended in 2019 as the building's neighborhood became more expensive and less accessible.
• Metro ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAbrasiveMedia is expanding individual programs through partnerships with Metro Parks Nashville, continuing community engagement while seeking a permanent new location.
• Blue Moves Modern Dance CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative dance company partnership for events and performances. Blue Moves celebrated their 30th anniversary with events involving abrasiveMedia.
• Nashville OperaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for Art Crawl events, including 'Move Closer' program combining visual art with opera performances.
• Track OneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for larger productions like 'HAUNTED' October 20-22 event, expanding reach beyond primary venue.
• New DialectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContemporary dance company that performed at abrasiveMedia events, bringing structured improvisational dance to Art Crawls.
• The Mixer PodcastminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodcast collaboration for live recording events at Art Crawls, featuring 'Legal To Brew Since 1967' podcast.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Artspace: National nonprofit arts real estate developer that creates affordable live/work and studio space for artists. Comparable model to AbrasiveMedia's mission of supporting artists through physical space, residencies, and community programming.
• Belcourt Theatre: Nonprofit independent cinema and live performance venue in Nashville offering classes, residencies, and community programming. Closely comparable as a Nashville nonprofit arts venue providing classes, screenings, and community cultural programming.
• National YoungArts Foundation: Nonprofit organization supporting emerging artists through residencies, performances, and educational programming. Comparable as an artist-development nonprofit with residency programs and educational outreach.
• Nashville Opera: Nashville-based nonprofit opera company that is an active partner of AbrasiveMedia (e.g., 'Move Closer' Art Crawl program). Directly comparable as a Nashville performing arts nonprofit operating in the same donor and audience ecosystem.
• Blue Moves Modern Dance Company: Nashville-based modern dance nonprofit and active AbrasiveMedia partner celebrating 30+ years of community programming. Directly comparable as a Nashville nonprofit performing arts organization with overlapping audiences.
• Ox-Bow School of Art: Nonprofit artist residency and school offering classes, residencies, and community engagement. Highly comparable as a nonprofit that combines professional artist development with community classes and exhibitions.
• Elsewhere: Nonprofit artist residency and living museum in Greensboro, NC operating community programming, residencies, and creative reuse of historic space. Comparable artist-in-residence and community-driven arts programming model.
• The Luminary: Nonprofit art space in St. Louis supporting residencies, exhibitions, and community programming for emerging and established artists. Comparable mission and operational structure as AbrasiveMedia.

Broad incumbents

• Cheekwood Estate & Gardens: Nashville nonprofit combining a botanical garden with an art museum and educational programming. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary Nashville arts institution competing for similar community engagement and philanthropic support.
• Frist Art Museum: Nashville-based visual arts center operating exhibition programming and community events from a historic building. Comparable as a major Nashville nonprofit arts institution serving the same community and donor base, though at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/abrasiveMedia
• Instagraminstagram.com/abrasivemedia
• Xx.com/abrasiveMedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 AbrasiveMedia