International Art Museum of America

What International Art Museum of America does

The International Art Museum of America (IAMA) is a nonprofit art museum founded in 2010–2011 and headquartered at 1025 Market Street in San Francisco's Mid-Market corridor. The museum operates approximately 25,000 sq. ft. of gallery space that includes the indoor garden grotto with waterfall, Dragon Hall, the Jade Room, and a sealed Treasure Room housing Yun Sculptures by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. The permanent collection comprises over 300 art pieces by world-renowned artists from 12 countries spanning the 16th century to the present, with permanent exhibitions including Treasure Room, Jade Room, Sixteen Wonders, Timeless Masters, and Transcendental Beauty.

IAMA runs an event-driven go-to-market anchored on free general admission to physical exhibitions, supplemented by tiered paid access to the Treasure Room four times per year ($60/person, complimentary for members), an annual membership program, venue rentals for corporate and private events, ticketed performances (e.g., BENISE Spanish Nights), and donations. Revenue diversification is broad but absolute scale is small given a 11–50 employee footprint. Programs include the annual International Youth Art Contest (1,600 artists from 65 countries in 2024, scaling to 700+ finalist artworks in 2025/2026) and the International Art Forum, both anchored by strategic partners Zynga, New York Academy of Art, and Academy of Art University. Distribution channels include walk-in physical visitors, the Museums for All/IMLS partnership (free admission to SNAP/EBT cardholders), 3D virtual tours, and marketing partnerships with Kayak, Yotel, and Study.com.

Leadership is led by President KC Hsieh, with Lifetime Honorary Chairwoman Dr. Yuhua Shouzhi Wang and Development Manager Emilio Jimenez. Recent institutional recognition includes SFGATE's Best Museum and Best Art Gallery (2026), SFGATE Best Art Gallery (2024), the 2025 Mid Market Golden Brick Award, and a Certificate of Honor from Mayor Daniel Lurie. The museum has no disclosed revenue, no funding rounds, no subsidiaries, no parent company, and operates as a standalone nonprofit reliant on donations, membership, and earned event revenue.

Name

International Art Museum of America

Legal name

International Art Museum of America

Website

https://iamasf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Art Museum of America is a nonprofit art museum in San Francisco offering free general admission to 25,000 sq. ft. of galleries housing 300+ works by world-renowned artists, supplemented by a paid Treasure Room, membership program, venue rentals, and the annual International Youth Art Contest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Art museum services
• Permanent art exhibitions
• Youth art programs
• Event venue rentals
• Membership subscription

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Free admission to the main museum galleries, funded through donations and membership support to ensure accessibility.
2. Treasure Room Special Access: Special admission fee of $60 per person for non-members to access the Treasure Room, which opens to the public four times per year.
3. Museum Membership: Annual membership program offering benefits including complimentary Treasure Room visits, exclusive events like the Members Gathering, and priority registration.
4. Venue Rentals: The museum offers venue rentals for corporate events, community gatherings, cultural events, and private celebrations.
5. Donations and Contributions: Non-profit museum supported by donations from members and the public.
6. Event Tickets: Ticketed events such as performances (e.g., BENISE Spanish Nights) with ticket prices ranging from $49.77 to $92.41.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The International Art Museum of America is a nonprofit art museum in San Francisco that operates 25,000 sq. ft. of gallery space housing over 300 art pieces from world-renowned artists across 12 countries, spanning the 16th century to present day. The museum offers free general admission to permanent and rotating exhibitions, a paid Treasure Room experience featuring the Yun Sculptures of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, an annual International Youth Art Contest, the International Art Forum, an annual membership program, and venue rental services for corporate and private events.

Product overview

The International Art Museum of America is a nonprofit art museum offering free general admission to its 25,000 sq. ft. gallery space featuring permanent collections of paintings and sculptures by world-renowned artists from 12 countries spanning the 16th century to present. The museum's core offerings include permanent exhibitions (Treasure Room, Jade Room, Sixteen Wonders, Timeless Masters, Transcendental Beauty), rotating exhibitions, the International Youth Art Contest, and International Art Forum programs. Additional services include membership, venue rentals, and a gift shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Museum Admission Free general admission to IAMA's 25,000 sq. ft. gallery space featuring permanent collections (Jade Room, Sixteen Wonders, Timeless Masters, Transcendental Beauty) and rotating exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, and other works by world-renowned artists from 12 countries spanning the 16th century to present day. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am-5pm.
• Treasure Room Premium Experience A sealed vault housing four unparalleled Yun Sculpture pieces by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, including 'Forever Brilliant' previously displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. Open to the public four times yearly (first Sundays of February, May, August, November) for $60 per non-member, with complimentary annual access included for members.
• International Youth Art Contest Annual art competition for youth artists aged 5-18 offering global recognition, cash prizes, certificates, mentorship from top art institutions, and the opportunity to exhibit in the 10,000 sq. ft. Grand Exhibition Hall. The third annual contest in 2026 features the Zynga Digital Art Award.
• International Art Forum Platform for international art exchanges, exhibitions, jury evaluations, and exchange programs featuring distinguished experts from the New York Academy of Art and San Francisco Academy of Art University. The forum positions IAMA as a global hub for artists to showcase their talents and gain inspiration.
• Annual Museum Membership Program Annual museum membership subscription offering complimentary Treasure Room access, exclusive event invitations including the Members Gathering, priority registration for programs, and other member-only benefits supporting the nonprofit museum's mission.
• Venue Rentals Facility rental services providing distinctive venue spaces for corporate events, community gatherings, cultural events, and private celebrations within the museum's 25,000 sq. ft. of gallery space, including the indoor garden grotto, Dragon Hall, and special exhibition areas.
• Museum Gift Shop Museum gift shop offering merchandise and art-related items inspired by the museum's collections, providing visitors with take-home art products and souvenirs from the institution's unique Yun Sculptures, jade creations, and other permanent collection works.
• Museums for All Accessibility Program Partnership-driven accessibility program providing free museum admission to SNAP/EBT cardholders year-round through the national Museums for All initiative administered by the Association of Children's Museums and IMLS. Part of a network of over 1,000 participating museums.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,600 young artists from 65 countries participated in the 2024 Youth Art Contest
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Museums for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational branded access program administered by the Association of Children's Museums and IMLS. IAMA joined in July 2023, providing free admission to SNAP/EBT cardholders year-round. Part of a network of over 1,000 participating museums. Focuses on breaking down financial barriers to museum access for low-income families.
• KayakminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTravel platform partnership for visitor outreach and promotion.
• YotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality partner providing visitor accommodations and promotion.
• Study.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational content partner supporting youth art education initiatives.
• ZyngacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Zynga Digital Art Award 2026 for the International Youth Art Contest. Will host exclusive masterclass on game design and creative career pathways for youth participants. Contributing special exhibition highlighting how game art is created.
• New York Academy of ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperating institution providing distinguished experts for jury panels and guidance to young artists in the International Art Forum program.
• Academy of Art UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Francisco-based institution participating in jury panels for youth art contests, with Professor Adam Caldwell serving as Chairman of Jury Committee.
• International Olympic Committee (praise from)minorOthersIAMA's Honorary President H.E. Juan Antonio Samaranch (late chairman of IOC) praised the museum as a 'Superb Art Museum' and endorsed its mission as an 'Olympic conference for the art world'.
• Golden Gate Armenian Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with IAMA to organize the 'Live by Loving' exhibition by Zaven Khachikyan.
• Firefly Youth NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian youth artists group that organized the 'Illuminating' International Art Forum event at IAMA, featuring art exhibitions, performances, and fundraising.
• U.S. Federation for UNESCO Clubs, Centers, and AssociationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGuy Djoken, President and CEO, attended the 2025 International Youth Art Contest Awards Ceremony.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: World-leading art museum with encyclopedic collection spanning cultures and centuries; relevant comparable for IAMA's 12-country, 16th-century-to-present collection scope, though at vastly greater scale.
• de Young Museum: San Francisco's flagship fine arts museum with a vastly larger collection, endowment, and visitor base; competes for the same tourist and donor pool as IAMA.
• San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA): Premier modern art institution in San Francisco with substantially larger scale, attendance, and brand recognition; dominant incumbent in the local art museum category.

Direct peers

• Asian Art Museum of San Francisco: San Francisco-based art museum with a diverse cross-cultural collection spanning Asian art; directly comparable in mission and visitor model, though larger and more established than IAMA.
• Cartoon Art Museum: Small San Francisco art museum with a niche thematic collection and rotating exhibitions; closely comparable in scale and operating model to IAMA.
• Contemporary Jewish Museum: Mid-sized San Francisco art museum with rotating exhibitions and cultural programming; operates at a similar scale and downtown-adjacent location to IAMA.
• Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco: San Francisco contemporary art institution with rotating exhibitions and programming; comparable in scale and operational model.
• Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD): Small-to-mid San Francisco museum focused on cultural diaspora art and exhibitions; comparable in size, programming, and downtown SF positioning to IAMA.

Regional players

• Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive: Bay Area university-affiliated art museum with diverse programming; comparable in exhibition-driven model but operates in the East Bay rather than downtown SF.
• Crocker Art Museum: Sacramento-based regional art museum with a comparable mid-sized collection and rotating exhibition programming; serves as a relevant non-Bay-Area peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIdy-yOdzpZVc0jcGMLxdsg
• Facebookfacebook.com/iama.sanfrancisco
• Instagraminstagram.com/iama_sf
• Xx.com/iama_sf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 International Art Museum of America