TBA21

What TBA21 does

TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary is a private non-profit foundation established in 2002 under Spanish Foundations' Law (Ley 50/2002), founded and chaired by Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, and headquartered in Madrid with offices in Vienna, Venice and Port Antonio, Jamaica. Its mission is to position contemporary art as a catalyst for social and environmental justice, with a thematic specialization in ocean ecologies and the Rights of Nature. The foundation operates through four interlocking pillars: TBA21–Academy (research, residencies and educational programs); Ocean Space, the flagship exhibition center housed in the Church of San Lorenzo in Venice; Ocean-Archive.org, a digital archive and educators' toolkit supporting ocean literacy from primary school to university; and a portfolio of signature programs (The Current curatorial fellowship, OCEAN/UNI public studies, Organismo applied research, the st_age digital commissions platform, the Confluence of European Water Bodies network, and the TIDAL ArtS and Bauhaus of the Seas Sails initiatives). Its core technology stack consists of these digital platforms, residency management systems and interdisciplinary research frameworks, integrated with third-party tools (Siteimprove, Google AdSense, Vimeo) and partially compliant with WCAG 2.1.

TBA21's commercial activity is limited because it is a grant-funded foundation; most programming (exhibitions, residencies, public convenings, Ocean-Archive.org) is free and open. Revenue comes from institutional grants (notably European Commission programs such as S+T+ARTS4WaterII, TIDAL ArtS and New European Bauhaus), private patronage anchored by the Thyssen-Bornemisza family, and partnerships with academic and research institutions (Ca' Foscari University / NICHE, CNR-ISMAR, University of Padova, Venice International University, KDM). A small fee-based stream exists through the Organismo 2026 Critical Encounters study module (€350 per participant). The foundation serves four primary customer segments: artists and cultural practitioners (residencies and commissions), researchers and scientists (transdisciplinary collaboration), educators and students (ocean literacy toolkits), and the general public (free exhibitions and digital content). Strategic priorities are pursued through EU Mission alignment, advocacy for legal personhood of water bodies, and expansion into seven European cities under Bauhaus of the Seas Sails.

Name

TBA21

Legal name

Fundación TBA21

Website

https://tba21.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TBA21 is a private non-profit art foundation using residencies, exhibitions and digital platforms to connect artists, scientists and educators around ocean advocacy and the Rights of Nature, operating from Madrid with sites in Vienna, Venice and Jamaica.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Foundation

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Contemporary art foundation
• Ocean advocacy programs
• Artist residency programs
• Ecological art research
• Cultural education platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding and Grants: Fundación TBA21 operates as a private, non-profit foundation under Spanish Foundations' Law (Ley 50/2002). Revenue is generated through institutional grants, private patronage, and partnerships with cultural and academic organizations.
2. Program Fees: TBA21–Academy's Organismo program charges a fee of €350 for participation in its Critical Encounters study module, generating revenue from educational programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TBA21 is a private non-profit art foundation that commissions, produces, and disseminates transdisciplinary projects at the intersection of contemporary art, science, and ocean advocacy. Its core offerings include the TBA21–Academy research and education programs, the Ocean Space exhibition center in Venice, the Ocean-Archive.org digital archive and educator toolkit, artist residency programs (Venice and Jamaica), the curatorial fellowship The Current, the public studies program OCEAN/UNI, the applied research program Organismo, and the Confluence of European Water Bodies advocacy network.

Product overview

TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary operates as an art foundation with a portfolio of interconnected programs and platforms centered on ocean advocacy and ecological regeneration through art. The core offerings include TBA21–Academy (research and educational programs), Ocean Space (Venice-based exhibition center), Ocean-Archive.org (digital archive and education platform), and various signature programs including The Current (curatorial fellowship), Organismo (applied research), OCEAN/UNI (public studies), and the Venice Residency Program. These are complemented by the Confluence of European Water Bodies network, TIDAL ArtS residency initiative, and the st_age online commissions platform. The organization also produces the annual Solstice Festival and publishes newsletters to disseminate its work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TBA21–Academy TBA21–Academy is the research and educational arm of TBA21, activating transdisciplinary inquiry through signature programs, tactical satellites, and residencies focused on ocean and ecological topics. It serves artists, researchers, scientists, educators, and the public.
• Ocean Space TBA21–Academy's flagship center in Venice, housed in the Church of San Lorenzo, hosting exhibitions, research-based projects, and public programs that catalyze situated engagement and environmental advocacy for ecosocial regeneration. Open to the public.
• Ocean-Archive.org Digital archive platform offering interdisciplinary materials connecting art, science, and critical ocean literacy, with digital residencies for artists and researchers and an educators toolkit including Ocean Schools and Critical Ocean Literacy modules. Global access.
• OCEAN / UNI TBA21–Academy's public studies program connecting research lines through online curricula, workshops, and collective study formats. Features activation series such as Sound Ecologies exploring biodiversity and ecoacoustics, with the OCEAN/UNI Spring Semester 2026 running 28 January – 20 May 2026. Open to wider communities.
• The Current TBA21–Academy's curatorial fellowship and roaming research program organized in multi-year cycles across different oceanic regions, including Caribbean and Mediterranean editions. It cultivates transdisciplinary practices and the exchange of ideas around the Ocean and its understanding, involving expeditions and convenings.
• Organismo Experimental applied research program weaving together situated investigation, critical theory, and speculative practices through case studies developed in alliance with cultural, academic, and civic partners. The Organismo 2026 'Critical Encounters' study module consists of seven online sessions and costs €350 per participant.
• TBA21 Solstice Festival Annual celebration featuring live performance, sound, and participatory installations dedicated to deep listening to multispecies stories of the Venice lagoon, hosted at Ocean Space in Venice.
• Confluence of European Water Bodies Pan-European network of water bodies and communities working across art, ecology, law, activism, research, and public engagement to promote legal recognition of water bodies as living entities with rights. Co-founded by TBA21–Academy, Embassy of the North Sea, and ILP Mar Menor in 2023.
• st_age Online platform for commissions initiated as a response to the Covid-19 crisis, hosting film and video works, podcasts including TBA21–Academy Radio and the Aridity Lines podcast, and digital premieres.
• TBA21–Academy Residency Program in Venice Artist residency program fostering in-depth investigations of the Venice Lagoon's ecologies. Supports artists in developing new research-based work through collaboration with scientific partners including CNR-ISMAR and Ca' Foscari University / NICHE, and local community partners. The 2026 edition collaborates with the TIDAL ArtS initiative.
• TIDAL ArtS Residency Program Project offering grants to artists, collectives, and creatives to support the European Union's Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030, focused on four key European regions. The 2026 edition is delivered in collaboration with TBA21–Academy's Venice residency program.
• Bauhaus of the Seas Sails (BoSS) Project under the New European Bauhaus initiative promoting ethical and aesthetic regenerative development, with demonstrator projects across seven European cities developed under TBA21–Academy's oversight.
• Tentacular Fellowship An initiative-building fellowship for the Venice Lagoon, hosted at Ocean Space Venice as a TBA21–Academy initiative.
• TBA21 Newsletter Monthly email newsletter providing essays, interviews with artists and cultural practitioners, event chronicles, and exhibition highlights, with separate subscription streams for TBA21 General, Academy Research Programs, OCEAN/UNI, and Ocean Space Venice.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Confluence of European Water Bodies network connects 25+ grassroots communities across Europe representing diverse water bodies.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Embassy of the North SeacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-founder of the Confluence of European Water Bodies network, alongside ILP Mar Menor and TBA21–Academy. The Embassy is a founding member of the Stream, a cross-institutional body facilitating the Confluence network.
• ILP Mar MenorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Co-founder of the Confluence of European Water Bodies, representing the Mar Menor saltwater lagoon — the first ecosystem in Europe with legal personhood. Founding member of the Stream facilitating body.
• Ca' Foscari University / NICHE (THE NEW INSTITUTE Center for Environmental Humanities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBA21 collaborates with Ca' Foscari University and its NICHE Centre for Environmental Humanities on research programs including the residency program in Venice and the Confluence of European Water Bodies. NICHE co-developed the 2024 Confluence program and hosts academic panels on legal and artistic strategies.
• CNR-ISMAR (National Research Council of Italy – Institute of Marine Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific partner in TBA21–Academy's Venice residency program, providing marine science expertise and research collaboration for artists exploring Venice lagoon ecologies.
• S+T+ARTS4WaterII / European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBA21 participated as a member of the consortium and residency host under the European Commission initiative S+T+ARTS4WaterII for the 2022/2023 and 2024/2025 editions of its residency program.
• TIDAL ArtS initiative / European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 2026 edition of TBA21–Academy's Venice residency program collaborates with the TIDAL ArtS initiative, which is funded by the European Union and supports artists contributing to the EU Mission to Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030.
• Venice International UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Venice residency network, contributing to the multidisciplinary collaboration that sustains artistic research alongside scientific and local community groups.
• University of PadovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the Venice residency network, part of the extensive institutional and individual collaborator network supporting TBA21–Academy's research.
• Aligator Head Foundation (AHF) JamaicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partner for residencies and ocean research, hosting TBA21–Academy residency programs at its Jamaica location. Subject of TBA21's founding support for establishing the foundation.
• Konsortium Deutsche Meeresforschung (KDM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting TBA21–Academy residency programs within the S+T+ARTS4WaterII framework, as part of the Prep4Blue project contributing to the EU Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 mission.
• Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of the Confluence of European Water Bodies, contributing expertise on Rights of Nature frameworks and international ecosystem representation.
• New European BauhauscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBA21–Academy oversees development of demonstrator projects across seven European cities as part of the Bauhaus of the Seas Sails (BoSS) project, conceived under the New European Bauhaus call by the European Union.
• Museo Nacional Thyssen-BornemiszacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe founding museum institution co-develops the Organismo program alongside TBA21–Academy and serves as the facilitating institution for the program's case studies.
• Disseny Hub BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with TBA21 on the Art for Advocacy deep-sea event, hosting interdisciplinary sessions on ocean advocacy alongside scientists and artists.
• Sónar +DminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner in mediating the Art for Advocacy event, providing curation for the deep-sea programming featuring artists, scientists, and policymakers.
• Schmidt Ocean InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributing scientist and researcher to TBA21's Art for Advocacy event, providing oceanographic expertise and deep-sea research perspectives.
• UNESCOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial supporter of Nandita Kumar's project through UNESCO FUTURE Literacy, contributing to the creative and educational framework of the Sounding the Invisible commission.
• DAADminorOthersDAAD fellow status for artist Nandita Kumar, supporting international artistic research and mobility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi: Florence-based contemporary art foundation producing major exhibitions and public programs. Comparable as an Italian non-profit art foundation with exhibition-led public engagement, though operating primarily in Tuscany rather than Venice.

Emerging players

• OceanX: Non-profit ocean media and exploration organization producing film, virtual reality, and public engagement content about the ocean. Comparable to TBA21 at the intersection of ocean science communication and public-facing media production.

Direct peers

• Luma Foundation: Major contemporary art foundation in Arles with an explicit environmental and ecological regeneration remit. Comparable to TBA21 as a large-scale, privately funded art foundation integrating exhibitions, residencies, and environmental advocacy.
• Tara Ocean Foundation: French non-profit foundation dedicated to ocean science, advocacy, and public engagement. Highly comparable to TBA21 as a privately funded ocean-focused foundation that combines research expeditions, public programming, and policy advocacy.
• Serpentine Galleries: London-based contemporary art institution known for transdisciplinary programming, public commissions, and ecology-themed initiatives (e.g., Centre for Possible Studies, Serpentine Arts Technologies). Comparable to TBA21's blend of exhibitions, research, and policy-adjacent public programming.
• Kalliope Arts Foundation: Foundation supporting artistic projects exploring nature, ecology, and interspecies relations. Directly comparable to TBA21's ocean-ecology focus and transdisciplinary commissioning model.

Broad incumbents

• Fondazione Prada: Major Italian contemporary art foundation operating Milan and Venice venues with research-driven programming. Comparable as an established European art foundation with curatorial ambition, though broader in scope than TBA21's ocean focus.
• Haus der Kunst: Major Munich-based contemporary art institution with global programming and research affiliations. Comparable to TBA21 as a European institution combining large-scale exhibitions, research, and public programs, though without a thematic ocean focus.
• New Museum: New York contemporary art museum known for socially engaged programming and experimental curation. Comparable to TBA21 as a mission-driven contemporary art institution pursuing cultural and societal impact through commissions and residencies.

Others

• e-flux: Publishing platform and art-world infrastructure provider for contemporary art announcements, exhibitions, and criticism. Comparable to TBA21 as a publishing and dissemination layer serving the global contemporary art ecosystem, though not an exhibiting foundation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/tbac21
• Facebookfacebook.com/TBA21
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tba21-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/tba_21
• Xx.com/TBA21

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 TBA21