What Oklahoma Contemporary does

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit contemporary arts institution headquartered in Oklahoma City, founded in 1989 as City Arts Center and rebranded in 2021 alongside the opening of a 54,000-square-foot purpose-built campus on a 4.6-acre site at NW 11th and Broadway, designed by architect Rand Elliott. Its core programmatic offerings are free rotating exhibitions in multiple indoor galleries and the outdoor Campbell Art Park; Studio School adult art education across ceramics, 2-D, 3-D, fiber, and literary arts at $160–$265 per course; Camp Contemporary weeklong youth programs at $260 per camp with optional before/after care; ARTS LAB field trips, Creative Careers, and Educator Workshops aligned to Oklahoma Academic Standards; ticketed performances and public programs; and inclusive initiatives such as Sensory Friendly Hours and a Kimray-presented veterans program. Supporting amenities include guided tours, Quincy Bakery & Café (partner-operated), Shop Contemporary retail, and venue rentals across more than 55,000 square feet of event space including Te Ata Theater and Christian Keesee Founders Hall.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack rather than a transactional technology platform: there is no proprietary technology product, and the organization operates traditional community-facing arts programming. Earned revenue comes from tiered memberships ($65–$1,000+), class and camp tuition, performance tickets, facility rentals, retail, and café operations; contributed revenue comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorships through a tiered Corporate Council (Legacy, Director's Circle, Benefactor), and institutional grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, Oklahoma Arts Council, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, Allied Arts, and others. Distribution is regional — concentrated in Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma — with curatorial reach extended through a collaboration with Tate Modern.

Customer segments are deliberately diversified: the general public for free exhibitions; youth ages 5–12 and teens for camps; adult learners for Studio School; K–12 schools (including Oklahoma City Public Schools and Title I schools with transportation reimbursement) for ARTS LAB; veterans and active-duty military; and corporate clients for events and Corporate Council membership. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Christian Keesee, with Melissa Scaramucci as President, Scott Potter as Treasurer, Sam Wargin Grimaldo as Vice President, and Trent Riley as Executive Director.

Name

Oklahoma Contemporary

Legal name

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center

Website

https://oklahomacontemporary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Oklahoma Contemporary is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) contemporary arts center in Oklahoma City operating a 54,000-square-foot downtown campus, offering free exhibitions, adult and youth art education, performances, and venue rentals to the general public, schools, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Cultural Institution

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Contemporary arts center
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Arts education programs
• Community cultural programs
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Oklahoma City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual membership program offering multiple tiers from Individual ($65) to Champion ($1,000) with benefits including early access to classes, discounts at shop and café, and NARM museum reciprocity.
2. Admissions and Public Programs: Gallery admission is free; revenue generated through ticketed performances, special events, and facility rentals for private events including weddings and corporate functions.
3. Studio School Classes and Workshops: Eight-week and four-week classes in ceramics, 2-D media, 3-D media, fiber arts, and literary arts. Prices range from $160-$265 depending on course length and materials.
4. Camp Contemporary: Weeklong summer camps for ages 5-12 at $260 per camp, with optional Collective Care before/after care at $75 per week. Teen Intensives also offered.
5. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible contributions supporting free admission, scholarships for camps and classes, and general operations. Organization holds EIN 73-1334271.
6. Café and Retail Operations: Quincy Bakery & Café operates as a partnership providing food service; Shop Contemporary sells books, apparel, and art-inspired merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Oklahoma Contemporary operates a multidisciplinary contemporary arts center on a 4.6-acre downtown Oklahoma City campus, offering free rotating exhibitions, adult studio classes, youth summer camps, school field trip programs, public performances, and private event facility rentals. The organization sells tiered memberships, runs an on-site café and retail shop, and funds operations through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Oklahoma Contemporary is a multidisciplinary contemporary arts center offering a unified portfolio of integrated arts experiences. The core offerings include free rotating exhibitions across indoor galleries and outdoor Campbell Art Park, formal art education through Studio School (adult courses and certificate programs), and youth programming via Camp Contemporary (summer camps and teen intensives). Supporting programs include ARTS LAB field trips and educator workshops, public programs with artist talks and performances, guided tours, and membership/community engagement tiers. Additional amenities include Quincy Bakery & Cafe, Shop Contemporary retail, and facility rentals for private events. The organization operates on a 4.6-acre campus with 54,000 square feet of space including galleries, studios, theater, and performance spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitions Rotating contemporary art exhibitions featuring innovative works by living artists, displayed year-round in multiple indoor and outdoor gallery spaces. Free and open to the public; serves general visitors, school groups, and art enthusiasts.
• Studio School Adult art education program offering four-week and eight-week classes plus one- and two-day workshops in ceramics, 2-D media, 3-D media, fiber arts, and literary arts. Pricing ranges from $160 to $265 per course. Includes a veterans initiative and Open Studio time.
• Camp Contemporary Weeklong summer art camps for ages 5-12 at $260 per week and teen intensives, created by local teaching artists across painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and performance. Optional Collective Care before/after care is available at $75 per week.
• ARTS LAB Field Trips Free field trip program for grades 3-12 with guided tours and hands-on studio art-making across themes including In the Studio, Creative Career Pathways, and Art + STEAM. Transportation reimbursement available for OKCPS and Title I schools.
• ARTS LAB Creative Careers Free career exploration experience for high school students in grades 9-12 featuring hands-on workshops and conversations with working creatives in visual art, film, performance, music, and design.
• ARTS LAB Educator Workshops Professional development workshops for K-12 teachers focused on creative practice and classroom application, aligned with Oklahoma Academic Standards.
• Performances Theater and dance programming in a flexible theater space and dance studio, featuring partnerships with local arts organizations and curated performances.
• Guided Tours Inclusive conversational tours led by Gallery Guides including free public Saturday tours, private group tours, field trips, and paid Summer Gallery Visits ($100-$150 for 10-35 participants).
• Membership Programs Tiered annual memberships from Individual ($65) to Champion ($1,000), plus patron tiers (Contemporary Society, National Council, Corporate Council). Benefits include early class access, shop/café discounts, NARM museum reciprocity, and VIP exhibition previews.
• Facility Rentals Event venue rental for weddings, theatrical performances, corporate events, and conferences across 55,000+ square feet including Te Ata Theater, Christian Keesee Founders Hall, Renate and Chuck Wiggin Creative Lounge, and Arnall Family Terrace.
• Shop Contemporary On-site and online retail store featuring apparel, accessories, books, and exclusive Oklahoma Contemporary-branded merchandise.
• Quincy Bakery & Café On-site café operated in partnership with Quincy Bake Shop, offering artisanal sandwiches, salads, pastries, coffee, and elevated dessert pairings, open Wednesday-Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Public Programs Community engagement programming including artist talks, lectures, conversations, performances, screenings, and artist demonstrations, most offered free to the public.

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Allied ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts advocacy organization; logo appears on website indicating collaborative partnership.
• Quincy Bake ShopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates Quincy Bakery & Café at Oklahoma Contemporary; partnership bringing locally loved pastry program and artisanal food service into the arts center.
• Tate ModernmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Anthony McCall: Solid Light exhibition; Oklahoma Contemporary presenting the exhibition in partnership with the internationally renowned London museum.
• First Americans MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided guidance and contribution for land acknowledgement; collaborative relationship supporting Indigenous cultural awareness.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: Historic nonprofit art museum and school offering exhibitions, studio art classes, and community programming. Comparable in combining adult art education (Studio School equivalent), youth programs, and gallery exhibitions under one nonprofit umbrella.
• Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art: Large free-admission art museum in Bentonville with extensive education programs, exhibition programming, and event facilities. Comparable as a larger-scale nonprofit arts institution with a similar free-admission model and community-centered mission, though with significantly broader scope and resources.

Direct peers

• Institute of Contemporary Art Boston: Nonprofit contemporary art institution offering free admission, rotating exhibitions, performances, and education programming. Closely comparable in free-admission model, multi-disciplinary programming, and mid-size operational footprint.
• Nasher Sculpture Center: Dallas-based contemporary art institution combining sculpture-focused exhibitions, education, and private event rentals. Comparable in mission, educational programming, and venue-rental revenue stream to Oklahoma Contemporary.
• Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis: Nonprofit contemporary art museum offering free admission, rotating exhibitions, and educational programming in a mid-size U.S. city. Closely comparable in mission, scale, business model, and audience approach to Oklahoma Contemporary.
• Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: Free-admission contemporary art museum in Kansas City with rotating exhibitions, education programs, and event rentals. Comparable as a regional contemporary art institution with similar programming breadth and community-engagement focus.
• First Americans Museum: Cultural institution in Oklahoma City focused on Indigenous arts and culture, with which Oklahoma Contemporary has a documented collaborative relationship (land acknowledgement). Comparable as a peer nonprofit cultural venue competing for the same corporate and philanthropic sponsorship base in OKC.
• Oklahoma City Museum of Art: Largest visual arts museum in Oklahoma City, with rotating exhibitions, film programming, and educational offerings. Directly comparable as a nonprofit art institution serving the same OKC donor and visitor pool, with a similarly diversified earned/contributed revenue mix.
• The Momentary: Contemporary art venue in Bentonville, Arkansas, operated as a satellite of Crystal Bridges, focused on visual arts, performing arts, and culinary programming with free admission. Comparable as a recently launched nonprofit contemporary arts venue with multi-disciplinary programming.

Emerging players

• 21c Museum Hotel: Combines contemporary art exhibitions with boutique hospitality and event venue operations, paralleling Oklahoma Contemporary's blend of free exhibitions and facility rentals. Comparable as a hybrid arts-hospitality model, though operates as a for-profit chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OklahomaContemporary
• Instagraminstagram.com/okcontemporary
• TikToktiktok.com/@okcontemporary
• Xx.com/okcontemporary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oklahoma-contemporary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Oklahoma Contemporary