Chicago Artists Coalition
Chicago Artists Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that supports contemporary Chicago artists and curators through a two-year residency program, exhibitions, professional development workshops, and digital resource platforms including a job board, calls for artists, and studio space finder.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Chicago Artists Coalition does
Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1974 and headquartered at 1431 W. Hubbard St., Suite 201, in Chicago, Illinois. It supports contemporary Chicago artists and curators — primarily emerging and mid-career practitioners — through a two-year residency program (rebranded in 2024 as "CAC Residents" from the prior BOLT and HATCH programs), public exhibitions, professional development workshops, and a suite of self-serve digital resource platforms including a Job Board, Calls for Artists listings, a Space Finder directory for studios and venues, and a Learning portal for classes and workshops. The organization also operates a community directory of residents, staff, and board members and runs hybrid-format workshops combining in-person attendance at its Chicago headquarters with remote Zoom access.
CAC's technology stack is conventional web-based infrastructure; no proprietary AI, ML, or data systems are disclosed, and the platforms function as listings directories and registration portals rather than algorithmic marketplaces. Distribution is primarily direct: in-person programming at the Hubbard Street headquarters, hybrid workshops, and digital self-serve channels targeting the Chicago metropolitan creative community.
The business model is nonprofit and donation-led. Revenue is generated through tiered institutional gifts (with The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation at $250,000+, four additional funders at $100,000+ including the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation at $50,000+), individual donations across $1,000-$9,999 tiers, fundraising events, and modest program fees for listings and workshops that range from $5 to $50 with discounted rates for nonprofits and free access for current residents. CAC was instrumental in establishing Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Percent for Art Ordinance, and is led by Executive Director Brookes Ebetsch with a small staff (11-50 employees) including a Communications & Alumni Relations Manager.
Chicago Artists Coalition firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chicago Artists Coalition
- Legal name
- Chicago Artists Coalition
- Website
- https://chicagoartistscoalition.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Chicago Artists Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1974 that supports contemporary Chicago artists and curators through a two-year residency program, exhibitions, professional development workshops, and digital resource platforms including a job board, calls for artists, and studio space finder.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chicago Artists Coalition industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nonprofit Arts Services
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
Keywords
Where Chicago Artists Coalition is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chicago Artists Coalition business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations and Major Gifts: Individual and institutional donations at various levels ($250,000+, $100,000+, $50,000+, $10,000+, $5,000-$9,999, $1,000-$4,999) support residency programs, education workshops, exhibitions, and online resources.
- Program Fees: Fees for job listings, calls for artists, space finder listings, and learning opportunities at tiered rates for organizations, nonprofits, individuals, and CAC alumni.
- Fundraising Events: Hosted fundraising events throughout the year with proceeds supporting artist and curatorial residencies, education and professional development workshops, exhibitions, and online resources.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Job listing posting fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Calls for Artists listing fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Space Finder listing fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Learning opportunities listing fees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional Development workshops |
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Chicago Artists Coalition product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) is a nonprofit organization that supports contemporary Chicago artists and curators through a two-year, artist-centered Residency Program that provides exhibitions, studio access, mentorship, and professional development. Complementing the residency, CAC operates free online resource platforms — a Job Board, Calls for Artists, Space Finder, and Learning portal — that connect the creative community to employment, exhibition, space, and education opportunities. Program listing fees, donations, and fundraising events sustain these offerings.
Product overview
Chicago Artists Coalition is a nonprofit organization offering a suite of interconnected programs supporting contemporary Chicago artists and curators. The core offerings include a two-year Residency Program, a Job Board for employment opportunities, Calls for Artists featuring exhibition and grant opportunities, a Space Finder directory for studio/venue rentals, Learning workshops and classes, a Professional Development Series, public Events & Exhibitions, and a Community Directory. These programs work together to provide artists with resources for career development, exhibition opportunities, workspace, and community connection.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CAC Residents: Combined residency program formerly known as BOLT and HATCH, supporting emerging and mid-career Chicago artists and curators through a two-year program.
Products and services
- Residency Program (CAC Residents) Two-year, artist-centered residency for contemporary Chicago artists and curators providing exhibitions, studio access, mentorship, and professional development workshops; applications open in October and close in December.
- Job Board Online job listing platform connecting Chicago's creative workforce with employment opportunities; tiered posting fees of $50 for organizations, $25 for nonprofits, $10 for individuals, and $5 for CAC alumni on a pay-as-you-go basis.
- Calls for Artists Listings platform for opportunities including exhibitions, grants, residencies, and scholarships; $25 for opportunities with application fees, with free-to-apply opportunities listed at no cost.
- Space Finder Directory service connecting artists with available studios, venues, and creative spaces for rent or sharing; tiered listing fees of $50 for organizations, $25 for nonprofits, $10 for individuals, and $5 for CAC alumni.
- Learning Online educational programs including workshops, lectures, and classes for professional development in the arts; tiered listing fees of $50 for institutions, $25 for nonprofits, $10 for individuals, and $5 for CAC alumni.
- Professional Development Series 90-minute CAC-hosted workshops covering topics critical to professional artists (copyright, pricing work, exhibition proposals), offered in a hybrid in-person + Zoom format; $10 for general public, $5 for CAC Alumni, and free for current CAC residents.
- Events & Exhibitions Public exhibitions, openings, and events connecting artists and community, including gallery hours and artist talks; free and open to the public.
- Directory Community directory showcasing profiles of residents, staff, and board members with highlights of their work.
Quantifiable outcome
- Former BOLT and HATCH residents achieved significant career milestones including gallery representation, solo shows, and Special Projects seen by 30,000+ people at EXPO CHICAGO
Companies that use Chicago Artists Coalition
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Chicago Artists Coalition technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chicago Artists Coalition partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Zolla Lieberman GallerycoreChicago gallery represented by CAC resident Herman Aguirre; Brian Gillham, Director of Zolla Lieberman, teaches CAC professional development workshops on valuing artwork.
- Abel Contemporary GallerycoreWisconsin gallery represented by CAC resident Skyler Simpson.
- Campfire Printing PressminorPartner organization providing screenprinting workshops listed through CAC's Learning platform.
- National Museum of Mexican ArtcoreCAC resident Alivé Piliado-Santana serves as ALAM Curatorial Associate at this museum as part of a national initiative.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chicago Artists Coalition competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Headlands Center for the Arts: California-based nonprofit artist residency offering studio access, exhibitions, and public programs. Comparable cohort-based residency structure and nonprofit funding model.
- 3Arts: Chicago-based nonprofit supporting local artists through unrestricted awards and professional development. Same city and overlapping mission, focused on a similar artist population to CAC.
- Hyde Park Art Center: Chicago nonprofit visual arts center offering exhibitions, residencies, and learning programs. Directly comparable as a community-based arts organization in the same city serving contemporary artists.
- New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Nonprofit providing grants, residencies, and professional development to artists in New York. Directly comparable mission and programmatic mix to CAC, with a similar artist resource platform structure.
- Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture: Artist residency program offering intensive cohort-based programming for visual artists. Comparable residency selectivity and duration focus to CAC's two-year artist-centered residency.
- Joan Mitchell Foundation: National nonprofit that supports visual artists through grants, residencies, and career programs. Closely comparable to CAC's artist-centered residency and professional development model, with broader national scope.
- Pioneer Works: Brooklyn-based nonprofit arts center combining residencies, exhibitions, and public programming. Comparable model of artist-centered programming under a single community-driven organization.
Regional players
- Ragdale Foundation: Chicago-area artist residency on the North Shore offering cohort-based residencies. Comparable residency format and Midwestern geography, though focused on short-term rather than two-year cohorts.
Emerging players
- Artspace: National nonprofit creating affordable artist live/work space. Comparable focus on artist infrastructure and resource provision, with a different core product (real estate vs. residency/exhibition).
- Mana Contemporary: Artist studio, exhibition, and storage complex with residency-adjacent programming. Comparable services to CAC's Space Finder and residency offerings, but operates as a larger commercial-leaning facility.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chicago Artists Coalition social profiles
Digital presenceChicago Artists Coalition financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chicago Artists Coalition leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Chicago Artists Coalition funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chicago Artists Coalition 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 Chicago Artists Coalition
What does Chicago Artists Coalition do?
Chicago Artists Coalition (CAC) is a nonprofit organization that supports contemporary Chicago artists and curators through a two-year, artist-centered Residency Program that provides exhibitions, studio access, mentorship, and professional development. Complementing the residency, CAC operates free online resource platforms — a Job Board, Calls for Artists, Space Finder, and Learning portal — that connect the creative community to employment, exhibition, space, and education opportunities. Program listing fees, donations, and fundraising events sustain these offerings.
Is Chicago Artists Coalition a public or private company?
Chicago Artists Coalition is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chicago Artists Coalition founded?
Chicago Artists Coalition was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Chicago Artists Coalition based?
Chicago Artists Coalition is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chicago Artists Coalition make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Major Gifts are the primary driver. The others are program Fees and fundraising Events.
Who are Chicago Artists Coalition's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Headlands Center for the Arts, 3Arts, Hyde Park Art Center, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture, Joan Mitchell Foundation and Pioneer Works. Ragdale Foundation is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Artspace and Mana Contemporary.
Does Chicago Artists Coalition have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chicago Artists Coalition.
What industry is Chicago Artists Coalition in?
Chicago Artists Coalition's product category is Nonprofit Arts Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAD, Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations, with a secondary code of MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking). Its NAICS code is 712 and its SIC code is 8600.