Young Audiences of Northern California

What Young Audiences of Northern California does

Young Audiences of Northern California (YANC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1958 and headquartered at 57 Post Street in San Francisco, delivering arts education programs to K-12 students across the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. The organization offers a curated catalog of programs across five core disciplines — Dance, Music, Theater, Visual Arts, and STEAM/Arts Integrated Learning — delivered in three formats: assembly performances (single or back-to-back, priced $1,365-$2,250), short workshops (1-5 sessions at $190/session), and multi-session residencies (6+ sessions at $125/session). Programs are aligned with California State Standards in Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) and Common Core, and are executed on-site at schools by a contract roster of approximately 47 professional teaching artists representing diverse cultural traditions including Hawaiian hula, flamenco, Caribbean rhythms, Filipino puppetry, hip hop, a cappella, and storytelling. The company's core technology is its arts integration methodology, including an arts-based evaluation framework that combines visible thinking routines with STEM observation habits to assess learning outcomes.

The business model is dual-track. Program fees are paid directly by schools and districts via a sales-led GTM motion (website scheduling forms, email, dedicated phone line) and represent one-time or short-cycle licensing transactions. The second, larger revenue stream is philanthropic: donations, corporate sponsorships (Sterling Bank and Trust), and grants from foundations including the California Arts Council (funding four program areas), William and Flora Hewlett Foundation (organizational effectiveness), and Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation (district-level arts integration). Named anchor customers include South San Francisco Unified School District (5-year STEAM Summer School partnership), Mt. Diablo Unified School District (year-long arts integration at Wren Avenue Elementary), Vallejo City Unified, San Leandro Unified, Cabrillo, Fairfield-Suisun Unified, and individual schools including Tenderloin Community School and East Palo Alto Academy. Marketing channels span the company website, a smARTalk email newsletter, Facebook and Instagram, Eventbrite events, and partner referrals.

The organization operates with a lean core staff (4 team members at the COVID nadir, currently in the 11-50 range per firmographics) supplemented by its contract teaching artist roster, and is led by Executive Director Christell Lewis following a transition from John Alecca. Recent strategic posture emphasizes Arts Access for All equity programming, teaching artist advancement pathways, and long-range planning under the new leadership. The legal entity is California-domiciled with EIN 94-1553479, no subsidiaries, and no parent organization.

Name

Young Audiences of Northern California

Legal name

Young Audiences of Northern California

Website

https://ya-nc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Young Audiences of Northern California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1958 that delivers K-12 arts education — dance, music, theater, visual arts, and STEAM integration — through school assemblies, workshops, and residencies across the San Francisco Bay Area using a roster of professional teaching artists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Waldorf/Steiner K–12 Schools (EDAJABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance) (EDAMALAI), Performing Arts & Music Lessons (Dance, Drumming, Instrument Lessons, Theater) (THAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Arts education programs
• K-12 school residencies
• STEAM arts integration
• Teaching artist residencies
• School assembly performances

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Schools and school districts pay for assembly performances, residencies, and workshops based on program type and duration
2. Donations and Grants: Nonprofit funding from individual donors, corporate partners like Sterling Bank and Trust, foundations including William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and California Arts Council

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Young Audiences of Northern California is a nonprofit arts education organization that delivers arts learning experiences to K-12 students through school assemblies, workshops, and residencies in dance, music, theater, visual arts, and STEAM/arts-integrated learning. Programs are delivered by a roster of professional teaching artists on-site at schools and community centers across the San Francisco Bay Area, with curriculum aligned to California VAPA and Common Core Standards. Schools and districts pay program fees while the organization also accepts donations and grants to subsidize access for underserved schools.

Product overview

Young Audiences of Northern California offers a comprehensive suite of arts education programs for K-12 students across Northern California. The core offerings include Dance Programs, Music Programs, Theater Programs, Visual Arts Programs, and STEAM/Arts Integrated Learning that combines arts with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum. Programs are delivered through three primary formats: Assembly performances (single or back-to-back school assemblies), Workshops (1-5 sessions), and Residencies (6+ sessions). The organization maintains a roster of teaching artists and arts partners offering diverse programs including Yo Soy! Theater Flamenco SF School Assembly, Allyship and Diversity School Assembly, Puppetry for Everyone!, Black History Month Music Assembly, Kirk Walker Storytelling, Hawaiian Hula, Soul of Langston Theater, Caribbean Rhythms, Rainbow Pride Assembly, Common Threads Music Assembly, Rhythm Foundations, and Traditional Hawaiian Dance and Music. Programs address California State Standards in Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) and Common Core areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dance Programs Dance performances, workshops, and residencies introducing K-12 students to classical and traditional dance and movement forms within their cultural contexts.
• Music Programs Music education programs that build memorization skills, explore language arts through lyrics, and develop focus and pattern recognition through music analysis.
• Theater Programs Theater programs drawing upon movement, oral storytelling, music, and visual arts to engage students and cover academic subjects through performance arts.
• Visual Arts Programs Visual arts education teaching students to be visually literate, design-savvy, and creative as design and imaging dominate daily lives.
• STEAM/Arts Integrated Learning Integration of arts with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics curriculum, combining classroom teaching with arts education for summer school and year-round programs.
• Yo Soy! Theater Flamenco SF School Assembly Assembly program introducing students to fundamental elements of Spanish dance including guitar technique, castanet playing, expressive arm movements, rhythmic footwork, and traditional hand-clapping (palmas). Priced at $1,950 for up to two back-to-back assemblies by 2 dancers, 1 guitarist, and 1 singer.
• Allyship and Diversity School Assembly Assembly program teaching students the do's and don'ts of being a good ally using clear signs, hand gestures, and interactive experiences with CHEER SF. Priced at $2,250 for up to two back-to-back assemblies.
• Puppetry for Everyone! Interactive school workshops and residencies led by Filipino American puppeteer Ramon Abad exploring modern puppetry from diverse cultures, where students make puppets to take home. Residency (6+ sessions) priced at $125/session; workshop (1-5 sessions) priced at $190/session.
• Black History Month / One Planet, One World, One People Music Assembly In-depth performance by SoVoSo honoring Black History Month and contributions of African Americans in music, celebrating the message that we are 'One Planet, One World, One People.' Priced at $2,100 for up to two assemblies.
• Kirk Walker Storytelling School Assemblies Storytelling assemblies featuring stories including The Ballad of John Henry, Brer Rabbit Tales, Greensboro Four, and African teaching tales performed by Kirk Walker. Priced at $1,500 for up to two back-to-back assemblies.
• Hawaiian Hula Workshop offering students the opportunity to learn basic Hula steps and motions, incorporating them into song, typically occurring in conjunction with assembly performances.
• Soul of Langston: Theater One-man mixed sound media musical show by Daron Stewart exploring the life and contributions of poet, playwright, and civil-rights activist Langston Hughes. Back-to-back assemblies priced at $1,885; single assembly at $1,430.
• Caribbean Rhythms: Music and Dance Workshops Workshop learning about Caribbean rhythms including history, songs, instruments, interlocking parts of rhythms, and accompanying dances. Residency (6+ sessions) $125/session; Workshop (1-5 sessions) $190/session.
• Rainbow Pride School Assembly Assembly program teaching about Harvey Milk, history of the Pride flag, and meaning of colors through vibrant flags, interactive engagement, and cheers by CHEER SF.
• Common Threads: Music Assembly Assembly drawing from various folkloric traditions of the African Diaspora from the Caribbean to the U.S., connecting common threads and weaving stories of struggle, rejoicing, and celebration. Priced at $1,365 for up to two back-to-back assemblies.
• Rhythm Foundations: Music Music residency focusing on learning basic rhythmic concepts, foundations migrating into specific rhythms and complex ideas such as syncopation and polyrhythms.
• Rhythm, Harmony and Improvisation: Music Assembly Assembly performance by SoVoSo featuring dynamic inspirational 'voices only' music-making and group improvisations including vocal percussion and circle singing. Priced at $2,150 for up to two assemblies.
• Traditional Hawaiian Dance and Music Assembly introducing audiences to history and culture of Hawaii through traditional and modern dances, music, language, including hula (dance), oli (chant), mele (songs), and mo'olelo (stories). Priced at $1,560 for up to two back-to-back assemblies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71% of teachers reported improved student engagement with arts-integrated curriculum
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• California Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023California Arts Council provides unprecedented grant funding across four program areas including Impact Projects (Tenderloin Community School and Wren Avenue Elementary), Artists in School (Vallejo Elementary Schools), Arts Education Exposure (I Am/We Are program), and Statewide and Regional Networks (professional development).
• Arts Ed MatterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing professional development activities for planning and implementing arts-integrated STEAM curriculum with classroom teachers. Delivers workshops and coaching-based residencies in integrated learning, Common Core Standards, and arts infusion.
• South San Francisco Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner5-year partnership for STEAM Summer School transforming STEM to STEAM through arts integration. Partnership includes 14 teaching artists and 14 ENGIE teachers serving approximately 300 students across 14 classrooms.
• Mt. Diablo Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-long arts integration project at Wren Avenue Elementary with monthly professional development for all 13 teachers, funded by Mt. Diablo Unified School District Education Fund and Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation.
• Manolo DavilacoreOthersTeaching Artist combining percussion instruments and sounds with water cycle curriculum for STEAM-integrated science education.
• ENGIEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy company partnering with South San Francisco Unified School District since 2016 for STEM Institute, expanding to STEAM with arts integration through Young Audiences.
• Danny GiraycoreOthersDance teaching artist providing virtual residency sessions adapting lessons for students with limited physical abilities and social anxieties.
• CHEER SFcoreOthersLGBTQ-aligned cheerleading team offering Allyship and Diversity and Rainbow Pride school assemblies.
• Kirah CaminoscoreOthersFirst Sustaining Inspiration teaching artist providing hybrid administration and teaching artist services; teaches Latin and World dance and music since 2014.
• Kirk WalkercoreOthersStorytelling artist offering assemblies including Ballad of John Henry, Brer Rabbit Tales, Greensboro Four, and African folktales.
• San Francisco Gay Men's ChoruscoreOthersArts partner providing I Am/We Are program through 6-week curriculum and virtual performances for middle and high school students on social-emotional well-being.
• AXIS Dance CompanycoreOthersAcclaimed ensemble of disabled, non-disabled and neurodiverse performers providing integrated dance education assemblies for K-12.
• Cal ShakesminorOthersCalifornia Shakespeare Theater provided Bruns Amphitheater for filming Hālau o Keikiali'i Traditional Hawaiian Dance and Music performance.
• Hālau o Keikiali'icoreOthersTraditional Hawaiian cultural ensemble led by Kumu Kawika Alfiche providing Traditional Hawaiian Dance and Music and Hawaiian Hula programs.
• Alphabet RockerscoreOthersTwo-time Grammy-nominated artists offering Rock the Block hip hop programming and I Am/We Are performances.
• SoVoSocoreOthersA cappella ensemble providing Black History Month performances and I Am/We Are programming on social-emotional well-being.
• Edna Cabcabin MorancoreOthersTeaching Artist providing Aloha Friday Art virtual programming and STEAM Summer School visual arts instruction.
• Kultura KapwacoreOthersArts partner included in I Am/We Are program for cultural assembly performances.
• Hip Hop FundamentalscoreOthersTeaching artists providing Break at Home video playlists and I Am/We Are performances for grades 3-8.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center Education: The education arm of Lincoln Center serving K-12 schools with performing arts programming; larger and broader portfolio, but directly comparable K-12 artist-residency model.
• New 42nd Street / New Victory Theater: NYC arts organization delivering performing arts education to K-12 schools and families; comparable performing-arts-in-schools mission and educator programming.
• Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute: Carnegie Hall's education programs deliver music instruction and arts integration to schools nationally; comparable in K-12 music education focus, with broader institutional reach.

Direct peers

• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: Foundation funding music education in K-12 schools, including instruments and residency programs; comparable grant-funded K-12 music programming approach.
• Education Through Music (ETM): Nonprofit providing music education partnerships to underserved schools; shares the same model of placing professional artists in classrooms and serving Title I schools via school-fee and grant-funded programs.
• Young Audiences, Inc. (National): National nonprofit parent network that the company operates under; both deliver K-12 arts education programs via teaching artist residencies, assemblies, and workshops in schools.
• Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts: Nonprofit that runs professional development programs placing teaching artists in early childhood and K-12 classrooms; closely comparable arts integration and residency model.
• Berklee City Music Network: Network of nonprofit sites delivering contemporary music education to underserved youth through performing arts instruction; comparable artist-instructor, school-based service delivery.
• Settlement Music School: Long-running nonprofit music school serving children and adults through lessons and school partnerships; comparable supplemental music education + outreach mission.

Regional players

• Community Music Center of San Francisco: Bay Area nonprofit music school offering classes, lessons, and outreach to underserved students; serves the same San Francisco geography with adjacent music-education offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YAnorcal
• Instagraminstagram.com/yanorcal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-audiences-of-northern-california

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 Young Audiences of Northern California