Dogwood Arts

What Dogwood Arts does

Dogwood Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1955 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a 70-year operating history focused on arts advocacy, environmental stewardship, and community programming across East Tennessee. The organization produces 20 annual events and programs — including the Dogwood Arts Festival, Chalk Walk, House & Garden Show, Featured Gardens, Murals & Music Festival, and the Bazillion Blooms tree-planting initiative — and manages 90+ miles of Dogwood Trails across 13 Knoxville neighborhoods. It also operates the Art in Public Places program (360 sculptures showcased, 60+ murals commissioned), the Dogwood Gallery in downtown Knoxville, KnoxWalls at Emory Place (7,000+ sq ft of permanent murals opened in 2024), and youth education programs reaching 7,500 students across 83 schools in Knox, Anderson, and Blount Counties.

The organization does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its technology stack consists of operational SaaS integrations — Paperform for form processing, Eventeny for event and vendor registration, SpotHero for parking, and Square for merchandise payments. The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue mix: corporate sponsorships (ORNL Federal Credit Union, Knoxville Utilities Board, BlueWing Homes, Visit Knoxville, Newell Brands), individual donations and tree/memorial gifts, event ticket sales (e.g., House & Garden Show $8-$10, Featured Gardens $5), vendor and exhibitor fees, seasonal tree sales ($20-$35 per tree), and merchandise sold through a Square-powered online shop. Government and institutional partners include the City of Knoxville, Tennessee Arts Commission, Legacy Parks Foundation, and Downtown Knoxville Alliance. The organization is governed by a board of directors and led by Executive Director Sherry Jenkins, with no parent company or institutional ownership structure.

Name

Dogwood Arts

Legal name

Dogwood Arts

Website

https://dogwoodarts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dogwood Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1955 in Knoxville, Tennessee that produces 20 annual arts, environmental, and community events and programs serving East Tennessee residents, schools, artists, and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Cultural Programming

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Public art festivals
• Outdoor sculpture exhibitions
• Youth art education
• Garden trail management

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from companies like ORNL Federal Credit Union, Visit Knoxville, and other local businesses provide year-round funding. The House & Garden Show is described as the largest annual fundraiser.
2. Donations: Individual donations support the organization's mission of arts advocacy and environmental stewardship, including tree donations and memorial/honorary gifts.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from paid events including House & Garden Show tickets ($10 adults, $8 seniors/veterans, free for kids 12 and under) and garden tour admissions ($5 per garden).
4. Vendor/Exhibitor Fees: Fees collected from vendors and exhibitors participating in events like the House & Garden Show and Maker Market.
5. Tree Sales (Bazillion Blooms Program): Sale of dogwood trees for $25 each (1-4 trees) or $20 each (5+ trees), plus $35 commemorative/memorial trees with card inclusions. Trees are bare-root, 2.5-4ft tall.
6. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Dogwood Arts merchandise through their online shop at dogwoodartsmerch.square.site.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dogwood Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces 20 annual arts and cultural events and programs in East Tennessee, including the Dogwood Arts Festival, Chalk Walk, Murals & Music Festival, and House & Garden Show. The organization manages 90+ miles of Dogwood Trails across 13 neighborhoods, commissions public art installations (360 sculptures showcased and 60+ murals funded), sells dogwood trees through the Bazillion Blooms program, and runs youth art education (Art Kits for Kids reaches 7,500 5th-grade students across 83 schools). It also operates the Dogwood Gallery, supports emerging artists through the Emerging Makers program, and curates regional exhibitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bazillion Blooms: Tree ordering program for dogwood trees to beautify landscapes and support Dogwood Trails
• Art in Public Places
• KnoxWalls
• Emerging Makers
• Art Kits for Kids
• Dogwood Gallery

Products and services

• Dogwood Arts Festival Annual flagship arts festival held at World's Fair Park in Knoxville, part of Dogwood Arts' 20 annual events and programs. Open to the general public and visitors as a centerpiece community arts experience.
• Chalk Walk Annual sidewalk chalk art event held in downtown Knoxville, open to participating artists and the general public as part of Dogwood Arts' 20 annual events.
• Murals & Music Festival Annual festival combining mural programming with live music performances in Knoxville, open to the public as part of Dogwood Arts' 20 annual events and programs.
• House & Garden Show Annual ticketed home and garden show held at the Knoxville Convention Center; Dogwood Arts' largest annual fundraiser. Features exhibitor/vendor booths (Maker Market), How-To Stage demonstrations, and ticketed admission ($10 adults, $8 seniors/veterans, free for kids 12 and under). Includes the Maker Market for artists and makers.
• Dogwood Trails Network of 90+ miles of marked trails across 13 Knoxville neighborhoods, open to the public April 1–30 annually. Trails are marked with pink paint (100 gallons used per year) and pass through private homes and gardens as part of the organization's founding beautification mission.
• Featured Gardens Self-guided tours at various private garden locations during the Dogwood Trails season. Visitors pay a $5 suggested donation per garden, with some gardens requiring shuttle tickets.
• Bazillion Blooms Tree Sales Seasonal sale of bare-root dogwood trees (2.5–4 ft tall) at $25 each for 1–4 trees or $20 each for 5+ trees, plus $35 commemorative/memorial trees with a card mailed to the recipient of choice. Orders close for the season and reopen in July; pickup occurs in December (2026 pickup referenced). Trees planted along Historic Dogwood Trails.
• Art in Public Places Public art program featuring outdoor sculpture exhibitions and large-scale mural initiatives across Knoxville. To date, the program has showcased 360 sculptures and commissioned 60+ murals in Downtown Knoxville, in partnership with organizations such as the Tennessee Arts Commission, Downtown Knoxville Alliance, and Zoo Knoxville.
• KnoxWalls at Emory Place Public art destination in North Knoxville open Wednesday–Sunday 12–6 PM, featuring 7,000+ sq ft of large-scale permanent murals by prominent national artists. The largest mural project in the city's history, created in partnership with Visit Knoxville and Lilienthal Gallery (property owner Ilana Brodt).
• Art Kits for Kids Free art-supply kits distributed annually to 7,500 5th-grade students across 83 schools in Knox, Anderson, and Blount Counties. Supported by in-kind supply donations from Newell Brands (Sharpie, Paper Mate, Mr. Sketch products) and other partners.
• Emerging Makers Program Support program launched in 2022 for up-and-coming artists and makers, providing educational opportunities, equipment rentals, monetary support for participation in local markets, and online promotion.
• Dogwood Gallery Downtown gallery located at 123 W. Jackson Avenue, Knoxville, hosting rotating exhibitions that highlight regional artists (e.g., the Resonance solo exhibition by Curtis Glover) as well as student-focused exhibitions such as the Epiphone Guitar Design show. Open Monday–Friday 9 AM–5 PM.
• Regional Exhibition Juried annual regional exhibition showcasing artwork by East Tennessee artists, open to artist submissions and public viewing.
• Youth Art Programs (Epiphone Guitar Design / Synergy Exhibition) Youth-focused art programs including the Epiphone Guitar Design contest and Synergy Exhibition, featuring artwork from East Tennessee middle and high school students. Hosted at Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & Resort.
• Garden Gatherings Seasonal garden event series hosted by Dogwood Arts, with upcoming Garden Gatherings event on June 27. Registration managed via Eventeny.
• Hikes & Blooms Guided outdoor hike and nature program part of Dogwood Arts' 20 annual events and programs, focused on the spring blooms of dogwood trees in the East Tennessee region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90+ miles of Dogwood Trails across 13 neighborhoods
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ORNL Federal Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Year-round sponsor of Dogwood Arts, sponsoring all 20 annual events and programs. Logo displayed prominently on website as a key sponsor.
• Visit KnoxvillecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCritical funding partner for KnoxWalls mural project and ongoing supporter of Dogwood Arts programs. Joint partner in creating KnoxWalls at Emory Place destination.
• Lilienthal GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty owner Ilana Brodt collaborated with Dogwood Arts to create KnoxWalls at Emory Place. Brodt is an artist and gallery owner who envisioned Emory Place as a hub for arts and culture.
• Downtown Knoxville AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in public art initiatives including Strong Alley murals and Art in Public Places sculpture exhibition at Krutch Park.
• Legacy Parks FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading the SoKno Rail Trail and Art Walk project (3.8-mile corridor from Chapman Highway to Ijams Nature Center). Dogwood Arts managing artist selection and art installations along the 1.5-mile Art Walk.
• City of KnoxvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mural program and Art in Public Places initiatives. City provides support for public art installations and pink line painting on Dogwood Trails (100 gallons of paint annually).
• Tennessee Arts CommissionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding supporter of the Art in Public Places program that has showcased 360 sculptures and commissioned 60+ murals.
• Dollywood's HeartSong Lodge & ResortsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for Epiphone Guitar Design exhibition featuring youth art from East Tennessee middle and high school students.
• Knoxville Utilities Board (KUB)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Bazillion Blooms tree sales program, supporting tree planting efforts along Historic Dogwood Trails.
• BlueWing HomescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of Dogwood Arts House & Garden Show, the organization's largest annual fundraiser.
• Pella Windows & DoorssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Maker Market at the House & Garden Show, supporting local and regional artists and makers.
• Aqua Clear Water SystemssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the How-To Stage at House & Garden Show, supporting DIY demonstrations and home improvement presentations.
• Newell BrandscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated thousands of art supplies including Sharpie, Paper Mate, and Mr. Sketch products for Art Kits for Kids program. Manufacturing hub in Maryville, TN.
• Johnson ArchitecturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for SoKno Rail Trail and Art Walk project, helping enhance trail connections in South Knoxville.
• Zoo KnoxvillesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Art in Public Places program, hosting public art installations at zoo location.
• UT GardenssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Art in Public Places program and featured as an Open Garden site during Dogwood Trails season.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Americans for the Arts: National service organization for community-based arts organizations, providing advocacy, research, and training to local arts councils; a broader incumbent umbrella whose member agencies overlap directly with Dogwood Arts' nonprofit arts council function.
• South Arts: Regional arts organization serving nine southern U.S. states with grantmaking, leadership development, and cross-state arts programming; an incumbent funder/intermediary operating in the same southeastern region as Dogwood Arts.

Direct peers

• ArtsWave: Regional community arts council and fundraiser for the Greater Cincinnati area, operating a portfolio of grants, events, and public art programs funded through workplace giving and corporate sponsorships — directly comparable to Dogwood Arts' arts council/event/sponsorship model in another mid-size U.S. metro.
• Mural Arts Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to public murals, art education, and community-based public art programs; operates mural tours, youth art programs, and citywide mural commissions — directly comparable to Dogwood Arts' Art in Public Places and KnoxWalls mural programs plus Art Kits for Kids education work.
• Greater Columbus Arts Council: Community arts council supporting Greater Columbus, Ohio through grantmaking, public art, and community programming; directly comparable as another mid-size municipal arts council with corporate sponsorship and event-based programming.
• Arts & Science Council (Charlotte): Regional arts council serving the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region through grants, community programs, and cultural advocacy; comparable as a community-driven nonprofit that aggregates corporate sponsorships, government support, and individual giving to fund regional arts programming.
• Artisphere (Asheville): Asheville-based nonprofit arts organization hosting a major annual arts festival (Art in the Park), gallery, and community art programming; a comparable Southern U.S. nonprofit running festivals and exhibitions funded through sponsorships and grants.

Regional players

• Tennessee Arts Commission: State-level arts funding agency and a current Dogwood Arts funding partner; comparable as a public-sector arts body operating in the same Tennessee geography, although it funds rather than runs programs.
• Metro Nashville Arts Commission: Local government arts agency serving Nashville-Davidson County with public art, grants, and cultural programming; comparable as a same-state regional arts body with public art commissions and community programming.

Emerging players

• Legacy Parks Foundation: Knoxville-based nonprofit focused on trails, greenways, and parks (current SoKno Rail Trail partner); comparable as a same-geography community nonprofit with overlapping mission around trails, public space, and community programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dogwoodarts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dogwoodarts
• Facebookfacebook.com/dogwoodartsknox
• Instagraminstagram.com/dogwoodarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dogwood-arts-festival-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Dogwood Arts