Turnaround Arts California

What Turnaround Arts California does

Turnaround Arts California (TACA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that integrates arts and creativity into underserved K-8 public schools in California. Founded in 2014 by architect Frank Gehry and arts advocate Malissa Shriver, the organization evolved from a 2011 national pilot program under the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. TACA selects partner schools where at least 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals and requires a minimum four-year engagement, with schools committing to 45 minutes of standalone arts instruction weekly. Since inception TACA has partnered with 36 public elementary and middle schools across more than ten California counties, reaching over 35,000 students cumulatively and supporting more than 2,000 teachers and principals.

The organization's programming is organized around four core service areas: Professional Development & Coaching for educators, Resources for Arts Integration, Peer Exchange through a statewide network, and Engagement with Local and Renowned Artists delivered via a 125+ artist/arts-partner network. Supporting programs include Lesson Labs (launched 2021, pairs teacher teams with teaching artists to design arts-rich, standards-aligned lessons and won a 2024 CA Arts Education Association Exemplary Program Award), the Community Arts Project Initiative (murals and installations at partner campuses), Arts Leadership Team support, a gated Partner School Resources Portal, and a curated public Arts Resources Collection. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products or platforms; service delivery is human-led and partnership-based.

TACA is funded entirely through charitable donations, grants, and institutional support from a base that includes the Eisner Foundation, Frank O. Gehry Foundation, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, Herb Alpert Foundation, Ahmanson Foundation, Hearst Foundations, Segerstrom Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, and LA County Department of Arts & Culture, alongside corporate sponsors including Adobe and City National Bank. The program is free for partner schools. Operations are run by a small core staff (approximately 5-10 people) headquartered in Los Angeles, governed by a board chaired by Malissa Shriver with Frank Gehry and other arts, civic, business, and education leaders.

Name

Turnaround Arts California

Legal name

Turnaround Arts California

Website

https://turnaroundartsca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Turnaround Arts California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that integrates arts and creativity into underserved K-8 California public schools, serving 36 partner schools where 75%+ of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals through free multi-year coaching, teacher training, and artist residencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Arts Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE), Visual Arts & Media Arts Programs (Art Club, Photography, Film) (EDAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Arts education programs
• School arts integration
• Teacher professional development
• Nonprofit education services
• Creative learning programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Turnaround Arts California operates entirely on charitable contributions, grants, and institutional funding. The organization does not charge schools for participation and may provide funding to support specific projects and initiatives at partner school sites as part of their strategic arts plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Turnaround Arts California integrates the arts and creativity into underserved K-8 California public schools (where at least 75% of students qualify for free or reduced price meals) through a free, minimum four-year partnership. Services include hands-on teacher and principal coaching, arts integration training (e.g., the Lesson Lab program), residencies and engagements with local and renowned artists, peer-exchange across a 36-school statewide network, and resources such as strategic arts planning tools and the Community Arts Project Initiative.

Product overview

Turnaround Arts California is a nonprofit organization operating as a single, unified arts education program rather than a platform with modular components. The organization provides integrated programming to underserved K-8 public schools in California through four core service areas: Professional Development & Coaching, Resources for Arts Integration, Peer Exchange with Statewide Network, and Engagement with Local and Renowned Artists. These programs are delivered alongside supporting features including the Lesson Lab professional development program, Community Arts Project Initiative, Arts Leadership Team support, and a Partner School Resources Portal. A curated Arts Resources Collection is also available for educators broadly. The organization focuses exclusively on K-8 public schools where at least 75% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Development & Coaching Hands-on training and coaching helping teachers and principals become stronger leaders in the arts, using the arts to connect with students and improve engagement, understanding, creativity, collaboration, and success.
• Resources for Arts Integration Tailored hands-on training helping teachers use the arts as they teach subjects such as math and science to make learning more accessible and engaging for all students.
• Peer Exchange with Statewide Network Ongoing network connecting principals, teachers, teaching artists, and arts organizations from across California to share challenges and successes in using the arts to support equity in public schools.
• Engagement with Local and Renowned Artists Programs bringing local and well-known artists into schools through artistic residencies, family art nights, school musicals, mural projects, and mentorships.
• Lesson Lab Professional Development Program Professional development program pairing school-based teacher teams with a teaching artist to design, implement, and assess arts-rich, standards-aligned lessons. Recognized by the CA Arts Education Association with an Exemplary Program Award in 2024.
• Community Arts Project Initiative Initiative pairing partner schools with local artists and arts organizations to conceptualize and implement unique murals and art installations on school campuses, supporting community-building and well-being.
• Partner School Resources Portal Online resource portal for partner schools providing access to strategic arts planning tools, Lesson Labs, professional learning resources, family engagement materials, and equity resources. Access is limited to TACA partner schools.
• Arts Resources Curated Collection Curated collection of lesson plans, videos, and online offerings from artists, educators, and organizations to assist educators in advocating for and integrating the arts throughout the school day.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of teachers report that the arts have a positive impact on academic learning
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Arts Education Connection San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts education organization providing hands-on support to San Diego partner schools. Deirdre Moore serves as Program Manager, overseeing artist residencies and professional learning for educators.
• Collaborations: Teachers and Artists (CoTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit providing in-depth arts integration training for public school teachers. Danielle Reo serves as Program Director. Offers Lesson Lab resources and inspires arts-integrated projects co-designed by artists and teachers.
• NorCal ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arts organization providing training and professional development for educators in Northern California. Michele Hillen-Noufer serves as Executive Director and provides coaching in the Sacramento region.
• The Music CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles performing arts center that partners with TACA for annual arts integration conference and provides Artivities resources for schools.
• Loyola Marymount UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing educational expertise. Professor Terry Lenihan from LMU serves on TACA's board and directs ARTsmart community service program.
• Inner-City ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLos Angeles arts education organization that hosts TACA's teacher retreats, providing an arts oasis for professional development.
• P.S. ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts education nonprofit providing P.S. ARTS Arts to Go resources - videos and instruction sheets featuring activities inspired by diverse artists.
• Palos Verdes Art CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional art center providing arts education resources and programming support.
• Visual Thinking StrategiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing visual thinking strategies resources for arts integration in schools.
• The Actors' GangmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheater group led by Tim Robbins that conducts workshops and provides arts programming. Tim Robbins serves on TACA's board as an artist advocate.
• Arts & Healing InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization fostering healing and resilience through arts and creativity, providing free online videos and workshops applicable to classrooms.
• Focus 5minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts integration consulting organization providing teaching artist services including Sam Tidwell as national teaching artist.
• DJ IZ AvilaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrammy-winning DJ/producer and artist advocate who launched DJ programs at schools including Echo Valley Elementary's All Hands on Decks program.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inner-City Arts: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing arts education to underserved youth through studio-based classes and teacher professional development; a current TACA strategic partner and direct functional peer in LA arts education delivery.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Nonprofit that donates musical instruments and supports K-12 music programs in underfunded schools nationwide; direct peer in mission (music/art access equity), donor-funded model, and K-12 underserved focus.
• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National nonprofit network providing arts education residencies and programming to K-12 students, with a strong focus on underserved schools—directly comparable to TACA's mission and curriculum-integrated model.
• VH1 Save The Music Foundation: Foundation providing music education grants, instruments, and resources to under-resourced K-12 schools; comparable school-partnership model with explicit instrument and curriculum funding mechanics.
• Education Through Music: Nonprofit that partners with underserved schools to integrate music (and broader arts) education through sequential, standards-aligned instruction; direct peer in arts integration funding, training, and partner-school model.
• P.S. Arts: Los Angeles-area arts education nonprofit providing classroom and after-school arts programs to underserved public schools; overlapping partner network with TACA and directly comparable in geography, mission, and school-coaching model.
• Turnaround Arts (Kennedy Center): The national Turnaround Arts program stewarded by the Kennedy Center since 2016; TACA is one of its state-level legacy affiliates, making the two the most direct functional peers in mission and program design.

Broad incumbents

• Americans for the Arts: National arts advocacy and service organization working on arts education policy and research; complementary rather than directly competing with TACA, but competes for arts-education foundation and government funding.
• Lincoln Center Education: Education arm of Lincoln Center providing arts integration curriculum and teacher professional development to K-12 schools; broader portfolio incumbent with overlapping arts-integration pedagogy and underserved-school focus.
• Carnegie Hall Education (Weill Music Institute): Major national arts institution running K-12 music and arts-education programs (Link Up, Musical Connections) across schools; comparable in curriculum and underserved-school targeting, but operates at national scale with deeper institutional resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TurnaroundArtsCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turnaround-arts-california
• Instagraminstagram.com/turnaroundartsca
• Xx.com/TurnarndArtsCA

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Turnaround Arts California