Cheltenham Center for the Arts

What Cheltenham Center for the Arts does

Cheltenham Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts center founded in the 1940s and based in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, in the greater Philadelphia region. The organization provides year-round visual arts education across ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, fibers, metals, and paper crafts, serving children (ages 5-12), teens (ages 13-17), adults, and families. Core programs include seasonal Summer Art Camp, Teen Summer Intensives, rotating gallery exhibitions, and cultural events including a long-running Jazz Bridge concert series. The center operates two physical venues: the main facility at 439 Ashbourne Road (featuring the 100-seat Bernard H. Berger theater, ceramics studios, and 2-D/3-D work spaces) and the satellite Elkins Central venue, a 1,300 sq ft renovated historic train station space adopted in 2016 for private events, classes, and community gatherings. The center also runs an annual Artist Residency Program and a CCA Pop-Up Shop featuring local artist merchandise.

The business model operates through diversified, low-ticket revenue streams: annual memberships ($45 individual, $75 family), per-session class and workshop fees, summer camp registrations ($265-$650), teen intensive tuition ($115-$210), space rentals, donations and fundraising (including an annual Art Party fundraiser and recurring corporate sponsors), and retail merchandise sales. GTM motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth, local school partnerships, newsletter marketing, social media, and earned media (including a 2019 PBS 39 feature). The center partners with affiliate groups such as the Cheltenham Printmakers Guild and Cheltenham Clay Guild, as well as institutional supporters including the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, SEPTA, and corporate sponsors like Highmark Financial and Radian. Technology stack is limited to standard nonprofit operational platforms: Active Network for online registration, NeonCRM for ticketing, PayPal and GoFundMe for donations, and BiddingOwl for auctions. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and reports serving 2,500+ participants annually.

Name

Cheltenham Center for the Arts

Legal name

Cheltenham Center for the Arts

Website

https://cheltenhamarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cheltenham Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts center in Cheltenham, PA, offering year-round visual arts classes, summer camps, exhibitions, and cultural events for children, teens, adults, and families across two venues, serving 2,500+ participants annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Community arts education
• Visual arts classes
• Summer art camp
• Ceramics workshops
• Art exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheltenham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to member benefits including class discounts and participation in Annual Members Show. Individual $45, Family $75.
2. Art Classes and Workshops: Fees for adult and children's art classes across various mediums including ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking. Priced per session with member discounts available.
3. Summer Art Camp: Multi-week summer camp programs for children ages 5-12 with full-day and morning-only options. Sessions range from $265-$650 for members with earlybird discounts.
4. Teen Summer Intensives: Specialized week-long and multi-week programs for teens ages 13-17 in visual arts disciplines including drawing, watercolor, silkscreen printing.
5. Space Rentals: Rental of CCA facilities including the 1300 sq ft Elkins Central venue for private events, birthday parties, baby showers, classes, meetings, and community events.
6. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from members, businesses, foundations, and government partners. Monthly recurring donations available through PayPal. Major annual fundraiser Art Party with auction.
7. Retail Shop: CCA Shop sells handmade art merchandise. Pop-up shop events and permanent retail space offering gifts and art supplies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cheltenham Center for the Arts is a community arts center providing year-round visual arts instruction in ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, fibers, metals, and other media for children, teens, and adults. It also runs seasonal Summer Art Camp for ages 5-12, Teen Summer Intensives for ages 13-17, rotating gallery exhibitions, cultural events and concerts, venue space rentals, and an annual juried Members' Show. The center operates two venues: its main facility on Ashbourne Road in Cheltenham and Elkins Central at the historic Elkins Park Train Station.

Product overview

Cheltenham Center for the Arts is a community arts center offering a portfolio of visual arts education and cultural programming. The core offerings include year-round art classes (ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, fibers, metals) for adults and children, seasonal Summer Art Camp for ages 5-12, and Teen Summer Intensives for ages 13-17. The center operates two venues—the main facility at 439 Ashbourne Road and the satellite Elkins Central venue at the Elkins Park train station. Additional services include exhibitions in its gallery spaces, a concert and events program featuring the Jazz Bridge series, space rentals, a membership program with class discounts, and a pop-up shop selling local artist merchandise. The center also runs an Artist Residency Program supporting emerging artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art Classes Year-round visual arts instruction in ceramics, painting, drawing, printmaking, fibers, metalwork, paper crafts, and workshops for adults and children. Classes are offered in sessions with registration through the Active Network platform.
• Summer Art Camp Seasonal day camp for children ages 5-12 featuring daily art classes in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and theater, plus supervised swimming trips. Multiple sessions offered June through August with before/after care options and member pricing.
• Teen Summer Intensives Specialized arts programs for teens ages 13-17 offering concentrated study in drawing, watercolor, silkscreen printing, alcohol ink art, and miniature art studio over summer months. Priced $115-$210 per session.
• Exhibitions Rotating gallery exhibitions featuring member artists, resident artists, juried shows, and regional children's art. Notable exhibitions include the Annual Juried Painting Show (running into its 78th year) and the Print Explosion biennial printmaking exhibition.
• CCA Pop-Up Shop Seasonal retail shop featuring handmade art and crafts by local artists. Physical pop-up events at the center plus a shop at 7900 High School Road. Gift certificates available for merchandise and classes.
• Space Rentals Rental of CCA facilities including studio spaces and the 100-seat Bernard H. Berger theater for private events, classes, and performances. Includes the 1,300 sq ft Elkins Central venue.
• Membership Program Basic annual membership program providing class discounts and participation in the Annual Members Show. Individual membership $45/year, Family membership $75/year.
• Artist Residency Program Annual residency program for emerging artists in ceramics, painting, printmaking, and other media. Residents exhibit their work at the end of the residency year. Current residents include Jess Barnett and Alessandra Mitchell (2025-2026).
• Jazz Bridge Concert Series Concert series presented in partnership with Jazz Bridge, a nonprofit supporting local jazz musicians in personal or professional crisis. Four concerts annually featuring prominent jazz and blues musicians at CCA venues.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,500+ participants annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Arts CouncilsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as community partner/supporter on the center's support page. Arts Council provides grant funding and promotional support for arts programming.
• Cheltenham Township Community Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in 2011-2013 renovation of historic Elkins Park Train Station into Elkins Central community arts venue.
• SEPTAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty owner of Elkins Park Train Station. Partnered with community in 2011-2013 renovation to create Elkins Central venue.
• Cheltenham Printmakers GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate group that runs the print studio with monthly open studios, biennial Print Explosion exhibitions, and collaborative projects.
• American Color Print SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in biennial Print Explosion exhibition showcasing printmaking from guild members and society artists.
• Jazz BridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit arts organization hosting neighborhood concert series at CCA for 13+ years. Proceeds support local jazz musicians in personal or professional crisis. Four concerts annually feature prominent jazz and blues musicians.
• Cynthia Blackwood (The Frame House)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheltenham Township businesswoman who led volunteer efforts for Elkins Central renovation alongside Adam Silverman.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Main Line Art Center: Community arts center in Haverford, PA offering year-round classes, exhibitions, and summer camps across multiple visual arts disciplines. Directly comparable regional nonprofit serving suburban Philadelphia with similar program mix and target demographics.
• Wayne Art Center: Community art center in Wayne, PA providing art classes, workshops, exhibitions, and children's programming. Closely comparable suburban Philadelphia arts nonprofit with similar educational mission and revenue model.
• Abington Art Center: Community art center in Abington, PA (adjacent to Cheltenham) offering classes, exhibitions, and events. Same suburban Philadelphia nonprofit landscape with overlapping program offerings and donor base.
• Fleisher Art Memorial: Philadelphia nonprofit community art school offering low-cost classes, workshops, and exhibitions across multiple disciplines. Directly comparable mission, tuition model, and target community of engaged adult learners.
• The Clay Studio: Philadelphia-based ceramic arts center offering classes, exhibitions, and resident artist programs. Comparable educational and gallery programming with strong ceramics specialization, overlapping CCA's core ceramics offerings.
• Woodmere Art Museum: Philadelphia art museum with classes, exhibitions, and community programming. Comparable cultural nonprofit serving the same regional community with overlapping educational and exhibition programming.
• Perkins Center for the Arts: Community arts center in Moorestown, NJ with classes, exhibitions, and cultural programming. Comparable suburban Philadelphia-area nonprofit serving families and adult learners with similar diversifying revenue streams.
• Art Center of New Jersey: Community arts center in Bayonne, NJ offering classes, exhibitions, and summer programming. Comparable mid-sized regional nonprofit with similar educational mission and member-driven model.

Others

• Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance: Regional umbrella organization supporting arts and culture nonprofits in greater Philadelphia. Comparable ecosystem player that channels funding and advocacy to organizations like CCA.

Broad incumbents

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA): Historic Philadelphia fine arts institution offering classes, exhibitions, and degree programs. Larger, established arts education player with overlapping visual arts classes and gallery programming though more academic in orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CheltenhamCenterfortheArts
• Xx.com/cheltenhamarts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Cheltenham Center for the Arts