What Creative Talent Network does

Creative Talent Network (CTN) is a private, mission-driven organization founded in 2004 (CTNX in its 18th year) by Tina Price, operating primarily out of Burbank, California, to serve the visual storytelling community including animators, illustrators, designers, writers, and film composers. Its core product is CTNX, an annual four-day community expo held each November at the Burbank Airport Marriott, supplemented by year-round programming at CTN Studio (847 Hollywood Way, Burbank): CTN Community Saturdays, SketchFEVER life-drawing sessions, portfolio reviews, book signings, masterclasses, and curated art exhibits such as 'Rees's Pieces' and 'Somewhere in Dreams' (a David Lynch tribute). The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight and non-proprietary, consisting of off-the-shelf SaaS for ticketing (Ticket Tailor, Zeffy, BuyTickets), membership management (Join It for the free Club CTN program), communications (Zoom webinars, Discord, YouTube live streaming), and forms (Google Forms, reCAPTCHA); CTN is fundamentally an event-management and community-engagement organization rather than a technology company.

CTN's business model is hybrid nonprofit-for-profit: Creative Talent Network, INC (a California corporation) operates the events, while the related CTN Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that acts as fiscal sponsor for scholarships, student discounts, and artist awards, and that receives donations from supporters. All ticket purchases are treated as tax-deductible donations and are non-refundable. Revenue streams include CTNX tiered ticket sales (1-Day, 2-Day, 3-Day, Community Pass, plus optional add-ons such as the Masterclass Passport, Grand Opening, and Breakfast with the Pros), Saturday event tickets, limited-edition merchandise, donations to the CTN Foundation, and a year-long Road to CTNX monthly giveaway series that drives membership engagement. Pricing is structured with General/Member/Student tiers and group discounts of 10-15% for 10+ attendees, plus a 'No Artist Left Behind' pay-what-you-can option for community events.

CTN targets four primary segments: students and emerging artists, working animation and visual storytelling professionals, families with young creative children, and independent creators/studios/vendors who exhibit at CTNX. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across in-person (CTN Studio, Burbank Marriott), Zoom webinar, YouTube live, and TikTok/Instagram organic social channels. Strategic partners include Cartoon Saloon, Netflix Animation, Abrams Publishing, Burbank Airport Marriott, Visit Burbank, and tool vendors (Huion, Clip Studio Paint, Vilppu Academy, 3D Total), with talent participants such as Oscar-nominated director Nora Twomey, Disney Imagineer Jerry Rees, and Disney/ILM animator Linda Bel lending programming credibility. The organization is bootstrapped and founder-led with no disclosed external funding.

Name

Creative Talent Network

Legal name

Creative Talent Network, INC

Website

https://ctn-events.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Creative Talent Network is a Burbank-based nonprofit-affiliated organization that runs the annual CTNX expo and year-round community programming to connect visual storytelling artists, including animators, illustrators, students, and working professionals, through events, scholarships, and mentorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Events and Arts Education

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Creative Talent Booking (Photographers, Videographers, Content Creators) (HSACAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Creator Talent Management & Representation (MPAAAHAB)

Keywords

• Animation community events
• Visual storytelling networking
• Artist community programming
• Creative industry workshops
• Arts education scholarships

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbank

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. CTNX Event Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from the annual CTNX expo. Tickets are sold across multiple tiers (1-Day, 2-Day, 3-Day, Community Pass) with tiered pricing for General, Member, and Student categories. Early bird rates available through August 15, 2026. Optional add-on experiences include Thursday Day Masterclass Passport ($25), Thursday Night Grand Opening ($20), and Breakfast with the Pros ($35). Group discounts of 10-15% available for 10+ attendees from schools, studios, or organizations.
2. CTN Saturday Event Tickets: Year-round Saturday community events (SketchFEVER, Sketch and Share, Sketch and Learn) generate revenue through individual event ticket sales via Zeffy and Ticket Tailor platforms, with tiered pricing for members and students.
3. Road to CTNX Giveaway Series: Monthly prize giveaways tied to CTNX attendance, where prize packages often include a 4-day Basic Ticket to CTNX alongside creative tools and resources donated by partners and community champions. Not directly revenue-generating but drives event registration and community engagement.
4. Limited Edition Merchandise: Sale of limited edition event merchandise such as the 1987 'The Brave Little Toaster' poster sold at CTN events, with options for pickup at events or shipping.
5. CTN Foundation Donations and Scholarships: The CTN Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Donations are accepted via Zeffy. Scholarship programs support emerging artists with free or discounted event access. Ticket purchases are treated as direct donations to the CTN Foundation supporting artists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Creative Talent Network operates a community-driven organization that connects visual storytelling artists (writers, videographers, designers, and photographers) through year-round programming. Its core offerings include the annual CTNX expo in Burbank, CA, weekly CTN Community Saturdays, the SketchFEVER community sketch group, the free Club CTN membership, workshops, portfolio reviews, and scholarship programs administered via the CTN Foundation 501(c)(3).

Product overview

Creative Talent Network operates as a community-driven organization centered around CTN Events, a platform hosting visual storytelling events and programs. The portfolio includes CTNX (Creative Talent Network eXpo), an annual four-day expo celebrating 18 years of community; CTN Studio, a physical Burbank facility for workshops and community programs; Club CTN, a free membership program; SketchFEVER, a community sketch group; CTN Community Saturdays featuring various creative activities; and CTN Foundation, a 501(c)(3) providing scholarships. Additional offerings include Teen CTN programs, art exhibits like REES's PIECES and the David Lynch tribute, and the Road to CTNX Giveaway Series providing monthly creative tools to members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CTNX: The annual Creative Talent Network eXpo, a four-day community-driven global gathering for visual storytelling artists held in Burbank, CA.
• CTN Studio
• Club CTN
• CTN Foundation
• SketchFEVER

Quantifiable outcome

• 2+ million artists engaged over 20 years
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers12 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

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cartoon SalooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish animation studio based in Kilkenny and five-time Academy Award nominee (The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, The Breadwinner, WolfWalkers, My Father's Dragon). CTN collaborated with Cartoon Saloon on My Father's Dragon Day at CTN Studio, featuring director Nora Twomey and art director Áine McGuinness for book signing, industry talks, and family creative programming. CTN continues collaboration with Cartoon Saloon on exhibition and educational events.
• Netflix AnimationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetflix's animation division partnered with CTN for My Father's Dragon Day, celebrating the release of My Father's Dragon on Netflix. The event combined Netflix's film release with CTN's community programming, connecting the studio with the Burbank animation community and families.
• Abrams PublishingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher of The Art of My Father's Dragon, the official behind-the-scenes art book for the Cartoon Saloon/Netflix film. Abrams collaborated with CTN to host the book signing event as part of My Father's Dragon Day at CTN Studio.
• Burbank Airport Marriott Hotel & Convention CentercoreOthersOfficial venue and hotel partner for CTNX 2026 (November 19-22, 2026). Located at 2500 Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA, directly across from Hollywood Burbank Airport. Provides hotel group rate of $189/night for attendees. Hosts CTNX programming including theater presentations, workshops, exhibitor showroom, and networking events. The venue is not at CTN Studio or CTN Office.
• Visit BurbankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial tourism partner of CTN, promoting Burbank as the Animation Capital of the World. Listed as a sponsor on event pages. CTN is an official component of Burbank's Animation Week with city-wide proclamation. Visit Burbank provides travel information and insider tips for out-of-town attendees.
• E-Tech RentalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology rental partner supporting CTN events and the Rees's Pieces exhibit. Listed as a sponsor on multiple CTN event pages.
• HuionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital drawing tablet manufacturer that donated a Huion Kamvas 13 (Gen 3) tablet as a prize in the Road to CTNX 'Kickoff Month' giveaway (part of the Learning Month prize).
• Glen Vilppu / Vilppu AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRenowned art instructor Glen Vilppu donated a one-year subscription to Vilppu Academy Online Library of Lectures & Demonstrations as a prize in the Road to CTNX Show Development Month giveaway.
• 3D Total PublishingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublisher donated a one-year subscription to Character Design Quarterly as a prize in the Road to CTNX Show Development Month giveaway alongside Vilppu Academy.
• Emily BrundigeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAuthor and creative professional who donated A Guide to Developing Animated Shows and a one-year Substack subscription as prizes in the Storyteller's Toolkit Month giveaway.
• Clip Studio PaintminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital art software provider that donated Clip Studio Paint EX Ver. 5.0 Edition (Perpetual License) as a prize in the Road to CTNX Storyteller's Toolkit Month giveaway.
• CTN FoundationcoreOthersThe CTN Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization for artists that is the fiscal sponsor and parent organization of Creative Talent Network. It funds scholarships, mentorship, and community-driven programs. All ticket purchases are treated as donations to the CTN Foundation. It runs the Student Discount Program, Artist Award programs (Filmmaker Artist Award, First Time Exhibiting Artist Award), and scholarship applications. The foundation is dedicated to celebrating and supporting visual storytellers of all ages, budgets, ethnicity, and geographic locations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Pictoplasma: Berlin-based conference and festival for contemporary character design and illustration. Comparable in format (talks, exhibitions, community) to CTNX but serving the European visual storytelling community rather than the LA-centric animation industry.
• Spike and Mike's Festival of Animation: Long-running touring animation festival showcasing curated short films. While not a direct competitor to CTNX, it has historically served overlapping audiences in the animation/illustration community and is a comparable case study in animation-focused nonprofit/community event operations.

Broad incumbents

• CTNX isn't really a festival in the traditional sense; therefore a stronger broader incumbent is the Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839): Labor union representing animation, VFX, and game artists in Los Angeles, providing networking, contract support, and community programming. A broader incumbent in the LA animation community ecosystem that overlaps with CTN's working-professional segment.
• Annecy International Animation Film Festival: The world's largest animation festival, drawing the global animation industry to France annually. While CTNX is a community-focused expo rather than a film-competition festival, Annecy defines the high-end of the animation industry event market CTN operates within.

Emerging players

• Schoolism: Online education platform offering mentored courses in concept art, illustration, and animation from industry artists. Comparable to CTN's educational programming (workshops, masterclasses, portfolio reviews) but delivered as a digital subscription SaaS rather than live events.
• ArtStation: Portfolio platform for concept artists, illustrators, and 3D artists, with Learning (courses) and a jobs marketplace. Touches the same visual storytelling community CTN serves and competes for the attention and education spend of CTN's emerging-artist segment.
• Skillshare: Online learning community with a deep illustration/animation course library. Competes for the same emerging artists CTN courts through scholarships and student discounts, with a fully digital, on-demand delivery model.

Direct peers

• Society of Illustrators: Long-standing nonprofit organization hosting exhibitions, workshops, and community events for illustrators and visual artists. Comparable to CTN as a community-and-events nonprofit supporting a specific creative discipline with scholarship and member programming.
• LightBox Expo: LightBox Expo is the closest direct competitor — a large annual convention for concept artists, illustrators, and designers in the entertainment industry. It runs portfolio reviews, panels, workshops, and an exhibitor hall, mirroring CTNX's core offering and serving the same visual storytelling artist community.
• Concept Art Association: Nonprofit trade organization founded to advocate for concept artists and illustrators, hosting portfolio reviews, mentorship events, and community programs. Serves overlapping segments of CTN's visual storytelling community and offers a non-event-driven model CTN could learn from.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/creativetalent
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CreativeTalentNetwork/streams
• Facebookfacebook.com/creativetalentnetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/ctnhappenings

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 Creative Talent Network