Phillips’ Mill Community Association

What Phillips’ Mill Community Association does

Phillips' Mill Community Association is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 1932 and headquartered in a National Register of Historic Places 18th-century grist mill at 2619 River Road in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The organization operates entirely on volunteer labor, with no paid staff disclosed across its 93+ year history, and is governed by a Board of Directors under President Laura Womack. Its mission is to nurture contemporary artists and preserve the historic meeting space of the Pennsylvania Impressionists and Modernists through inclusive programming in arts and education.

The organization's core offerings center on four programmatic pillars: visual arts (the 97th Annual Juried Art Show, Member Art Show & Sale, Youth Art Exhibition, Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show), photography (the 33rd-year Phillips' Mill Photographic Exhibition, Photo Committee Show, Photozine publication), drama (Premiere Showcase, cabarets, Emerging Playwright Competition, Play With Words student challenge), and education (ArtTalk lectures, preservation programming). Each program is delivered through juried competitions, staged readings, exhibitions, and performances hosted primarily at the historic mill, with auxiliary online exhibition viewing.

Revenue is generated through five streams: annual membership subscriptions, event ticket and admissions sales (e.g., $150 per person for Brushstrokes of Freedom), a 35% commission on exhibited artwork sales, donations and annual fundraising campaigns, and corporate/individual sponsorships for specific events and capital improvements. The organization serves regional visual artists, photographers, theater artists, students aged 10-18, and arts patrons primarily within Bucks County and southeastern Pennsylvania, with artists required to reside within a 25-mile radius for the Juried Art Show and 100 miles for the Emerging Playwright Competition.

Name

Phillips’ Mill Community Association

Legal name

Phillips' Mill Community Association

Website

https://phillipsmill.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phillips' Mill Community Association is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1932 that hosts juried art shows, photography exhibitions, theater productions, and youth programs at the historic 18th-century grist mill in New Hope, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, serving regional artists, students, and arts patrons.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Cultural Programming

NAICS

Museums (71211), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG), Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Community arts center
• Juried art exhibitions
• Photography exhibitions
• Community theater productions
• Youth arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

New Hope

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees provide core operational support and give members access to exclusive events, the member directory, and priority registration for programs.
2. Event Tickets and Admissions: Revenue from ticket sales for theatrical productions, cabarets, special events, and exhibitions. Events like Brushstrokes of Freedom tickets priced at $150 per person.
3. Art Sales Commission: Phillips' Mill retains 35% commission on sales of artwork and photography exhibited at the Mill. The organization also earns revenue from art show sales as a fundraiser.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fundraising campaigns, preservation fund donations, business partnerships, and special event sponsorships support the organization.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsorships for specific programs, events, and capital improvements like the $40,000 lights and sound upgrade campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Phillips' Mill Community Association operates a historic arts venue that produces juried art exhibitions, photographic exhibitions, live theater and cabaret productions, youth arts programs, playwright competitions, and educational ArtTalk events. Programming is supported by annual memberships, event ticket sales, a 35% commission on exhibited artwork, donations, and sponsorships, with all activities centered on the National Register-listed mill in New Hope, PA.

Product overview

Phillips' Mill Community Association is a center for arts and culture offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs including the annual Juried Art Show, Phillips' Mill Photographic Exhibition, Phillips' Mill Drama productions, Youth Art Exhibition, Emerging Playwright Competition, Play With Words student playwriting challenge, ArtTalk educational talks, and the monthly Grist Newsletter. The organization preserves the historic meeting space of the Pennsylvania Impressionists and presents inclusive programs in arts and education reflecting the diversity of Bucks County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Juried Art Show Annual prestigious art exhibition featuring regional artists selected through a jury process, one of the most highly anticipated art shows in the region. Now in its 97th year, with registration opening July 26 - August 30 for the 2026 edition.
• Phillips' Mill Photographic Exhibition Prestigious annual juried photography exhibition attracting photographers from across the country, now in its 33rd year and widely considered the premier juried photography event in the area. Typically receives over 1,000 entries annually.
• Phillips' Mill Drama Live theater programming including cabarets, musical comedies, one-act plays, poetry readings, and the annual Premiere Showcase featuring original works such as 'Nauset Light'.
• Youth Art Exhibition Annual showcase of artwork by local high school students featuring over 150 works and more than $2,500 in prizes awarded (2021). The 2020 virtual edition drew over 1,400 unique visitors.
• Emerging Playwright Competition Annual juried competition for short plays with staged readings by actors at the Mill, accepting submissions from within a 100-mile radius of New Hope.
• Play With Words Challenge Student playwriting competition inviting students ages 12-18 within 75 miles of New Hope to submit 10-minute plays.
• ArtTalk Educational programming featuring artist talks, interviews, and discussions with featured artists and special guests, available online via Zoom.
• The Grist Newsletter Monthly newsletter delivered to subscribers keeping them informed about exhibitions, performances, special events, and community news at Phillips' Mill.
• Member Art Show & Sale Annual exhibition featuring original works by Bucks County artists in painting, sculpture, photography, and fine craft; the 3rd Annual edition featured over 500 original works.
• Selma Burke Invitational African American Art Show Invitational exhibition honoring the legacy of notable sculptor and art educator Selma Burke, who spent her later years in New Hope.
• Photozine Annual publication featuring photographic work from the Phillips' Mill photography community.
• Preservation Fund Fundraising campaign dedicated to preserving the historic 18th-century grist mill, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, including the $40,000 lighting and sound upgrade.
• Annual Membership Annual membership program providing access to the member directory, exclusive events, priority program registration, and voting rights, supporting the organization's core operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,400 unique visitors to virtual Youth Art Exhibition in 2021 (vs. typical in-person attendance)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VIA of DoylestowncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership with the Village Improvement Association of Doylestown to stage 'Voices: A History of the VIA of Doylestown,' a historical drama celebrating the pioneering women who founded Doylestown Hospital 100 years ago.
• Studio Route 29minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Studio Route 29, a progressive art studio in Frenchtown, NJ that centers creative practices of artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Phillips' Mill displayed artwork by Michael Angelo Mangino during the Morphology performance, sharing a vision of inclusion and community connection.
• Freeman's | HindmanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArt auction house partnership offering art collectors opportunities to preview works by renowned Pennsylvania Impressionists at Phillips' Mill.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Woodmere Art Museum: A Philadelphia art museum housed in a historic mansion, focused on Philadelphia-area artists. Comparable as a regional nonprofit art institution emphasizing local artists, exhibitions, and community programming in the same metropolitan area.
• Delaware Art Museum: A regional art museum in Wilmington, DE with strong collections of American art and illustration. Comparable as a mid-Atlantic nonprofit art institution offering juried exhibitions, educational programming, and community events in a nearby market.
• Brandywine River Museum of Art: A regional art museum in Chadds Ford, PA dedicated to American art and the Wyeth family. Comparable as a southeastern Pennsylvania nonprofit art museum with a similar curatorial focus on regional painters and historic-site programming.
• James A. Michener Art Museum: A Bucks County art museum in Doylestown, PA focused on Pennsylvania Impressionism and regional art. Directly comparable as a nonprofit regional art institution in the same county, competing for the same artists, donors, and visitors that Phillips' Mill serves.
• Grounds for Sculpture: A 42-acre sculpture park and museum in Hamilton, NJ featuring contemporary and regional artists. Comparable as a mid-Atlantic nonprofit arts venue combining outdoor grounds, exhibition programming, and ticketed visitor experiences.
• Biggs Museum of American Art: A regional American art museum in Dover, DE housed in a historic courthouse. Comparable as a small-to-mid-sized nonprofit art institution operating from a historic building and offering exhibitions, education, and community programming.
• Hunterdon Art Museum: A community art museum in Clinton, NJ exhibiting contemporary craft, painting, and sculpture. Comparable as a small, historic-site-based nonprofit art institution serving a regional artist community across the Delaware River from Phillips' Mill.
• Torpedo Factory Art Center: A converted naval munitions factory in Alexandria, VA that houses working artist studios, galleries, and classrooms. Comparable as a historic-building-based nonprofit arts center that combines juried exhibitions, artist community, and educational programming.

Others

• Freeman's | Hindman: A major American auction house with strong Pennsylvania Impressionist expertise. Listed as a Phillips' Mill channel partner, but serves as an ecosystem participant — auction houses provide secondary-market price discovery that supports primary-market venues like Phillips' Mill.

Broad incumbents

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA): The first art museum and art school in the United States, located in Philadelphia. Comparable in mission and regional scope but significantly larger, with paid faculty, professional staff, and a permanent collection — a broader incumbent in the same Pennsylvania arts ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCpzi_C6xcz-hFHjBv4aojA
• Facebookfacebook.com/PhillipsMillCommunityAssociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/phillipsmillart
• Xx.com/mill_phillips
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phillips-mill-community-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Phillips’ Mill Community Association