Illustration Institute
Illustration Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that delivers free illustration exhibitions, workshops, and a summer artist residency on Peaks Island, Maine, serving the general public, libraries, and museums through donor and foundation funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Illustration Institute does
Illustration Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in October 2016 and headquartered at 2 Union Street, Suite 400, Portland, Maine. It is dedicated to raising appreciation and awareness of illustration in its many forms by providing free public access to master artists and working professionals through exhibitions, workshops, and residencies. Programming is delivered free to audiences of all ages and abilities at partner venues across Maine, including public libraries, museums, schools, and community spaces in Portland, Peaks Island, Brunswick, Waterville, and Kennebunk.
The organization's core offerings are four interconnected programs: the Marilyn Faison Artist Residency on Peaks Island (where 8-15+ distinguished illustrators, writers, and narrative artists work in residence each summer and present free lectures and workshops), a curated Exhibitions Program (producing shows such as 'The Great State of Illustration in Maine' featuring 90 published illustrators, and prior exhibitions on Garth Williams, 'The Art of Cute', 'The Art of Mending', and 'Illustrated Monsters'), an annual Illustration Week workshop series (July 27-30, 2026), and a digital video library on YouTube. There is no proprietary technology product; the underlying platform is curated programming, artist relationships, and venue partnerships.
The revenue model is donation-dependent: the organization is predominantly funded by individual monthly and one-time donors, supplemented by a broad base of foundation grants (Maine Arts Commission/NEA, Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, Davis Foundation, Horizon Foundation, Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation, Lunder Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, Onion Foundation, Peaks Island Fund, Perloff Foundation, Roxanne Quimby Foundation, Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Sprague Foundation, Z Fund) and corporate sponsors (Candlewick Press, Maine General Health, Kennebec Savings Bank, PRO Moving Service). All programming is offered free of charge, with no earned revenue from ticket sales. Governance is by a board of directors including co-founders Scott Nash and Nancy Gibson-Nash, board president Dale Freudenberger (former FLS Energy founding partner), ex-CFO Paul Clancy (Diversified Communications), and other Maine-based cultural and education leaders.
Illustration Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Illustration Institute
- Legal name
- Illustration Institute
- Website
- https://illustrationinstitute.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Illustration Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 that delivers free illustration exhibitions, workshops, and a summer artist residency on Peaks Island, Maine, serving the general public, libraries, and museums through donor and foundation funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Illustration Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts Education and Cultural Programming (Nonprofit)
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Picture Book Publishing (MPAJAFAA), Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)
Keywords
Where Illustration Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Illustration Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The organization is predominantly funded by individual donors who make monthly or one-time donations to support exhibitions, events, workshops with professional illustrators, and artist residency programs.
- Foundation and Corporate Sponsorship: Support from foundations including Candlewick Press, Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, Davis Foundation, Horizon Foundation, Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation, Lunder Foundation, Maine Arts Commission, Maine Community Foundation, Onion Foundation, Peaks Island Fund, Perloff Foundation, Roxanne Quimby Foundation, Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation, Sprague Foundation, and the Z Fund. Additional sponsors include Maine General Health, Kennebec Savings Bank, and PRO Moving Service.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free programming - all events open to public at no cost |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Illustration Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Illustration Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises appreciation and awareness of illustration by providing opportunities for people of all ages to learn directly from master artists and working professionals. Its core offerings include the Marilyn Faison Artist Residency on Peaks Island, Maine (hosting distinguished illustrators, writers, and narrative artists who create work and present free public lectures and workshops), curated illustration exhibitions at partner venues such as libraries and museums, an annual Illustration Week with hands-on workshops, and a year-round calendar of free public events, lectures, and artist workshops hosted at libraries, museums, schools, and community venues across Maine.
Product overview
Illustration Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising appreciation and awareness of illustration in its many forms. The organization operates primarily as a presenting organization rather than a product company, offering four interconnected programs: the Faison Artist Residency (providing residencies for illustrators on Peaks Island), Exhibitions (curating traveling and local illustration exhibitions), Illustration Week (annual workshop series), and Workshops/Public Events (free lectures and workshops by resident artists). The organization also maintains a digital video content library.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Faison Artist Residency An artist residency program on Peaks Island, Maine providing distinguished illustrators, writers, and narrative artists an opportunity to create in relative seclusion, with each artist presenting free lectures or workshops at public venues.
- Exhibitions Program Curated traveling and local exhibitions showcasing illustration art, including 'Picture This...The Art and Work of Illustration', 'The Art of Cute', 'The Art of Mending', 'Illustrated Monsters by Monster Illustrators', and 'The Great State of Illustration in Maine'.
- Illustration Week Annual week-long series of artist-led workshops and events held at Mazza Studio on Peaks Island, open to children ages 6+ and adults, featuring hands-on workshops with professional illustrators.
- Workshops and Public Events Free lectures and workshops presented by resident artists at public venues including libraries, museums, schools, and community locations throughout Maine.
- II Videos Online video library featuring interviews, curator tours, and event recordings available on YouTube.
Companies that use Illustration Institute
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Illustration Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Illustration Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.
- Portland Public LibrarycoreLong-standing partnership hosting exhibitions and events. II's first exhibition (2016) was at Portland Public Library featuring eighteen contemporary professional illustrators. Partnership includes hosting artist workshops and lectures at the library's Rines Auditorium and children's library.
- Curtis Memorial Library (Brunswick)corePartnered for Garth Williams exhibition (2018) and McCloskey Exhibition featuring original illustrations from beloved children's books. Ongoing collaboration for exhibitions and educational programming.
- Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D)coreVenue partner for events including Marcos Chin presentation and Payton Turner evening event. Some resident artists are affiliated with MECA&D as faculty (e.g., Michael Connor, Isabella Rotman).
- Brick Store Museum (Kennebunk)minorHosted 'The Art of Cute' exhibition (May-August 2019), curated and produced by Illustration Institute.
- Waterville CreatescoreVenue partner for 'The Great State of Illustration in Maine' exhibition at Ticonic Gallery, Paul J Schupf Art Center.
- Candlewick PresssupportingSponsor of the Candlewick Workshops series (2019), featuring talks and workshops by Candlewick Press artists and authors.
- Roxanne Quimby FoundationsupportingSponsored Fashion Illustration Week (September 2019), a week-long series of workshops, presentations, and artist talks on fashion and fashion illustration.
- Lunder FoundationsupportingGenerous sponsor of 'The Great State of Illustration in Maine' exhibition, with Peter and Paula Lunder Family supporting the show.
- LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman FoundationsupportingSponsor of the Sports Illustrators exhibition at Waterville Creates Ticonic Gallery.
- Indigo Arts AllianceminorCo-founded by board member Daniel Minter; non-profit dedicated to cultivating artistic development of people of African descent. Connected through shared board leadership.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Illustration Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Highlights Foundation: A nonprofit that hosts artist residencies, workshops, and retreats for children's book authors and illustrators in rural Pennsylvania. Closely comparable to Illustration Institute's Faison Residency model of offering illustrators a creative retreat in exchange for community programming.
- The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: A nonprofit museum focused on children's book illustration, featuring rotating exhibitions, artist residencies, educational programming, and workshops. Highly comparable to Illustration Institute given overlapping emphasis on picture book illustrators (McCloskey, Carle) and free/low-cost family programming.
- Mazza Museum (University of Findlay): A museum dedicated to the art of picture books and children's illustration, featuring original artwork from picture book illustrators and hosting educational programming. Comparable as a niche illustration-focused cultural nonprofit with curated exhibitions and artist-centered programming.
- Society of Illustrators: A nonprofit membership organization dedicated to the art of illustration, hosting exhibitions, lectures, and workshops featuring professional illustrators. It is the most direct national analog to Illustration Institute's mission of celebrating illustration through public programming and curated shows.
Broad incumbents
- Brandywine River Museum of Art: A regional museum featuring American illustration with the largest collection of N.C. Wyeth and the Wyeth family of artists, including illustrators. Comparable through its focus on illustration heritage and curated exhibitions, though operating at much larger institutional scale.
- Norman Rockwell Museum: A major museum dedicated to American illustration, housing the world's largest collection of original Norman Rockwell art and curating exhibitions on illustrators. Comparable to Illustration Institute as an illustration-focused cultural institution, but operates at substantially larger scale with a permanent collection and museum facility.
Emerging players
- Center for Cartoon Studies: A Vermont-based nonprofit college and cultural center offering workshops, residencies, and exhibitions focused on cartooning and graphic storytelling. Comparable to Illustration Institute as a New England-based small nonprofit serving illustrators and the visual narrative arts community.
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI): The largest professional organization for children's book creators worldwide, offering conferences, workshops, grants, and networking for illustrators and writers. Comparable as a community-building organization serving professional illustrators, though it is membership- rather than exhibition-driven.
Regional players
- Indigo Arts Alliance: A Portland, Maine-based nonprofit dedicated to cultivating artistic development of artists of African descent, co-founded by Illustration Institute board member Daniel Minter. Comparable as a small Portland, Maine arts nonprofit with a residency/artist-development model.
Others
- Maine Arts Commission: The official state arts agency supporting arts programming in Maine through grants and partnerships, including direct funding to Illustration Institute. Relevant as a peer/funder in Maine's broader arts ecosystem though not a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Illustration Institute social profiles
Digital presenceIllustration Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Illustration Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Illustration Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Illustration Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Illustration Institute
What does Illustration Institute do?
Illustration Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises appreciation and awareness of illustration by providing opportunities for people of all ages to learn directly from master artists and working professionals. Its core offerings include the Marilyn Faison Artist Residency on Peaks Island, Maine (hosting distinguished illustrators, writers, and narrative artists who create work and present free public lectures and workshops), curated illustration exhibitions at partner venues such as libraries and museums, an annual Illustration Week with hands-on workshops, and a year-round calendar of free public events, lectures, and artist workshops hosted at libraries, museums, schools, and community venues across Maine.
Is Illustration Institute a public or private company?
Illustration Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Illustration Institute founded?
Illustration Institute was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Illustration Institute based?
Illustration Institute is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Illustration Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Corporate Sponsorship.
Who are Illustration Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Highlights Foundation, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Mazza Museum (University of Findlay) and Society of Illustrators. Broad incumbents are Brandywine River Museum of Art and Norman Rockwell Museum. Emerging players are Center for Cartoon Studies and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Indigo Arts Alliance is listed as a regional player. Maine Arts Commission is listed as an others.
Does Illustration Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Illustration Institute.
What industry is Illustration Institute in?
Illustration Institute's product category is Arts Education and Cultural Programming (Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAAAA, Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture), with a secondary code of THAJAKAA, Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture). Its NAICS code is 712 and its SIC code is 7990.