Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association

What Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association does

Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 (with the Art-A-Whirl open studio tour launching in 1995) that strengthens and supports the local artist community in Northeast Minneapolis through promotion, fellowship, and resource provision. NEMAA serves a membership base of 1,000-1,600+ working artists, professional galleries, arts businesses, nonprofits, and food & beverage establishments across the Twin Cities metro area. Its mission centers on addressing the visibility, isolation, and infrastructure challenges faced by individual artists who lack the resources to maintain independent marketing and sales operations.

NEMAA's core products include the annual Membership program (providing directory listing, online shop access, and Art-A-Whirl eligibility), the Member Directory, an Events Calendar, and the flagship Art-A-Whirl event — the largest annual open studio tour in the nation, spanning the third weekend of May with 1,400+ artists at 100+ sites. The organization also operates the Forward Fund grant program for direct artist support, and an Opportunity Submissions platform for calls for art, fellowships, and residencies. Technology infrastructure is built on a WordPress-based website integrated with Curbside Marketplace for e-commerce (enabling shipping and curbside pickup), supplemented by Google Analytics for advertising. Physical assets include NEMAA-operated studio buildings such as Quincy Hall (1325 Quincy St NE, 48+ members) and presence in major studio buildings like Casket Arts (681 17th Ave NE, 69+ members).

NEMAA's business model is diversified across multiple revenue streams: annual membership dues (subscription), online art sales commissions via the marketplace (transaction fees), event participation fees including $150 food truck map listings and print guide advertising (one-time licensing), branded merchandise sales, and tax-deductible donations plus grants (notably Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grants funded by the Legacy Amendment). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: Art-A-Whirl serves as the primary annual acquisition and engagement event, with word-of-mouth within the artist community and a March 1 membership deadline driving enrollment. Distribution channels include the online marketplace, direct studio visits during Art-A-Whirl, physical studio buildings, and external artist-owned shops. Key partnerships span government funding (Minnesota State Arts Board), technology integration (Curbside Marketplace, VenYou LLC for web development), and commercial collaborations (Pryes Brewing for Art-A-Whirl Gold beer, Eastside Food Co-op, Meet Minneapolis, MPR News, Metro Transit).

Name

Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association

Legal name

Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association

Website

https://nemaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports 1,000-1,600+ working artists, galleries, and arts businesses in Northeast Minneapolis through membership services, a member directory, an online marketplace, and Art-A-Whirl — the nation's largest annual open studio tour.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Nonprofit Community Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Nonprofit arts organization
• Artist community support
• Open studio tour
• Art marketplace platform
• Artist membership program

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide artists, galleries, businesses, and nonprofits access to the NEMAA community, directory listing, and eligibility to participate in Art-A-Whirl. Membership runs through the calendar year.
2. Online Art Sales Commission: The marketplace platform enables artists to sell artwork directly to buyers. The platform facilitates transactions with shipping and curbside pickup fulfillment options through Curbside Marketplace.
3. Event Participation Fees: Food truck operators pay map listing fees ($150 per truck) to be included in Art-A-Whirl maps. Sponsors pay for advertising in the printed Directory & Art-A-Whirl Guide.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including Art-A-Whirl t-shirts, NEMAA hoodies, mugs, and the Art-A-Whirl Guide publication.
5. Donations and Grants: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, NEMAA receives tax-deductible donations and operates thanks to grants including Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grants funded by the Legacy Amendment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NEMAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that supports working artists in Northeast Minneapolis through annual memberships, a Curbside Marketplace-powered online art shop, a member directory, an events calendar, and the annual Art-A-Whirl open studio tour — the largest such event in the United States, drawing 1,400+ artists at 100+ sites. The organization supplements these core services with the Forward Fund grant program, branded merchandise, and co-branded products like Art-A-Whirl Gold beer.

Product overview

NEMAA (Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization serving working artists in Northeast Minneapolis. Its core offerings center on three interconnected pillars: (1) the NEMAA Membership program, which provides artists, galleries, businesses, and nonprofits with resources, promotion, and fellowship including access to the Member Directory and Art-A-Whirl participation; (2) the NEMAA Online Shop powered by Curbside Marketplace, a marketplace where member artists sell thousands of artworks directly to buyers with shipping and curbside pick-up; and (3) the annual Art-A-Whirl festival, the largest open studio tour in the nation, spanning 100+ sites with over 1,400 artists. Additional offerings include the Events Calendar aggregating member exhibitions and classes, the Forward Fund grant program, NEMAA Swag merchandise, and the Opportunity Submissions tool for posting calls for art and artist opportunities. NEMAA also publishes a printed Member Directory & Art-A-Whirl Guide annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Art-A-Whirl: The largest annual artist open studio tour in the nation, held annually in May in Northeast Minneapolis, featuring over 1,400 artists at 100 sites.
• Art-A-Whirl Gold

Products and services

• NEMAA Membership Annual subscription program open to individual artists (including student and emerging tiers), professional galleries, businesses, and nonprofits. Members receive directory listing, eligibility to participate in Art-A-Whirl, access to the artist opportunities database, and member newsletters.
• Art-A-Whirl Open Studio Tour The largest annual artist open studio tour in the United States, produced by NEMAA. It spans the third weekend of May across 100+ sites in Northeast Minneapolis and features 1,400+ artists, demonstrations, performances, music, food and beverage guides, and a printed directory and map.
• NEMAA Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including NEMAA T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and Art-A-Whirl anniversary merchandise sold through the NEMAA shop.
• Art-A-Whirl Gold Beer A limited-edition golden ale brewed in collaboration with Pryes Brewing Company. Available at local liquor stores, bars, and on tap, with a portion of sales supporting NEMAA and participating artists.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,400+ artists participate in Art-A-Whirl annually across 100+ sites
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Minnesota State Arts BoardcoreOthersOperating Support grant recipient. Funding comes from Minnesota legislative appropriation through the arts and cultural heritage fund. Critical to NEMAA's programming sustainability.
• Curbside MarketplacecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform powering NEMAA's online shop. Enables contact-free pickup purchases and connects people with local businesses for fulfillment.
• Pryes Brewing CompanyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Art-A-Whirl Gold golden ale. Artist Lora Hlavsa designs limited edition can. 10% of sales support NEMAA and artists. Available at local liquor stores, bars, and on tap.
• Eastside Food Co-opminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt-A-Whirl sponsor providing community support for annual event.
• Meet MinneapolisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConvention and visitors bureau sponsorship supporting Art-A-Whirl promotion.
• MPR NewsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic radio media sponsor for Art-A-Whirl.
• ArtSpace Northrup KingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor artist studio building in Northeast Minneapolis hosting hundreds of artists. NKB-WT partnership for Art-A-Whirl.
• Casket Arts BuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist studio building with 69+ member artists. Key site for Art-A-Whirl with elevator and parking accessibility.
• Quincy HallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEMAA-operated studio building with 48+ member artists. Provides restroom, baby changing, and quiet room accessibility.
• Siwek Lumber & Millwork IncminorOthersLocal lumber yard and hardware store since 1933 serving artist community.
• Metro TransitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransit authority sponsorship for Art-A-Whirl.
• Central Ave LiquorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLiquor store distributing Art-A-Whirl Gold beer.
• Surdyk's Liquor & Cheese ShopminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUpscale liquor retailer distributing Art-A-Whirl Gold.
• Grumpy's NEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBar serving Art-A-Whirl Gold on tap during event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mn Artists: A Minnesota-wide directory and opportunity database for artists, hosted by the Walker Art Center. Directly comparable as an artist directory and opportunities platform serving the same regional artist base that NEMAA serves.
• Springboard for the Arts: A Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting artists and creative economy practitioners across the Twin Cities and statewide. Highly comparable as a sibling arts service organization in the same metro, with overlapping artist-support programming and funding-source profile.
• Chicago Open Studio (Chicago Artists Coalition): A nonprofit serving Chicago-area artists through advocacy, resources, and an annual citywide open studio weekend. Highly comparable as a peer organization whose core product is an open studio tour and member directory, structurally analogous to NEMAA/Art-A-Whirl.
• ArtSpace: A national nonprofit that develops affordable live/work space for artists and operates projects including Minneapolis's Northrup King Building (a major Art-A-Whirl site). Directly comparable because it intersects NEMAA's geography and the same studio-building ecosystem.
• Pittsburgh Center for the Arts: A nonprofit arts organization operating studio buildings and programming for working artists, including an annual open studio tour. Comparable as a peer operating physical studio spaces, an artist directory, and an annual tour event.

Broad incumbents

• Minneapolis Institute of Art: A major Twin Cities art museum and cultural institution. Comparable as a regionally dominant arts organization sharing audience with NEMAA, but operates at institutional scale and is not membership-fee-based for artists.
• Minnesota State Arts Board: The state arts funding agency that grants NEMAA its Operating Support. Functions as a peer-adjacent player in the Minnesota arts ecosystem: sets funding priorities, convenes grantees, and shares audience of working artists, but operates at a broader geographic and policy scale.
• Walker Art Center: A leading Minneapolis contemporary art institution operating Mn Artists, a statewide artist directory and opportunity platform. Comparable as a peer arts organization targeting working artists in the same geography, though much larger and museum-based.
• Fractured Atlas: A national 501(c)(3) arts service organization providing membership-based resources, fiscal sponsorship, and insurance to independent artists. Comparable as a larger-scope membership platform serving working artists, but at a national rather than neighborhood scale.

Regional players

• Boston Center for the Arts: A nonprofit arts hub managing artist studio space, exhibitions, and community programming in a different U.S. metro. Comparable artist-support model but geographically separate from NEMAA's Minneapolis ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/NemaaMN
• Facebookfacebook.com/nemaamn
• Instagraminstagram.com/nemaamn
• Xx.com/NemaaMN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northeast-minneapolis-arts-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association