Arts for Learning Massachusetts

What Arts for Learning Massachusetts does

Arts for Learning Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization founded in 1962 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. It operates as the Massachusetts affiliate of the Young Audiences Arts for Learning national network, and its core function is to connect schools, community organizations, and families with a roster of 100+ professional teaching artists who deliver arts programming to K-12 students.

The service portfolio spans multiple formats: in-school performances, multi-session workshops, multi-week residencies, remote arts learning, and professional development for educators. Sub-brands segment the portfolio toward distinct audiences or outcomes, including Expanded Arts Access (currently in 12 partner schools), EHTM, and Healing Arts for Kids. Delivery is performed by vetted teaching artists rather than salaried staff; only ~25 employees support operations, of whom 8 are listed on the public-facing site, indicating a lean administrative layer relative to a large freelance artist network.

Revenue mechanics combine fee-for-service contracts with schools and community organizations — performances priced $400-$1,800, workshops $200-$500, and residencies $150-$300 per session — with donations and grants typical of a 501(c)(3). The customer base is primarily K-12 schools and youth-serving community organizations across Massachusetts, with no visible enterprise anchors and no disclosed large institutional contracts. Geographic footprint is regional rather than national; brand and operational reach outside Massachusetts is mediated through the national Young Audiences affiliation.

Name

Arts for Learning Massachusetts

Legal name

Arts for Learning Massachusetts, Inc.

Website

https://artsforlearningma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arts for Learning Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1962 that connects schools and community organizations across Massachusetts with 100+ professional teaching artists through performances, workshops, residencies, and remote arts learning programs for K-12 students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE), Arts-Focused Private K–12 Schools (EDAJABAN)

Keywords

• Arts education programs
• School assembly performances
• Artist residency programs
• Remote arts learning
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Fees charged for performances, workshops, and residencies. Performance prices range from $400-$1,800, workshops from $200-$500, and residency sessions from $150-300 per session. Additional fees for materials, travel, and processing may apply.
2. Donations and Grants: Donor-supported Expanded Arts Access programs. Tax-deductible donations accepted via PayPal, DAF, stock transfer, and mail. EIN: 04-6065276. Multiple foundation and government grants support programming.
3. Professional Development Services: Training for teachers in arts learning strategies, including Dalcroze musicianship workshops, body percussion workshops, mask making workshops, and integrating experiential learning through Kathak.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Arts for Learning Massachusetts delivers arts education programming for PreK-12 students, including interactive performances, hands-on workshops, sequential project-based artist residencies, remote/virtual arts learning, and teacher professional development. Programs are delivered directly to schools, libraries, community centers, museums, hospitals, and shelters through a roster of 100+ vetted professional teaching artists representing diverse cultures and art forms.

Product overview

Arts for Learning Massachusetts is an arts education nonprofit offering a portfolio of programs including Performances (interactive assemblies featuring dance, music, theater, storytelling, and visual arts), Workshops (hands-on post-performance sessions in small groups), Artist Residency Partnerships (sequential project-based programs from 12 weeks to year-long), Remote Arts Learning (live virtual and pre-recorded programs), and Professional Development (teacher training). The Expanded Arts Access initiative includes Custom Arts Learning Residencies, Expanding Horizons Through Music (early literacy through music for at-risk preschoolers), and Healing Arts for Kids (therapeutic arts for children in hospital schools). The organization serves PreK-12 students across Massachusetts through partnerships with schools, libraries, community centers, museums, hospitals, and shelters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Expanded Arts Access: Donor-supported programs providing adaptive arts learning to youth in under-resourced schools, hospitals, and shelters.
• Expanding Horizons Through Music (EHTM)
• Healing Arts for Kids

Products and services

• Performances Interactive performance programs delivered directly to students in schools, featuring theater, dance, storytelling, music, and author visits by professional artists. Available in-person and as remote/virtual performances. Pricing $400-$1,800 per performance.
• Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 85% of students at partner schools qualify for free and reduced lunch, demonstrating reach to underserved populations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Young Audiences Arts for Learning (national network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1952AFLMA is one of the first affiliates of Young Audiences, Arts for Learning, Inc. network established in 1952. The network is the largest arts learning network in the country, collectively impacting 5 million+ young people annually. The national organization works collaboratively to advance arts in education through advocacy, communications, fundraising, program development, professional learning, and other support.
• Gardner Pilot Academy, AllstoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2008 with Friday Arts program. Currently 15 AFLMA teaching artists engage students with dance, music, storytelling and theater every Friday morning. Over the years extended with early childhood music classes, summer dance program, and afterschool musical theater program.
• Horizons For Homeless ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSite partner for Expanding Horizons Through Music (EHTM) program since 2011. EHTM uses group music-making activities to teach foundational literacy and social skills to preschool students experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty.
• Kennedy Day School at Franciscan Hospital for ChildrencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealing Arts for Kids program launched in 2004 at this location, providing therapeutic arts residencies, workshops, and performances for children with significant physical and intellectual disabilities.
• MassHousing's Tenant Assistance Program (TAP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2019 to provide free cultural programs in community housing locations managed by MassHousing.
• Nurtury Early EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSite partner for Expanding Horizons Through Music (EHTM) program at locations in Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, and Cambridge. Multiple classrooms receive weekly music instruction.
• New England Conservatory of MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents from NEC participate in EHTM program, providing interactive performance programs for preschool students at partner sites.
• Cultural Equity Learning Community (CELC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFLMA staff members completed a 16-week training in anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion from CELC in 2020.
• Americans for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts advocacy organization providing resources and advocacy support for arts education.
• VSA (Kennedy Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership launched in 2010 to develop Together We Can Fly healing arts residency uniting hospital school students with local public school students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center Education: Established arts education division of Lincoln Center providing performances, residencies, and professional development to NYC schools. Comparable mission of school-based arts instruction but at much larger scale and broader portfolio scope.
• Young Audiences, Inc. National parent affiliate network of which AFLMA is a member. Operates the same arts-in-education model across affiliates, sharing brand, advocacy, and program development infrastructure — directly comparable mission and constituency.
• Carnegie Hall - Weill Music Institute: National music education arm of Carnegie Hall delivering school programs, teacher PD, and concerts. Comparable in professional development offerings and arts learning curriculum design for K-12 schools.

Emerging players

• VSA / Kennedy Center: National program focused on arts and disability programming, of which AFLMA is an International Network Site. Comparable in serving children with disabilities through arts but operates at national rather than regional scale.

Direct peers

• Berklee City Music Network: Berlee-affiliated network providing music education to underserved youth through partner sites. Comparable in mission (arts access for underserved youth) and in drawing on Berklee talent — AFLMA's roster also includes Berklee-affiliated artists.
• New England Conservatory Preparatory School: Pre-college music school in Boston serving youth with instruction from NEC faculty — overlaps with AFLMA's music education offerings and shares the same Boston-area talent pool (NEC musicians also teach in AFLMA's EHTM program).
• Community Music Center of Boston: Boston-based nonprofit providing music instruction and performance opportunities to youth, including those in underserved communities. Comparable nonprofit arts education model with similar equity-focused mission in the same geography.
• Young Audiences of New York: Sister Young Audiences affiliate delivering school-based arts performances, residencies, and workshops. Operates the same affiliate model as AFLMA, making it the closest comparable in programming structure and customer base.

Regional players

• Celebrity Series of Boston: Boston performing arts presenter with education and community engagement programs that bring performing artists into schools. Comparable in bringing professional performing arts experiences to Massachusetts school audiences.
• Boston Symphony Orchestra Education Programs: BSO's education and community engagement programs serve Massachusetts schools with concerts, youth ensembles, and teacher PD. Comparable in delivering music learning experiences to Massachusetts K-12 students, though anchored in orchestral repertoire.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/artsforlearningma
• Instagraminstagram.com/artsforlearningma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/young-audiences-of-massachusetts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Arts for Learning Massachusetts