Art Shield
Art Shield is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that identifies, showcases, and grows artists from crisis areas — primarily Ukrainian — through curated exhibitions in London, New York, and Hamburg, art sales, donations, and partnerships supporting art therapy and arts education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Art Shield does
Art Shield is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization structured around a tri-phased model of identifying artists in crisis areas, showcasing them through curated exhibitions and events, and growing their communities through education and therapeutic programming. The organization was founded to protect and nurture artists threatened by censorship, oppression, or war, with current emphasis on Ukrainian artists and a stated geographic reach spanning Ukraine, Europe (UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, Netherlands, Moldova), Africa (Nigeria, Egypt), North America (Cuba, USA), the Middle East (Iran), and Asia (Myanmar, China, Thailand). It operates offices in New York (20 W 34th St.) and Hamburg (Poolstr. 34) and is led by founder Edward Akrout.
The organization's core offerings are physical exhibitions and impact programs rather than technology products. Exhibitions include Echoes & Visions at Old Sessions House in London (June–October 2024), SOC.I.A London, Dubovik London (featuring the 92-year-old Oleksandr Dubovik), and the Feldman Sisters solo show; the 'Intermission' documentary extends the platform into film. Impact programs include an art therapy center in Kyiv with Eleos-Ukraine, MBA scholarships in Arts Innovation through Orchestra of the Americas, and financial support for the National Arts Museum of Ukraine (NAMU). The technology footprint is minimal — the organization operates a Framer-hosted website (artshield.org), Instagram, and LinkedIn as marketing surfaces, with no proprietary platform, APIs, or AI/ML components.
Revenue is generated through two streams: art sales at exhibitions, where proceeds are split 50/50 between artists and Art Shield, and donations collected via the Network for Good platform. Approximately 25% of revenue is allocated to community-growing initiatives. Distribution is event-driven, anchored on a single prestige venue in London (Old Sessions House) and recurring exhibitions in New York and Hamburg; the team of 6 employees is supplemented by a network of trusted partners (Eleos-Ukraine, Orchestra of the Americas, Kind Deeds, Theoagroup, Satila Studios, Ukrainian Institute, New Dream). No venture capital, private equity, or institutional funding rounds have been disclosed.
Art Shield firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Art Shield
- Legal name
- Art Shield 501(c)(3)
- Website
- https://artshield.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Art Shield is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that identifies, showcases, and grows artists from crisis areas — primarily Ukrainian — through curated exhibitions in London, New York, and Hamburg, art sales, donations, and partnerships supporting art therapy and arts education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Art Shield industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts and Culture Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (45992), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Art Shield is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Art Shield business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Art Sales: Art Shield sells artwork, design, and artifacts through exhibitions and events. Revenue is split 50% to artists and 50% to Art Shield for operations.
- Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Art Shield accepts donations through Network for Good platform to fund operations, community growing initiatives (25% of revenue), and artist support programs.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Art Shield product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Art Shield is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that identifies emerging artists in crisis regions (primarily Ukraine), showcases them through immersive curated exhibitions and documentary productions, and grows their communities via art therapy programs, educational scholarships, and a 50/50 art sales revenue share. The organization curates physical exhibitions at venues such as Old Sessions House in London and operates event-driven sales of artworks to collectors and donors worldwide.
Product overview
Art Shield is a nonprofit organization operating as a single unified offering centered on a tri-phased approach: identifying emerging talent from crisis areas, growing artists and their communities educationally and commercially, and showcasing their work through immersive events. The organization's product portfolio includes curated exhibitions (Echoes & Visions, SOCI.A LDN, Dubovik London, Sestry Feldman exhibitions), documentary film production (Intermission), artist development programs (MBA in Business of Art partnership), and community impact initiatives (Art Therapy Center Development, Community Growing Program). Revenue is generated through art sales at exhibitions with a 50/50 split between artists and Art Shield.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Echoes & Visions Exhibition Immersive art exhibition at Old Sessions House in London (June-October 2024) showcasing works from 20+ Ukrainian artists representing diverse styles from primitive art to contemporary street art, with art sales split 50/50 between artists and Art Shield.
- SOC.I.A London Exhibition Exhibition event in London featuring the SOC.I.A artist duo (Igor and Arthur Spaskyi), showcasing contemporary work combining spray culture, brush technique, photography, staging, and musical-performative video art.
- Dubovik London Exhibition Exhibition in London featuring Oleksandr Dubovik, a 92-year-old Ukrainian artist and theorist renowned for his paintings, graphic art, and monumental-decorative works, representing Ukraine's artistic legacy.
- Sestry Feldman Exhibition Solo exhibition in London featuring Mishel and Nicol Feldman (the Feldman Sisters), known for illustrations, cartoons, street art, and animations supporting social movements and political issues including war-related storytelling.
- Intermission Documentary Documentary film production by Art Shield raising awareness about artists' experiences during conflict, part of the organization's mission to showcase talent and stories through film.
- Art Therapy Center Development Impact initiative to establish an art therapy centre in Kyiv in partnership with Eleos-Ukraine, supporting individuals suffering from PTSD and trauma including veterans and children.
- MBA in Business of Art Education partnership with Orchestra of the Americas offering two MBA scholarships in Arts Innovation focusing on social entrepreneurship, cultural management, sustainable impact, and community development for a global cohort of 60 creative sector professionals.
- Community Growing Program Community development initiative including redistribution projects in local areas, financing art centers, art therapy programs, and helping artists and creators globally, supported by 25% of organizational revenue.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% of art sales revenue goes directly to artists
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Art Shield
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Art Shield technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Art Shield partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Eleos-UkrainecorePartnership to establish an art therapy centre in Kyiv supporting individuals with PTSD and trauma, including veterans and children. Eleos-Ukraine provides expertise in mental health support while Art Shield contributes funding and artist involvement.
- Orchestra of the AmericascoreCollaboration to offer two MBA scholarships in Arts Innovation as part of a 12-month MBA program for 60 creative sector professionals. Focus areas include social entrepreneurship, cultural management, sustainable impact, and community development.
- National Arts Museum of Ukraine (NAMU)coreFinancial aid for critical repairs to the museum damaged during the war. Support includes funding redirected towards restoration of Ukrainian heritage and preservation efforts.
- Kind DeedsminorListed as a trusted partner, specific collaboration details not publicly disclosed.
- TheoagroupminorListed as a trusted partner, specific collaboration details not publicly disclosed.
- Satila StudiosminorListed as a trusted partner, specific collaboration details not publicly disclosed.
- Ukrainian InstituteminorListed as a trusted partner, specific collaboration details not publicly disclosed.
- New DreamminorListed as a trusted partner, specific collaboration details not publicly disclosed.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Art Shield competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Asian Cultural Council: New York–based nonprofit supporting cultural exchange and individual artists across Asia. Comparable as an artist-support nonprofit with international fellowship programs and global footprint, though focused on Asian cultural exchange rather than crisis regions specifically.
- New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Large New York arts-support nonprofit offering grants, residencies, and emergency support to artists. Comparable as an artist-services nonprofit operating in the same NYC donor market, but with a much broader mandate and program portfolio.
Emerging players
- A Blade of Grass: Nonprofit funding socially engaged art. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit pairing art programming with social impact outcomes (e.g., Art Shield's PTSD therapy), although the artist pool and focus areas differ.
Direct peers
- Independent Curators International (ICI): Nonprofit that produces traveling exhibitions and curatorial programming globally. Comparable as a curator-driven nonprofit producing international exhibitions of contemporary art for institutional audiences.
- Creative Capital: New York nonprofit providing grants and advisory support to innovative artists. Comparable as a nonprofit that identifies emerging talent and funds their development, although Creative Capital does not focus specifically on crisis-region artists.
- Artists at Risk: International nonprofit network dedicated to protecting and relocating persecuted artists worldwide. Most direct comparator to Art Shield: same artist-from-crisis mission, similar relocation/visibility programming, and overlapping institutional partner base.
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts: Nonprofit that makes grants to artists for innovative work. Comparable as a small, artist-direct nonprofit funding model, though Arts-focused rather than crisis-focused.
- The Ukrainian Museum: New York–based nonprofit museum preserving and exhibiting Ukrainian art and culture. Closely comparable as a Ukrainian-arts cultural institution with exhibitions, collection stewardship, and donor-supported operations in the same U.S. market.
- Triangle Arts Association: International nonprofit supporting artist residencies and exchange. Comparable as a small nonprofit focused on cross-border artist development and exhibition programming, though without the crisis-area specialization.
Others
- PEN America: Freedom-of-expression advocacy organization that defends writers and artists under threat. Comparable as a nonprofit defending creative professionals persecuted in crisis regions, but focused on literary rather than visual artists.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Art Shield social profiles
Digital presenceArt Shield financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Art Shield leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Art Shield funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Art Shield 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 Art Shield
What does Art Shield do?
Art Shield is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that identifies emerging artists in crisis regions (primarily Ukraine), showcases them through immersive curated exhibitions and documentary productions, and grows their communities via art therapy programs, educational scholarships, and a 50/50 art sales revenue share. The organization curates physical exhibitions at venues such as Old Sessions House in London and operates event-driven sales of artworks to collectors and donors worldwide.
Is Art Shield a public or private company?
Art Shield is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Art Shield founded?
Art Shield was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Art Shield based?
Art Shield is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Art Shield make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Art Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are Art Shield's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Asian Cultural Council and New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). A Blade of Grass is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Independent Curators International (ICI), Creative Capital, Artists at Risk, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, The Ukrainian Museum and Triangle Arts Association. PEN America is listed as an others.
Does Art Shield have an API?
No public API is recorded for Art Shield.
What industry is Art Shield in?
Art Shield's product category is Arts and Culture Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit), with a secondary code of BPAGAHAB, Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music). Its NAICS code is 45992.