Arts in Motion Studio

What Arts in Motion Studio does

Arts in Motion Studio WM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that delivers adaptive instruction in creative arts for children and adults with disabilities. The studio operates from a single location at 147 Diamond SE and offers programs in dance, visual arts, music, yoga, and drama, plus the Living Light Dance Company (founded 1989), which is a performing ensemble that presents throughout Kent County and statewide. Program delivery includes in-person classes, virtual classes, performances at community venues such as Wealthy Theatre and Trinity United Methodist Church, and an e-commerce shop selling digital prints and greeting cards featuring student artwork.

The organization is supported by approximately 25 community and institutional partners, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Steelcase Foundation, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Meijer, and Mary Free Bed. It is led by Executive Director Lisa Glover with a small team of 6 employees and a volunteer board; Board Treasurer Toby Cook is a CPA at Plante Moran. The studio runs three primary annual fundraising events — Chair Affair (a student art exhibit and chair auction), Dance On (a marathon dancing event at Indian Trails Camp), and a holiday Nutcracker performance — alongside an inaugural golf outing launched in 2025.

Revenue derives from four streams: tuition and class fees (with a Katura Ann Mulliner Tuition Assistance Fund available), donations and foundation grants, e-commerce shop sales (cards at $10, small prints at $20, large prints at $40), and fundraising event proceeds. Pricing for community-facing offerings such as Yoga For All is set at $10 per session. In 2025, Chair Affair raised $40,000 and Dance On raised a record $10,000. The studio has no parent company, no institutional investors, and operates independently as a registered charitable entity (EIN profile on Guidestar).

Name

Arts in Motion Studio

Legal name

Arts in Motion Studio WM

Website

https://artsinmotionstudio.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arts in Motion Studio is a Grand Rapids, Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 2011, that provides adaptive instruction in dance, visual arts, music, yoga, and drama for children and adults with disabilities, supplemented by a performing ensemble, e-commerce art shop, and community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Arts Education and Disability Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (711120), Dance Companies (71112), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA), Visual Arts & Media Arts Programs (Art Club, Photography, Film) (EDAJAJAF), Performing Arts & Music Lessons (Dance, Drumming, Instrument Lessons, Theater) (THAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Adaptive arts education
• Expressive arts programs
• Disability arts instruction
• Community dance studio
• Nonprofit arts classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Class Fees: Fees for studio classes and programs including dance, art, music, yoga. Tuition assistance program available through Katura Ann Mulliner Tuition Assistance Fund.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants.
3. Shop Sales: E-commerce sales of digital prints and greeting cards featuring artwork created by studio artists with disabilities.
4. Fundraising Events: Annual events including Chair Affair, Dance On marathon dancing event, golf outings, and holiday show performances.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Arts in Motion Studio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers adaptive instruction in the creative arts — dance, visual art, music, yoga, and drama — to kids and adults with disabilities in Grand Rapids and the broader West Michigan region. Programming is delivered in-person at its Grand Rapids studio and virtually, and is supplemented by the Living Light Dance Company performance ensemble and an online shop selling digital prints and greeting cards created by studio artists.

Product overview

Arts in Motion Studio WM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization offering adaptive instruction in expressive arts for individuals with disabilities. The core offerings include Studio Classes (dance, art, yoga, music, drama, and singing), the Living Light Dance Company (a performing ensemble founded in 1989), and special programs like Yoga For All, Photography Mini Series, and Toddler and Kids Classes. The studio operates several annual fundraising events including Dance On (marathon dancing event), Chair Affair (art exhibit and chair auction), and a Holiday Show featuring performances of The Nutcracker. Revenue-generating programs include an e-commerce Shop selling digital prints and greeting cards featuring artwork created by studio artists, with prices ranging from $10 for card sets to $20-$40 for prints.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Living Light Dance Company: A special group of children and adults who perform dance, founded in 1989. The company provides a valuable means of self-expression through dance and movement for individuals with disabilities.

Products and services

• Studio Classes Adaptive instruction in dance, visual art, music, yoga, and drama delivered at the Grand Rapids studio and virtually for kids and adults with disabilities.
• Living Light Dance Company Performing dance ensemble of children and adults with disabilities presenting dance and movement performances throughout Kent County and at festivals statewide.
• Dance On Annual marathon dancing fundraiser held at Indian Trails Camp with dancing, pizza lunch, and celebration of the nonprofit's anniversary year.
• Chair Affair Annual fundraising event featuring student performances, a student art exhibit of over 100 pieces for sale, catered food, and a live auction of unique chairs created by local artists.
• Shop - Digital Art Prints Digital prints in small (8x10, $20) and large (11x14, $40) sizes featuring paintings created by studio artists, covering subjects such as animals, ballerinas, and nature scenes.
• Shop - Greeting Cards Greeting card sets featuring four different paintings by studio artists, sold at $10 per set across themed collections including Thank You, Thank You Rainbow, Cow, Roosters, Flowers In Vases, and Candle.
• Yoga For All Monthly beginner-level yoga class for students and community members at $10 per session, with proceeds supporting accessible art programs.
• Photography Mini Series Photography program in which students learn to take and edit photos using Procreate on iPads, with favorite photos displayed at the end of the session.
• Toddler and Kids Classes Weekly toddler and kids classes hosted at Tia's Play Cafe in partnership with a neighborhood organization, launched July 2025.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Down Syndrome Association of West MichigancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Step Up events and community advocacy for individuals with disabilities
• Artists Creating TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant partnership providing classroom set of iPads for photography programming
• Grand Rapids JayceesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for photography mini series programming
• Ikus Indian TrailscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for annual Dance On event at their gymnasium facility
• Mary Free BedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner collaboration for disability services community
• MeijerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community initiatives
• Lowell ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts organization collaboration
• Uptown GRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood organization collaboration for events like Shop Hop
• Tia's Play CafeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for weekly toddler and kids classes in the neighborhood
• Wealthy TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance venue for annual show and dance performances
• Trinity United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Holiday Show and Nutcracker performance
• Monroe Community ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Chair Affair annual fundraising event
• The HermitageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue host for Art Prize kick-off party
• Congress ElementaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity garden partnership for student outdoor activities
• Speciation AlesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for community events including Porch Pot Workshop and Paint & Sip
• Provisions ChefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCatering partner for Chair Affair fundraising event
• The Mines Golf CourseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for inaugural golf outing fundraiser with 20 teams

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• National Arts and Disability Center (UCLA): UCLA-affiliated center promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in the arts through training, research, and program development; thematically adjacent to Arts in Motion's mission and helpful as a sector connector.

Direct peers

• AXIS Dance Company: Oakland-based professional dance company creating original work with disabled and non-disabled artists; directly comparable as an adaptive/integrated dance organization producing performances and education programming for people with disabilities.
• DanceAbility International: Organization founded by Alito Alessi that teaches Contact Improvisation and dance to mixed-ability groups worldwide; directly comparable methodology and mission to Arts in Motion's adaptive dance instruction.
• PUSH Physical Theatre: Rochester-based inclusive physical theatre company that creates performances integrating deaf, disabled, and non-disabled artists; directly comparable adaptive performing arts organization producing shows for community audiences.
• Kinetic Light: Disability arts ensemble creating integrated dance and technology-based performances with disabled and non-disabled artists; directly comparable as an adaptive dance and performance organization.
• Heidi Latsky Dance: New York-based company that develops work with performers of all abilities including disabled artists; directly comparable inclusive/adaptive dance performance and education programming.

Broad incumbents

• VSA (Kennedy Center): The Kennedy Center's international program on arts and disability providing education, performances, and professional development for people with disabilities; broader incumbent in the same disability-arts space.
• National Dance Institute (NDI): Founded by Jacques d'Amboise, NDI teaches dance to children regardless of ability, background, or special needs through in-school and community programs; comparable as a large-scale community dance education nonprofit with adaptive/special needs programming.
• Mark Morris Dance Group — Dance for PD: Internationally recognized dance organization operating Dance for PD, a research-backed dance program for people with Parkinson's and other disabilities; broadly comparable adaptive dance education model.
• Boston Ballet — Adaptive Dance: Major professional ballet company operating an Adaptive Dance program for individuals with Down syndrome, autism, and other disabilities; broadly comparable adaptive dance education offering inside a larger institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/artsinmotionstudio
• Instagraminstagram.com/artsinmotionwm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arts-in-motion-studio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 in Motion Studio