Arts-Matter

What Arts-Matter does

Arts-Matter is a Sydney-based cultural platform founded in 2020 by Susan Armstrong and Michelle Grey that operates at the intersection of membership community, creative studio, and arts publishing. The company curates a tiered membership program (Individual and Creative Circle at $750/year, Gallery and Corporate at $2,000/year, excluding GST) that grants access to monthly cultural events, artist studio visits, and exclusive Member Perks from fashion, wellness, and hospitality brands. In parallel, Arts-Matter Studio functions as a creative consultancy producing public art installations, curations, and cultural activations for enterprise clients including Lendlease International Towers, Ace Hotel, Shell House, JP Morgan, R.M. Williams, and Mont Blanc.

The company extends its cultural agenda through A-M Journal, a print and digital publication curating global contributors across Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, Fashion, Music, and Literature, and through the Artists x Artists book published with Thames & Hudson. Distribution is direct via the company website for memberships, through an in-house A-M Journal store, and via direct B2B sales for commercial projects. Marketing relies on earned media coverage in Vogue, Elle, InStyle, Concrete Playground, and Broadsheet, supported by an Instagram presence and monthly EDM programming announcements. A network of Creative Partners spans cultural institutions (Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra, NGV Triennial, Sydney Biennale, Sydney Contemporary), luxury brands (Hermes, Sisley Paris, Perrier Jouet), and cultural media (The Australian, NBC Universal, Russh).

Revenue is generated across four streams: recurring membership subscriptions, project-based commercial creative services, retail sales of A-M Journal and the Artists x Artists book, and Member Perks brand partnerships. The platform operates with seven employees from Sydney, hosts events primarily within Australia, and reaches an international audience through A-M Journal's global contributor base. Technology infrastructure is not disclosed beyond standard website and e-commerce operations, and there is no indication of proprietary AI/ML capabilities underlying the offering.

Name

Arts-Matter

Legal name

Arts-Matter

Website

https://arts-matter.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arts-Matter is a Sydney-based cultural platform combining a tiered membership community, a creative studio for commercial art installations, and A-M Journal arts publishing, serving culturally curious individuals, artists, galleries, and corporate clients in Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Membership and Creative Consulting

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Arts, Culture & Literary Magazines (MPAJAEAN), Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Cultural membership platform
• Creative consultancy services
• Arts programming events
• Public art curation
• Arts and culture publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Arts-Matter generates revenue primarily through annual membership subscriptions across four tiers: Individual ($750/year), Creative Circle ($750/year), Gallery ($2,000/year), and Corporate ($2,000/year). All prices exclude GST. Membership provides access to cultural events, exclusive deals from partner brands, and networking opportunities within the creative community.
2. Commercial Creative Projects: Arts-Matter acts as a creative studio and art consultancy developing and producing creative projects, public art, and installations for brands and organisations. Revenue is generated through end-to-end project services including conceptualizing and producing cultural experiences, art installations, and acquisitions for commercial clients.
3. Publishing (A-M Journal): Arts-Matter publishes A-M Journal, a print publication and digital platform curating global storytellers in Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, Fashion, Music, and Literature. Revenue is generated through magazine sales via the A-M Journal store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arts-Matter is a cultural membership platform and creative studio that curates intimate cultural events, programming, and public art installations across Sydney spanning art, music, fashion, film, theatre, dance, and literature. It sells tiered annual memberships (Individual, Creative Circle, Gallery, Corporate) and operates a B2B creative consultancy that develops and produces commercial cultural projects, public art, and art installations for brands and organisations. The company also publishes A-M Journal, a print and digital arts publication.

Product overview

Arts-Matter is a multi-faceted cultural platform combining a tiered membership program, a creative studio and art consultancy, and a publishing arm. The core offerings include: (1) Membership Program with Individual, Creative Circle, Gallery, and Corporate tiers providing access to cultural events and Member Perks; (2) Arts-Matter Studio delivering commercial creative projects, public art, and installations for brands; (3) A-M Journal as a print and digital arts publication; (4) Cultural Programming featuring curated events and artist commissions; and (5) Creative Partners network facilitating collaborations across galleries, institutions, hotels, and media. These components work together as an integrated cultural ecosystem supporting both community engagement and commercial creative services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Tiered annual cultural membership program offering Individual, Creative Circle, Gallery, and Corporate tiers with access to monthly cultural events (talks, performances, dinners, studio visits, gallery tours), exclusive deals from Member Perks partner brands, and networking with artists and the creative community.
• Arts-Matter Studio (Commercial Creative Projects) End-to-end creative studio and art consultancy that develops and produces cultural projects, public art, and installations for brands and organisations seeking meaningful cultural engagement, spanning concept, curation, production, and installation across hospitality, real estate, luxury, and financial services clients.
• A-M Journal A print publication and digital platform curating a global collection of storytellers with original content across Art, Architecture & Design, Dance, Fashion, Music, and Literature, sold through the A-M Journal store as an extension of the Arts-Matter cultural agenda.
• Cultural Programming (Curated Events) Curated monthly cultural programming for Arts-Matter members and the broader community, including talks, conversations, screenings, performances, dinners, studio visits, private gallery and museum tours, pop-up art exhibitions and stores, and artist commissions across Sydney.
• Artists x Artists (book) Print book published by Thames & Hudson, written by the Arts-Matter co-founders, in which fifty Australian artists are thoughtfully paired to capture each other in portraiture, offering insights into their artistic processes and personal connections through imagery and candid conversations.
• Member Perks Exclusive deals and discounts from aspirational retail, fashion, lifestyle, wellness, and hospitality brands available to Arts-Matter members, complementing the membership program with brand-side benefits.

Named customers18 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Art Gallery of NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cultural institution partner. Arts-Matter brings together artists for installations and events, including facilitating conversations between artists ahead of AGNSW installations.
• Soho HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal hospitality brand. Hosted events including Phoebe Go performance at Soho House locations.
• Vivid SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor annual creative industries festival in Sydney. Collaborated with The Ace Hotel on VIVID x The Ace Hotel project.
• Sydney Dance CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading dance company. Facilitated conversations between fashion designers and artistic directors, including costume design collaborations.
• The Ace HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoutique hotel brand. Multiple collaborations including VIVID Sydney activation.
• Bangarra Dance TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance company.
• Sydney BiennalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor contemporary art event. Arts-Matter is an active force in both emerging and established artists and creative trends.
• Sydney ContemporarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor art fair in Australia. Hosted Artists x Artists Exhibition at Sydney Contemporary and featured in recognition by Sydney Contemporary.
• The Other Art FairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmerging artists art fair.
• The AustraliancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Australian newspaper. Featured co-founders in Top 100 People list and The List: 100 Arts & Culture.
• NBC UniversalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal media and entertainment company.
• HermesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury fashion house partner.
• Dinosaur DesignsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian design brand. Featured in Member Perks program and Creative Partners.
• R.M. WilliamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian luxury brand. Hosted Orson Heidrich as Artist in Residence.
• Sisley ParisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLuxury cosmetics brand. Featured in Member Perks program.
• Mont BlancminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury goods brand. Chadstone, Melbourne Store Curation project.
• Perrier JouetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench champagne house. Hosted Painting Party event.
• Sullivan & StrumpfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Australian art gallery representing Tony Albert among others.
• Olsen GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian art gallery.
• Station GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian art gallery.
• Ames Yavuz GalleryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian contemporary art gallery.
• The NGV TriennialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor exhibition at National Gallery of Victoria.
• LendleasecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor property developer. Multiple projects at International Towers including Troy Emery x Colourblind Florist, Digital Art Totems, Anna Wili-Highfield installation, Olympics & Paralympics activation.
• Hotel HarryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney boutique hotel. Rosie Deacon Installation project.
• Shell HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSydney hospitality venue. Multiple projects including Funskull, Lauren Brincatt Installation, and Our House.
• Intercontinental Double BayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury hotel. Preliminary Public Art Plan project.
• Concrete PlaygroundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian digital publication covering arts, culture, and lifestyle.
• BroadsheetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian media company covering arts and culture.
• RusshminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAustralian fashion and culture magazine.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Artsy: Leading online art marketplace and editorial platform serving collectors, galleries, and artists. Arts-Matter operates at a smaller, more curated scale in the same art-world ecosystem, with Artsy providing the broader digital infrastructure Arts-Matter does not.
• The Art Newspaper: Established global publication covering the art world, museums, auctions, and cultural policy. Comparable as a publishing peer to A-M Journal but at significantly larger scale and with a news-led rather than storytelling-led editorial approach.

Emerging players

• Cultured Magazine: Contemporary art and culture magazine featuring artist profiles, gallery coverage, and collector-focused editorial. Closely parallels A-M Journal's positioning as a curated publication bridging art, design, and lifestyle.
• Galerie Magazine: Art and design magazine targeting collectors and design professionals. Comparable to A-M Journal in its editorial focus on visual arts, design, and high-end cultural content distributed to a curated readership.
• Apollo Magazine: Long-running arts and culture publication covering visual arts, architecture, and collecting. Directly comparable to A-M Journal as a curated arts/culture magazine targeting culturally engaged readers and collectors.
• Whitehot Magazine: Contemporary art magazine with strong gallery and artist coverage. Comparable to A-M Journal as a smaller-scale publication focused on contemporary visual artists and the gallery ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Soho House: Global membership-based hospitality and cultural club. Arts-Matter already partners with Soho House on events and shares the same thesis of monetizing access to cultural experiences through annual memberships targeting culturally curious professionals.
• The Wing: Membership-based community and cultural club for women (historically). Closely comparable in business model — annual memberships funding curated events, networking, and cultural programming for a defined community — though The Wing's geographic and demographic focus differs.
• NeueHouse: Members-only creative workspace and cultural platform. Arts-Matter co-founder Michelle Grey previously led programming at NeueHouse, and the two share the model of combining tiered membership with curated cultural programming for creative professionals.

Others

• Culture Vault: Curated NFT platform for fine art digital collectibles. Arts-Matter co-founder Susan Armstrong serves as its Curator and Creative Director, making it a thematically adjacent — though distinct — cultural curation venture linked by shared personnel.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arts-matter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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-Matter