Arts on the Horizon

What Arts on the Horizon does

Arts on the Horizon is a professional non-profit theatre company based in Alexandria, Virginia that specializes in Theatre for the Very Young (TVY), producing original, nonverbal performances designed for children ages 0-6 and their families. Founded by Michelle Kozlak around 2011 (with education classes dating to 2010 and the inaugural production Drumming with Dishes premiering in May 2011), the company has built a catalog of 27 world premiere productions that incorporate vibrant imagery, music, sound effects, movement, puppetry, and tactile interaction, designed around early childhood developmental milestones. Productions are presented across a network of regional venues including The Lab at Convergence in Alexandria, Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington DC, Theatre on the Run in Arlington, 1st Stage in Tysons Corner, The Lyceum in Alexandria, and The National Theatre in Washington DC, supplemented by a summer local touring program. Beyond staged productions, the company runs afterschool programming, summer camps, storytimes, and workshops through partnerships with schools and community organizations across the DC metro area, plus an Emerging Artist Program launched in fall 2018 to develop TVY practitioners.

The business model is that of a small arts non-profit: revenue is generated through a mix of ticket sales, fees for educational programming, donations, and institutional sponsorship. Primary funding for the 2023-2024 season came from City of Alexandria, Dimick Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and Virginia Commission for the Arts, with additional support from smaller foundations and corporate sponsors. Pricing for individual programs is not publicly disclosed, and the company's positioning emphasizes accessibility and affordability for families; fundraising events such as the Virtual Baby Rave have suggested donations of $5 per child. The team is small, consisting of two core staff (Founder Michelle Kozlak and Director of Education Laura Loy) plus a teaching artist faculty, supported by a board of directors.

In December 2025 the organization announced that, after almost 15 years of programming, Arts on the Horizon will cease operations on December 31, 2025. The closure reframes the entire enterprise as a wind-down rather than an ongoing operating business; no successor entity, merger, or transition plan is identified in the available data.

Name

Arts on the Horizon

Legal name

Arts on the Horizon

Website

https://artsonthehorizon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arts on the Horizon is an Alexandria, Virginia-based non-profit theatre company that creates original nonverbal, sensory-rich theatrical productions and education programs for children ages 0-6 and their families across the DC metro area, funded primarily through institutional grants and individual donations. The organization is winding down with a December 31, 2025 closure date.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Theatre / Performing Arts

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infant & Toddler Developmental Enrichment (Sensory, Motor, Language) (EDACAGAK), Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Creative Arts, Music & Movement Content (EDAGACAG)

Keywords

• Children's theatre productions
• Arts education programs
• Nonprofit performing arts
• Theatre for young audiences
• Early childhood arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Alexandria

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. Sponsorships and Donations: The organization is a non-profit theatre company that relies on sponsorships and donations from organizations including City of Alexandria, Dimick Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and corporate sponsors.
2. Performance Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales to theatrical performances and productions for families.
3. Education Programs: Fees from afterschool programming, summer camps, storytimes, and workshops for young people.
4. Fundraising Events: Virtual Baby Rave fundraiser and other community events with suggested donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arts on the Horizon creates and performs world premiere nonverbal, sensory-rich theatrical productions for children ages 0-6 and their families, and runs accompanying arts education programs (afterschool classes, summer camps, storytimes, workshops). Productions incorporate vibrant imagery, music, movement, puppetry, and tactile moments where children interact with objects from the performance, designed around early childhood developmental milestones.

Product overview

Arts on the Horizon is a professional non-profit theatre company offering a portfolio of world premiere productions and arts education programs for children ages 0-6 and their families. The core offerings include nonverbal theatre productions featuring music, movement, puppetry, and tactile elements, supplemented by education programs (afterschool, camps, workshops), an Emerging Artist Program for developing theatre professionals, and community events. All programming emphasizes sensory-rich experiences, developmental milestones, cooperation, and accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Productions World premiere nonverbal, sensory-rich theatrical productions for children ages 0-6 and their families, featuring music, movement, puppetry, and tactile elements where children interact with performance objects.
• Education Programs Afterschool programming, summer camps, storytimes, and workshops that enhance language development, socialization, and fine/gross motor skills through creative drama exercises for young children.
• Emerging Artist Program Residency program that develops emerging artists, directors, creators, designers, and actors in Theatre for the Very Young, providing professional experience on an Arts on the Horizon production each season.
• Community Events Special events such as workshops, performances, yoga classes, and virtual baby raves, frequently presented in partnership with organizations like the Kennedy Center and often free to the community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27 world premiere productions created over 15 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kennedy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented workshops and performances in partnership with the Kennedy Center. David Kilpatrick serves as Director of Education Programs and Productions at the Kennedy Center. The Kennedy Center presented Sound Health Second Saturday Series with Arts on the Horizon.
• UpCycle Creative Reuse CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresented workshops and performances in partnership with UpCycle Creative Reuse Center. Susan Miranda, Co-Founder of UpCycle, consulted on Nutt and Bolt as an UpCycle Consultant for set/props design.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights1 record

Direct peers

• New Victory Theater: New York's home for Theatre for Young Audiences, presenting work for ages 0-18 including a dedicated early childhood program (New Victory Dance, etc.). Comparable in TYA/TVY mission and family audience focus.
• Really Inventive Stuff: UK-origin Theatre for the Very Young company creating interactive sensory productions for ages 0-6. Closest international peer operating in the same TVY niche as Arts on the Horizon.
• Imagination Stage: Bethesda, MD-based professional children's theatre offering productions and education programs for young audiences, including early childhood programming. Most directly comparable DC-area peer with overlapping mission and audience.
• Trusty Sidekick Theater Company: NYC-based company specializing in Theatre for the Very Young (ages 0-6) and family programming, producing original devised work. Closest US peer in the niche Arts on the Horizon occupies.
• Adventure Theatre MTC: Maryland-based professional children's theatre (Glen Echo Park) producing original musicals and productions for young audiences, with educational programming. Comparable in scale and DC-region focus to Arts on the Horizon.
• Pollyanna Theatre Company: Austin, TX-based professional children's theatre producing original devised works and school touring for young audiences. Comparable in mission, scale, and original-work emphasis to Arts on the Horizon.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Theatre Company: Minneapolis-based, nationally regarded professional children's theatre producing original productions for young audiences across age ranges. A scaled incumbent with overlapping TYA mission and educational programming.
• The Kennedy Center: National performing arts center that programs, commissions, and tours work for young audiences, including TVY-adjacent programming. A large incumbent that Arts on the Horizon partnered with and whose alumni founded AOTH.
• Atlantic Theater Company: Off-Broadway company with a dedicated children's theater program (Atlantic for Kids) producing original early-childhood productions. Comparable in offering TYA programming as part of a broader theatre operation.

Others

• TYA/USA: National service organization for Theatre for Young Audiences, which selected Arts on the Horizon for the One Theatre World festival and awarded the founder a fellowship. An enabling ecosystem organization rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arts-on-the-horizon

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 on the Horizon