Beach Museum Of Art

What Beach Museum Of Art does

The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art is a nonprofit university art museum operating on the Kansas State University campus at 701 Beach Lane, Manhattan, Kansas, founded in 1996 and marking its 30th anniversary in 2026. The museum holds a permanent collection of over 13,000 works of art focused on Kansas and the broader regional visual arts, with additional holdings in American prints and drawings; it is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and operates with free admission, free parking, and standard public hours (Tue/Wed/Fri 10–5, Thu 10–8, Sat 11–4). Its technology footprint is modest and operational: a digital collection management system (beach.emuseum.com) providing online public access to the collection, plus digital membership cards integrated with smartphone wallets that auto-update on renewal.

The museum's commercial activity is structured around a philanthropic and membership-driven revenue model rather than ticket sales. Earned revenue streams include a six-tier Friends of the Beach membership program ranging from $50 (Individual) to $2,500 (Director's Circle) with reciprocal museum access via NARM and ROAM, an annual Beach Ball fundraiser, exhibition and program sponsorships from foundations and corporate underwriters (Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, Weary Family Foundation, Commerce Bank, The Trust Company, Eagle Media, WTC, and others), gifts of artwork reviewed by committee, and a biennial Gift Prints program commissioning Kansas artists. Distribution is hybrid: physical walk-in access at the campus location, school and group tours, digital collection access online, and reciprocal admission through partner museum networks. The museum is led by Director Kent Michael Smith and governed within the Kansas State University structure, with all charitable gifts processed through the KSU Foundation.

Name

Beach Museum Of Art

Legal name

Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art

Website

https://beach.k-state.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art is a nonprofit, free-admission university art museum on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, Kansas, serving students, faculty, and the regional community with a 13,000+ work collection focused on Kansas and regional art, funded through memberships, donations, sponsorships, and annual fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Museum

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Art museum
• Visual arts collection
• Art exhibitions
• Arts education
• Museum membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The museum relies on charitable donations from individuals and organizations. Donations support the museum's mission of collecting, studying, caring for, and presenting visual art of Kansas and the region.
2. Membership Fees: Tiered membership program (Friends of the Beach) ranging from $50 Individual to $2,500 Director's Circle, providing voting rights, discounts, reciprocal museum privileges, and exclusive access to events.
3. Beach Ball Fundraiser: Annual fundraising event featuring cocktails, dining, and dancing. Proceeds support the museum's teaching, research, and service missions of Kansas State University.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsors support specific exhibitions and programs. Major Sponsors, Sustaining Sponsors, Contributing Sponsors, and Media Sponsors provide financial support with various recognition levels.
5. Gifts of Artwork: Donations of artwork enhance the museum's collection, reviewed by committee to determine if they meet museum needs. Donors may make additional financial gifts to support long-term care of the collection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Beach Museum of Art is a free-admission art museum operating on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, Kansas. It houses a permanent collection of more than 13,000 works focused on Kansas and regional art, presents rotating exhibitions, and offers educational programs, youth programming, and a multi-tier membership program. The museum is fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is preparing to mark its 30th anniversary (founded 1996).

Product overview

The Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art operates as a traditional university art museum offering in-person exhibitions, educational programs, and membership services. The museum's portfolio includes the annual Beach Ball fundraiser, inSIGHT News Magazine (annual publication and annual report), Friends of the Beach membership program (with digital membership cards), gift prints (limited-edition Kansas artist prints), exhibition publications, and a Gifts of Artwork donation program. Youth educational programs including camps, classes, and storytime are also offered. The collection includes over 13,000 works of art focused on Kansas and the regional art of the American Midwest.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Museum Admission and Exhibitions Free general admission to the museum's permanent collection of more than 13,000 works of Kansas and regional art, plus rotating temporary exhibitions, for individual visitors, families, and the K-State community.
• Friends of the Beach Membership Multi-tier annual membership program offering members benefits such as digital membership cards and reciprocal network access, supporting the museum in exchange for member privileges.
• Youth Programs (Camps, Classes, Storytime) Educational youth programming including camps, classes, and storytime sessions designed for children and families engaging with the museum's collection.
• Beach Ball Fundraiser Event Annual fundraising event supporting the museum's operations and programs, engaging members, donors, and community sponsors.
• inSIGHT News Magazine Museum publication providing news, collection features, and programming updates to members and the broader public.
• Gifts of Artwork Program Program through which donors contribute artwork to the museum's permanent collection, supporting its growth and preservation of Kansas and regional art.
• Gift Prints and Retail Publications Retail offering of gift prints and publications tied to the museum's collection, available to visitors and supporters.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and supporting.

• North America Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousehold-level members receive free admission at over 1,000 partner museums worldwide through NARM reciprocal membership. Provides members with expanded access to museums across North America.
• Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatron-level members ($250/year) receive reciprocal admission privileges at ROAM partner museums internationally.
• Joyce and Joe's Cornerstone CaféminorGTM or Marketing PartnerK-State Hale Library coffee shop offering 10% discount to Individual-level members on Thursdays.
• Rock-A-Belly Bar & DeliminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant in Aggieville offering 20% discount to Household-level members every Thursday.
• SNW Gallery & Custom FramesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt gallery and custom frame shop in Manhattan offering 15% discount on frames to Household-level members.
• KANSAS! MagazinesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing promotional coverage and advertising for museum events and exhibitions.
• Radio KansassupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia sponsor providing radio broadcast coverage and promotional support for museum events.
• Kansas State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent institution providing institutional support, facilities, and integration with academic mission. KSU Foundation manages all gift funds on behalf of the museum.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Snite Museum of Art: University of Notre Dame's academic art museum with free admission, collection holdings, and university-driven programming. Highly comparable operating model and institutional context.
• University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art: University of Iowa's academic art museum operating under a university structure with a defined collection and educational mission. Comparable institutional model and Midwest academic context.
• Smart Museum of Art: University of Chicago's academic art museum with free admission, member programs, and a permanent collection. Comparable as a university-based art museum with similar academic integration and programming depth.
• Spencer Museum of Art: The University of Kansas's academic art museum in Lawrence, Kansas — a near-perfect peer as a regional Big 12 university art museum with a significant collection, educational programming, and free admission. Most directly comparable institution in the same state and academic conference.
• Weisman Art Museum: University of Minnesota's free-admission art museum offering exhibitions, educational programs, and membership tiers. Comparable as a Big Ten university art museum with a defined collection focus and donor-driven revenue model.

Regional players

• Wichita Art Museum: Regional Kansas art museum with permanent collection, exhibitions, and educational programming. Comparable as a Kansas-based regional art museum serving a similar geographic audience.
• Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art: Kansas City-based contemporary art museum offering free admission and educational programming. Comparable in free-admission model and Kansas/Missouri regional positioning.
• Mulvane Art Museum: Washburn University's academic art museum in Topeka, Kansas — a direct Kansas-based university museum peer with a regional collection focus and educational programming.
• Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Major Kansas City art museum with free general admission, large permanent collection, and donor/sponsor-driven funding. Comparable free-admission model and regional Kansas/Missouri footprint, though significantly larger in scale.
• Daum Museum of Contemporary Art: Sedalia, Missouri regional art museum with free admission, permanent collection, and educational programming. Comparable as a small Midwestern free-admission regional museum.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/beachmuseum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/kansasstate
• Facebookfacebook.com/beachmuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beach-museum-of-art

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Beach Museum Of Art