Davis Arts Center

What Davis Arts Center does

Davis Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization (EIN 94-6050371) founded in 1960 in Davis, California, and operating from a single purpose-built facility at 1919 F Street that was inaugurated in 1987 and underwent major renovation in 2024. It serves a multi-generational community through structured classes, week-long summer camps, free community programs, and studio rentals, with programming spanning ceramics (wheel throwing, handbuilding, sculpture), sewing, weaving, mixed media, and painting for children ages 6–12, teens 13–17, adults, and families.

The center operates a diversified four-stream revenue model: paid classes and workshops priced $25–$285 per enrollment, summer camps at $550 per week for ages 6–12, studio and meeting space rentals to local arts groups and individual instructors, and recurring charitable donations and grants supplemented by gift certificate sales and gallery/special-event revenue. Free community programs (Family Open Studio on Fridays, Teen Art Club on Thursdays, Art Café bimonthly) anchor accessibility and function as a funnel into paid offerings. Distribution is exclusively on-site at the Davis facility, with a regional footprint extending into greater Sacramento via pandemic-era at-home arts kits. The organization runs on standard nonprofit infrastructure — NeonCRM for registration and Mailchimp for email — with no proprietary technology systems.

Governance rests on a three-person Board of Directors (Donna Wikstad-Sangwin, Cassie Hilder, Tony Berger) and an Executive Director role currently held by Sam King, appointed July 2024. The organization employs approximately eight staff and supplements instructional capacity through a roster of specialized teaching artists, several with long tenures (e.g., a third-generation Dutch weaver teaching at the center since 1986). Recent strategic activity has centered on expanding programs enabled by the 2024 building renovation, including the fall 2024 launch of the Community Arts Studio, educator professional development workshops, and co-presented cultural exhibits with regional partners such as YoloSol.

Name

Davis Arts Center

Legal name

Davis Arts Center

Website

https://davisartscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Davis Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1960 in Davis, California, providing multi-generational arts education through classes, summer camps, free community programs, and studio rentals in ceramics, painting, sewing, and mixed media.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAC

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAHAD

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

Keywords

• Arts education
• Community arts programs
• Ceramics classes
• Summer arts camp
• Studio space rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Davis, CA

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Class and Workshop Fees: Revenue from paid classes including ceramics, sewing, wheel throwing, sculpture, and various workshops for youth, teens, and adults. Prices range from $25 to $285 depending on class type and duration.
2. Summer Camp Fees: Week-long summer arts camp programs for children ages 6-12, priced at $550 per week, covering ceramics, painting, mixed media, and themed creative activities.
3. Space Rentals: Studio and meeting spaces rented to artists, educators, nonprofits, and community members for classes and events, including groups like Davis Capoeira, Dojo of Davis, Improv Squad, and Linda Bair Dance Company.
4. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit relying on cash donations, in-kind contributions, stock donations, and planned giving. EIN: 94-6050371. Monthly subscribers and one-time donors form core support base.
5. Gift Certificates: Sale of gift certificates for art classes, suitable for both experienced artists and those exploring new mediums.
6. Gallery Exhibits and Special Events: Revenue from gallery exhibits and special events such as the Good Fire, Living Water exhibit featuring local and regional artists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Davis Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization that delivers multi-disciplinary, multi-generational arts programming including ceramics, painting, drawing, sewing, weaving, sculpture, and mixed-media classes, week-long summer arts camps, free community programs, and studio/meeting space rentals at its purpose-built facility in Davis, California. The organization supplements program fees with charitable donations and grants to fund community access.

Product overview

Davis Arts Center is a multi-disciplinary, multi-generational arts education nonprofit (501(c)(3)) that operates as a unified program portfolio organized around classes and camps, free community programming, and facility/event services. The core educational offerings include structured multi-week classes in ceramics (wheel throwing, handbuilding, sculpture), sewing, mixed media, and summer camps for youth ages 6-12. Free community programs provide accessible arts engagement through Art Café, Family Open Studio, and Teen Art Club. The organization supplements its mission through studio rentals, special events, exhibits, and charitable donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classes & Camps Structured arts education programs including ceramics, painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, and sewing for youth, teens, and adults. Classes run in multi-week sessions with various skill levels.
• Wheel Throwing Classes Pottery instruction covering wheel throwing techniques at Level 1 (beginner) and Beyond Level 1 (intermediate/advanced), including terminology and clay work fundamentals.
• Free Community Programs Free community arts programming including Art Café (adults/teens), Family Open Studio (all ages), and Teen Art Club (ages 13-17) held in the Community Art Studio.
• Educator Professional Development Professional development workshops for educators, such as the Elementary Educator Ceramics Workshop teaching hands-on guidance in loading and firing kilns.
• Art Explorers Summer Camp All-day summer arts camp for ages 6-12 offering week-long themed programs including ceramics, paper mache, painting, drawing, and mixed media activities, priced at $550 per week.
• Studio & Space Rentals Rental of studio and meeting spaces to artists, educators, non-profits, and community members for creative and collaborative activities.
• Special Events & Exhibits

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YoloSolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2026Co-presenter of Good Fire, Living Water: The Gifts of a Marsh Economy exhibit running September 20 - November 13, 2026. The exhibit features Wintun/Maidu culture-bearer Diana Almendariz and her daughters Ooti Maxine and Christina Almendariz, highlighting cultural, ecological, and artistic practice of Yolo Bioregion marsh economy.
• City of DavisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2026Partner for Good Fire, Living Water exhibit, contributing to community cultural programming. Logo appears on event materials alongside Davis Arts Center.
• Imagining AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2026Partner organization for Good Fire, Living Water exhibit, supporting the cultural arts programming. Logo appears on event materials.
• Davis CapoeiraminorOthersCommunity organization renting studio space at Davis Arts Center for capoeira instruction. Led by Susie Pike Cayar.
• Dojo of DavisminorOthersMartial arts school renting meeting and studio spaces at Davis Arts Center for classes and training.
• Improv SquadminorOthersImprov theater group from Davis Repertory Theatre renting space at Davis Arts Center for performances and workshops.
• Linda Bair Dance CompanyminorOthersProfessional dance company renting studio space at Davis Arts Center for dance instruction and rehearsals.
• Tina FitnessminorOthersFitness instructor renting studio space at Davis Arts Center for wellness and fitness classes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pence Gallery: A Davis, CA-based nonprofit art gallery and cultural center offering exhibitions, community programs, and arts education. Comparable to Davis Arts Center as a community-rooted, multi-purpose arts nonprofit in the same city with overlapping educational and exhibit programming.
• Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA): An Oakland-based nonprofit children's art museum offering studio art classes, exhibitions, and community programs. Comparable as a youth-focused community arts education nonprofit with classes and gallery components.
• Pacific Art League: A Palo Alto nonprofit community art school offering classes, workshops, and exhibitions across multiple media. Directly comparable to Davis Arts Center in nonprofit structure, fine arts instruction focus, and community programming.
• Sacramento Fine Arts Center: A nonprofit community arts center in Sacramento offering classes, workshops, and exhibitions across multiple media. Directly comparable to Davis Arts Center in mission, structure, and programming mix, just at slightly larger regional scale.
• Verge Center for the Arts: A Sacramento-based nonprofit arts center providing artist studios, exhibitions, and community arts programming. Comparable as a regional community arts nonprofit combining educational, exhibit, and rental space functions.

Regional players

• ArtSpan (San Francisco Open Studios): A San Francisco-based nonprofit supporting local artists through Open Studios events, exhibitions, and community programs. Comparable as a community arts nonprofit supporting arts engagement and artist development in Northern California.
• Charles M. Schulz Museum: A Santa Rosa-based nonprofit art museum with educational programming and exhibitions. Comparable as a Northern California nonprofit cultural institution offering community arts education, but operating in a different metro area.

Broad incumbents

• Crocker Art Museum: The oldest public art museum west of the Mississippi, located in Sacramento. Comparable as a regional Sacramento-area arts institution offering classes, exhibits, and community programming, but at much larger scale and with a permanent collection focus.
• San Jose Museum of Art: A major Bay Area nonprofit art museum with exhibitions, educational programming, and community programs. Comparable as a California nonprofit cultural institution but operating at significantly larger scale than Davis Arts Center.
• The Contemporary Jewish Museum: A San Francisco-based nonprofit museum offering exhibits, arts education, and community programming. Comparable as a multi-purpose cultural nonprofit with both gallery and educational components, but with much broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/davisartscenter.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/davis-arts-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/davisartscenter

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Davis Arts Center