What Fountain House Gallery does

Fountain House Gallery & Studio is a Manhattan-based not-for-profit art organization founded in 2000 as a subsidiary program of Fountain House (a national mental health nonprofit founded in 1948). It operates a physical exhibition gallery at 702 Ninth Avenue, a dedicated studio facility at 37-24 24th Street in Long Island City, and a seasonal incubator space on Governors Island (Nolan Park #8B, May–August). The organization represents over 100 contemporary artists living with mental illness — emerging, established, trained, or self-taught — providing exhibition space, professional studio access, materials, mentorship, and a structured pathway to sell original artwork to collectors.

The business model is a hybrid of earned revenue (original artwork sales conducted at the gallery, through the gallery's own e-commerce shop, and via the Artsy online marketplace) and contributed revenue (public funding from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and grants from the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and Renate, Hans and Maria Hofmann Trust). Programs include the Artists in Residence program, the biannual Farm Retreat at Fountain House Farm (477 acres, Montague, NJ), Monthly Museum Visits, and the 2024 Bloomberg Connects digital guide featuring 100+ collection works in multiple languages. The underlying technology stack is intentionally minimal: the website is built on ArtCloud gallery software with reCAPTCHA on contact forms, and the digital content layer is outsourced to Bloomberg Connects rather than proprietary. No AI, data platform, or SaaS infrastructure is present.

The gallery is governed as a member of the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) and the Progressive Art Studio Alliance (PASA), and is funded almost entirely by philanthropic and public sources rather than commercial capital. Headcount is approximately 8 people, led by Gallery Director Rachel Weisman and Studio Director Karen Gormandy, with an Advisory Committee chaired by Carmel Wilson. No venture capital or private equity involvement has been disclosed.

Name

Fountain House Gallery

Legal name

Fountain House LLC

Website

https://fountainhousegallery.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fountain House Gallery & Studio is a Manhattan not-for-profit gallery, founded in 2000, that exhibits and sells original artwork by over 100 contemporary artists living with mental illness through a flagship gallery, Long Island City studio, and Artsy marketplace.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Art Gallery

NAICS

Art Dealers (459920)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)

Keywords

• Not-for-profit art gallery
• Contemporary artwork sales
• Artist studio programs
• Mental health arts
• Community art exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Art Sales: Original artworks are sold directly to collectors through the gallery, with proceeds benefiting member-artists living with mental illness. Artworks are also sold through Artsy marketplace partnership.
2. Donations and Grants: Funded by public funds from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, foundation grants from Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, and Renate, Hans and Maria Hofmann Trust, plus individual donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fountain House Gallery sells original artwork created by contemporary artists living with mental illness through its Manhattan gallery, website shop, and the Artsy online marketplace. It also provides studio access, exhibition programming, and artist development programs including Artists in Residence, FHG @ Governors Island, Monthly Museum Visits, and Farm Retreat at Fountain House Farm. The organization is funded by public funds and private foundation grants while supporting 100+ member-artists.

Product overview

Fountain House Gallery & Studio is a not-for-profit arts organization that supports contemporary artists living with mental illness. The organization operates two main physical locations: Fountain House Gallery (Manhattan, 702 Ninth Avenue), which serves as the primary exhibition and sales space for original artworks, and Fountain House Studio (Long Island City, 37-24 24th Street), a collaborative workspace providing resources and studio access for member-artists. The organization offers several programs including the Artists in Residence Program, Farm Retreat (at the 477-acre Fountain House Farm in Montague, NJ), FHG @ Governors Island incubator space, and Monthly Museum Visits. A free Bloomberg Connects digital guide provides online access to exhibition content and collection works. The portfolio is rounded out by free downloadable iPhone wallpapers featuring artist works and an e-newsletter subscription service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fountain House Gallery (Exhibition Space) Manhattan-based not-for-profit art gallery at 702 Ninth Avenue, founded in 2000, that sells original artworks created by artists living with mental illness. Open Tuesday-Friday 12-6PM and Saturday 1-7PM.
• Fountain House Studio Dedicated studio space in Long Island City at 37-24 24th Street, Suite 012, providing resources, training, inspiration, and full-time studio access with free art supplies for Fountain House member-artists.
• Original Artwork Sales Sale of original contemporary artworks by artists living with mental illness. Works are available for purchase through the Manhattan gallery, the website shop, and the Artsy online marketplace.
• Artists in Residence Program Seasonal residency program offering designated studio space, shared art materials, weekly check-ins from the Studio Director, promotion on website and social media, and access to Materials for the Arts (MFTA). Limited to Fountain House members.
• FHG @ Governors Island Seasonal incubator space on Governors Island (Nolan Park #8B) operating May-August as part of the Governors Island Arts Organizations in Residence program. Features exhibitions, public programs, and artist residencies.
• Monthly Museum Visit Regular program offering museum visits for Fountain House artists, providing cultural enrichment and artistic inspiration.
• Farm Retreat Biannual weekend-long retreat at Fountain House Farm in Montague, N.J., a 477-acre preserved woodland. Artists participate in plein air art-making, farm-to-table cooking, nature walks, meditation, and animal care activities.
• Bloomberg Connects Digital Guide Free digital guide available through the Bloomberg Connects app, offering multimedia content including exhibition perspectives from artists and curators, collection exploration with over 100 works, and programming information. Available in multiple languages.
• Free iPhone Wallpapers Free downloadable iPhone wallpapers featuring artwork by Fountain House Gallery artists including Guiomar Giraldo-Baron, Alisha Sanchez, Sally Fisher, Miguel Colon, Susan Spangenberg, and Jose Carcamo.

Quantifiable outcome

• Gallery has inspired similar programs in 32 states and 34 countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered moderate, core, flagship and minor.

• New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA)moderateOthersProud member of the New Art Dealers Alliance, a professional organization supporting galleries and art dealers.
• Progressive Art Studio Alliance (PASA)moderateOthersProud member of PASA, an alliance supporting progressive art studios serving artists with disabilities and mental illness.
• Bloomberg ConnectscoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital guide partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies creating a free app featuring exhibitions, artist perspectives, and over 100 works from the collection. Available in multiple languages with accessibility options.
• Governors Island ArtsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizations in Residence program on Governors Island providing seasonal incubator space (May-August) for site-specific installations and community programming.
• Materials for the Arts (MFTA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides access to art materials and supplies for member-artists in the Artists in Residence program.
• Matthew 25: MinistriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor and in-kind donor for The Pill Bottle Project on Governors Island.
• ArtsycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline art marketplace for browsing and purchasing select works from Fountain House Gallery.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• White Columns: New York non-profit contemporary art space supporting emerging and underrepresented artists through exhibitions, sales, and curatorial programming. Comparable operating model (non-profit gallery, exhibition-driven, artist-development focus) but without the mental-health mission.
• Creative Growth Art Center: Oakland-based non-profit art center and gallery that supports, exhibits, and sells work by artists with developmental, mental, and physical disabilities. Closely comparable model: studio + gallery + commercial sales channel + donor funding, with a similar mission-driven artistic community.
• The Living Museum: Artist-run museum and studio space at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens, NYC, supporting artists living with mental illness. Most direct NYC-based peer with overlapping mission, member base, and exhibition/sales model.
• Project Onward: Chicago-based non-profit studio and gallery for artists with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Operates a working studio, exhibition program, and sales channel — directly paralleling Fountain House Gallery's combined gallery/studio dual model.
• Pioneer Works: Brooklyn-based non-profit artist-run organization combining studio residencies, exhibitions, performances, and community programming. Comparable as a multi-program NYC non-profit arts platform with a residency-to-exhibition pipeline.

Others

• Artsy: Global online art marketplace and editorial platform that already distributes Fountain House Gallery's work to collectors. Functions as a commercial infrastructure partner rather than a direct competitor, but is the reference online channel for gallery sales.
• ArtSpace: National non-profit organization that creates affordable live/work spaces for artists and supports non-profit arts facilities. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler and infrastructure partner for community-based art programs similar in mission to Fountain House Gallery.

Regional players

• SculptureCenter: Long Island City-based non-profit kunsthalle dedicated to contemporary sculpture with artist residencies, exhibitions, and public programs. Comparable as a LIC-located non-profit arts organization with a studio/residency + public exhibition model, though focused on sculpture rather than community-mission art.

Emerging players

• Nurture Art: Brooklyn-based non-profit presenting emerging artists through exhibitions, residencies, and educational programming. Smaller-scope peer with overlapping non-profit gallery + artist-development model but broader (not mental-health-specific) mission.

Broad incumbents

• The Drawing Center: Established SoHo-based non-profit art museum and exhibition space dedicated to drawing and contemporary artists. Larger and more institutionally mature than Fountain House Gallery, with overlapping non-profit exhibition/education/programming model but a much broader curatorial remit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/fountainhousegallery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fountain-house-gallery

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Fountain House Gallery