Make Studio
Make Studio is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a professional adaptive art studio that empowers adult artists with intellectual, developmental, and neurodivergent disabilities through workspace, mentorship, exhibitions, and art sales across a physical gallery and online shop.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Make Studio does
Make Studio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community arts organization headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland (3326 Keswick Rd., ~5,000 sq ft facility within the Schwing Arts Center), founded in 2010 and tax-exempt since 2011. It operates a professional studio program serving adult artists with intellectual/developmental disabilities and neurodivergent artists, providing adaptive workspaces, materials, mentorship, exhibition opportunities, and sales channels. The organization runs an Online Art Shop (Ecwid platform), a 1,400 sq ft showroom gallery open to the public, recurring artist exhibitions (including signature shows such as Cordially Invited and Along the Lines), community workshops led by member artists, and a youth program (Work of Art).
Revenue is generated through five streams: Program Income from a fee-for-service studio program often covered by Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration funding ($173,591 in FY2024); Individual & Corporate Giving including the tiered Make Studio Collective monthly recurring donation program ($78,767); Foundation & Government Grants from entities such as MSAC, NEA, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Baltimore-area foundations ($92,921); Artwork Sales via gallery and online channels with artists retaining 70% of sale price ($13,994); and In-Kind/Misc contributions ($3,000). Total FY2024 revenue was $362,273 against $347,450 in expenses.
Make Studio is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors with cross-sector representation (legal, healthcare, museums, corporate), and operates with a specialized clinical/therapeutic staff complement of ~11 including an Operations & Program Director (currently on leave through mid-2027), two Associate Directors (Artist Services & Outreach; Studio & Art Preparations), a Lead Studio Facilitator, Development & Engagement Manager, and Community & Art Reach Coordinator. Distribution combines a physical Baltimore gallery, an Ecwid online storefront, art-fair appearances regionally and nationally (Artscape, Remfest, Florida, California), and an institutional partnership network spanning Baltimore Museum of Art, American Visionary Art Museum, MICA, Baltimore County Public Library, and the City of Baltimore's Free Fall Baltimore program.
Make Studio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Make Studio
- Legal name
- Make Studio Art Program Inc.
- Website
- https://make-studio.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Make Studio is a Baltimore-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a professional adaptive art studio that empowers adult artists with intellectual, developmental, and neurodivergent disabilities through workspace, mentorship, exhibitions, and art sales across a physical gallery and online shop.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Make Studio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Arts Services
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (459920), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)
Keywords
Where Make Studio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Make Studio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Program Income: Fee-for-service studio program comparable to other community-based services, often covered by DDA (Developmental Disabilities Administration) funding. This represents the largest revenue source at $173,591 in 2024.
- Individual & Corporate Giving: Donations from individuals and corporations, including monthly recurring donations through the Make Studio Collective program. $78,767 in 2024.
- Foundation & Government Grants: Support from foundations (Allegis Group Foundation, Baltimore Community Foundation, Venable Foundation, etc.) and government agencies (Maryland State Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts). $92,921 in 2024.
- Artwork Sales: Artists receive 70% of the price of any original artwork sold. The studio sells art through its showroom gallery and online shop. $13,994 in artwork sales in 2024.
- Event Rental: The 1,400 sq ft showroom gallery space is available for private event rental - parties, meetings, workshops. Discounts available for fellow nonprofits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | $25/month provides 1 artist with all framing supplies needed for a full year |
| Subscription | Monthly | $50/month empowers 3 artists in creating and leading their own public workshops |
| Subscription | Monthly | $100/month supports 10 artists with a year's worth of high quality art materials |
| Subscription | Monthly | $250/month supports almost 50 artists by providing a month of utilities and tech |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Gallery rental - 1,400 sq ft showroom accommodating 50+ guests |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Artists receive 70% of original artwork sales |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Make Studio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Make Studio runs a progressive art studio and exhibitions program for adult artists with intellectual/developmental disabilities and neurodivergent artists, providing adaptive workspace, art materials, mentorship, exhibition opportunities, and sales support. Artists receive 70% of the price of any original artwork sold through the studio's gallery and online shop. The organization also operates a 1,400 sq ft showroom gallery open to the public, offers community art workshops led by member artists, runs a monthly giving program, and rents its gallery space for private events.
Product overview
Make Studio is a community-based arts organization offering a portfolio of services centered on empowering artists with disabilities. The core offerings include a Professional Studio & Exhibitions Program providing workspace and mentorship for adult artists with disabilities, an Online Art Shop (built on Ecwid) for selling artist work, a rotating Exhibitions Program featuring member artists both in their gallery and at external venues, and a Showroom Gallery Event Rental space (1,400 sqft) available for private events. Additional offerings include Community Art Workshops led by member artists, the Make Studio Collective monthly giving program, and a Work of Art Youth Program for young artists with disabilities. The organization operates primarily from their 5,000 sq ft facility in Baltimore's Hampden neighborhood.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Online Art Shop
Quantifiable outcome
- Artists receive 70% commission on artwork sales
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Make Studio
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Make Studio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Make Studio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Arc of BaltimoreminorLocal disability services organization in the community partner network.
- Art EnablescoreWashington DC progressive art studio and vocational arts program. Co-host virtual meetups, cross-studio collaborations, and joint exhibitions including 'Mutual Admiration Society' events.
- Baltimore County Public LibrarycoreAnnual spring exhibitions at Hereford Branch library and workshop programming in The Hive makerspace.
- Baltimore Office of Promotion and the ArtscoreCity arts agency running Free Fall Baltimore program. Make Studio is a participant.
- Baltimore Museum of ArtcoreHosting BMA Art Hive programming featuring Make Studio artists regularly.
- American Visionary Art MuseumcoreJoint tribute portrait workshop programming and exhibition features.
- Down Syndrome Association of MarylandminorCommunity partner for disability advocacy events and co-hosting World Down Syndrome Day celebrations.
- Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)coreArt therapy program partnerships, internship opportunities, France-Merrick Fellow placements, and professional development.
- Visionaries+VoicescoreCincinnati progressive art studio. Featured in Cordially Invited exhibitions. Co-exhibiting in 'Clay Nowadays' ceramic exhibition.
- Creative GrowthcoreOakland progressive art studio that organized 'Facing Our Future Together' symposium. Make Studio participated.
- ItinerisminorBaltimore autism services organization and community partner.
- Baltimore ClayworksminorConducted 4-week clay workshop for 9 Make Studio artists, building hand-building, glazing and decorating skills.
- Pathfinders for AutismminorCommunity partner for Disability Pride Arts Fest programming.
- Barrier-FreeminorMaryland inclusive art organization and community partner.
- Ability AllianceminorLocal disability community partner organization.
- Peabody Heights BreweryminorHost venue for Spring Cleaning affordable art market.
- Checkerspot Brewing CompanyminorVenue host for Schwingo annual bingo fundraiser.
- Guilford Hall BreweryminorVenue host for Schwingo 2023 art bingo fundraiser.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Make Studio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Art Enables: Washington, DC progressive studio and vocational arts program for artists with disabilities, producing original art, exhibitions, and community workshops. Direct co-host on Mutual Admiration Society events and cross-studio collaborations — near-identical operating model in an adjacent Mid-Atlantic geography.
- Project Ability: Glasgow, UK-based progressive visual arts organisation for disabled and disadvantaged artists, operating studios, gallery, and exhibition programs. Long-established global peer within the international progressive-studio network referenced by Make Studio.
- NIAD Art Center: Richmond, CA progressive art studio for adult artists with disabilities offering studio access, exhibitions, and gallery representation. Established peer within the national progressive-studio network with a similar artist-center-and-gallery operating model.
- Visionaries + Voices: Cincinnati, OH progressive art studio serving adult artists with disabilities via studio programs, exhibitions, and a gallery. Direct peer featured in Make Studio's Cordially Invited exhibitions and Clay Nowadays collaboration, running an analogous nonprofit studio model.
- Creative Growth: Oakland, CA progressive art studio serving artists with disabilities through professional studio programs, exhibitions, and gallery representation. Named partner in the Cordially Invited exhibition and Facing Our Future Together symposium — same progressive-studio operating model targeting similar populations.
Regional players
- Pathfinders for Autism: Maryland autism resource and advocacy nonprofit hosting Disability Pride Arts Fest programming with Make Studio. Adjacent disability-services community partner reaching overlapping populations in the Mid-Atlantic.
- Barrier-Free: Maryland inclusive art organization supporting artists with disabilities. Named community partner of Make Studio; comparable mission targeting the same population in overlapping Maryland geography.
- Itineris: Baltimore-based autism services organization serving adults with developmental disabilities through day and employment programs. Named community partner of Make Studio; comparable population focus within the same Baltimore service ecosystem.
- Arc of Baltimore: Baltimore-area disability services organization providing supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Strategic community partner of Make Studio with overlapping client base and shared disability-services ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- American Visionary Art Museum: Baltimore museum dedicated to intuitive, outsider, and self-taught artistry. Direct strategic partner hosting joint workshops and exhibitions with Make Studio; shares its core artists-with-disabilities audience but operates at a much larger institutional scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Make Studio social profiles
Digital presenceMake Studio compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Make Studio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Make Studio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles20 records
Make Studio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Make Studio M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Make Studio
What does Make Studio do?
Make Studio runs a progressive art studio and exhibitions program for adult artists with intellectual/developmental disabilities and neurodivergent artists, providing adaptive workspace, art materials, mentorship, exhibition opportunities, and sales support. Artists receive 70% of the price of any original artwork sold through the studio's gallery and online shop. The organization also operates a 1,400 sq ft showroom gallery open to the public, offers community art workshops led by member artists, runs a monthly giving program, and rents its gallery space for private events.
Is Make Studio a public or private company?
Make Studio is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Make Studio founded?
Make Studio was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Make Studio based?
Make Studio is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Make Studio make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Program Income is the primary driver. The others are individual & Corporate Giving, foundation & Government Grants, artwork Sales and event Rental.
Who are Make Studio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Art Enables, Project Ability, NIAD Art Center, Visionaries + Voices and Creative Growth. Regional players are Pathfinders for Autism, Barrier-Free, Itineris and Arc of Baltimore. American Visionary Art Museum is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Make Studio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Make Studio.
What industry is Make Studio in?
Make Studio's product category is Community Arts Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAH, Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit). Its NAICS code is 459920 and its SIC code is 7330.