OBORO
OBORO is a Montreal-based, registered charity artist-run center founded in 1982 that supports independent visual, media, and digital artists through exhibitions, research residencies, professional workshops, and access to a New Media Lab offering audio and video production facilities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersMontréal, Québec, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What OBORO does
OBORO is a Montreal-based, registered charity artist-run center founded in 1982 by Su Schnee and Daniel Dion and incorporated in 1984 under the 3rd part of the Loi sur les compagnies du Québec. The organization is dedicated to the production and presentation of contemporary visual, media, and digital arts, serving independent artists through exhibitions, research residencies, professional workshops, and access to specialized production facilities. It operates from a single location at 4001 Berri, co-located within the 4001 Berri artistic pole alongside Ada X, GIV, MICA, Studio 303, and Turbine.
The center's portfolio is organized around three pillars: (1) the Exhibition Program, which fills two gallery spaces (Salle Daniel-Dion and Su Schnee) with solo and group shows on an eight-week cycle; (2) the Research Residency Program, which provides artists with studio space, weekly fees, technical support hours, and OBORO membership for multi-week creative residencies; and (3) the New Media Lab (LAB OBORO), a production facility offering sound studios, video post-production suites, multi-purpose spaces, conference rooms, and a lending library of video, audio, and multimedia mobile equipment. Supporting offerings include a Production Assistance Program and a Presentation Activities Assistance Program, both granting preferential-rate access to Lab equipment, plus a Publications program producing bilingual catalogues documenting exhibitions and artistic practices since 1995.
OBORO generates revenue through a mixed nonprofit model: tax-receipted donations (for gifts of $20 or more), equipment and studio rental at preferential rates for independent artists, publication sales ($5 to $39 plus taxes), training workshop fees ($80 plus tax for Hydrophonies), exhibition fees ($3,570 for an eight-week solo show), and research residency fees ($500/week, $1,650 total). Funding is supplemented by grants from the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and the Compétence Culture program. Demand generation is community-led, relying on the website (www.oboro.net), social channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Vimeo), Cyberimpact newsletters, press releases, and collaborations with peer arts organizations. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with a majority of working artists and professional cultural workers, and operational staff are predominantly professional artists, lending the institution authentic domain credibility.
OBORO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OBORO
- Legal name
- OBORO
- Website
- https://oboro.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- OBORO is a Montreal-based, registered charity artist-run center founded in 1982 that supports independent visual, media, and digital artists through exhibitions, research residencies, professional workshops, and access to a New Media Lab offering audio and video production facilities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OBORO industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artist-run center (contemporary and new media arts)
- NAICS
- Sound Recording Studios (512240)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)
Keywords
Where OBORO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal, Québec
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
OBORO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and charitable contributions: OBORO is a registered charity organization that accepts donations and issues official income tax receipts for donations of $20 or more. The organization operates as a not-for-profit incorporated under Quebec law and recognized as charitable by Canada Revenue Agency.
- Equipment and studio rental: Access to the New Media Lab equipment and spaces at preferential rates for independent artists and creators working on non-commercial projects. Production assistance takes the form of access to equipment and spaces at preferential rates.
- Publication sales: Sale of bilingual publications documenting exhibitions and artist works, with prices ranging from $5 to $39 plus taxes.
- Workshop and training fees: Fees charged for professional training workshops, such as the Hydrophonies training course at $80 plus tax.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Exhibition fee for eight-week solo exhibition |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Research residency fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Training workshop fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Publications pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
OBORO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OBORO is a Montreal-based artist-run center dedicated to the production and presentation of contemporary visual, media, and digital arts. It offers exhibition programming in two gallery spaces, multi-week research residencies for artists, and operates the New Media Lab (LAB OBORO) which provides studios, equipment, and technical support for digital and media art creation, including audio production, video post-production, and a lending library of multimedia equipment.
Product overview
OBORO is an artist-run center in Montreal dedicated to the production and presentation of contemporary visual, media, and digital arts. Its portfolio is organized around three pillars: (1) the Exhibition Program, which fills its two gallery spaces with solo and group shows on an eight-week cycle; (2) the Research Residency Program, which gives artists access to studio space and weekly fees for multi-week creative residencies; and (3) the New Media Lab (LAB OBORO), a production facility providing sound studios, video post-production suites, multi-purpose spaces, and equipment lending for media art creation. Supporting offerings include a Production Assistance Program and a Presentation Activities Assistance Program, both granting preferential-rate access to Lab equipment and studios, as well as a Publications program producing bilingual catalogues documenting OBORO's exhibitions and artistic practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Exhibition Program
Companies that use OBORO
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
OBORO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
OBORO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Artist Protection Fund (APF)coreInternational collaboration with the Artist Protection Fund (New York) to host at-risk artists in residence. OBORO provides studio space, access to the New Media Lab, technical support, and mentorship to artists selected for APF fellowships. The partnership supports artists in developing their projects while providing safe working conditions.
- SBC Contemporary Art GallerycoreSBC Contemporary Art Gallery leads an artist-in-residence program in partnership with Atelier CLARK, Vidéographe, and LAB OBORO. The residency supports artists of the Greater Montreal area by providing space for research and experimentation at the intersection of art, politics, and society.
- Atelier CLARKcorePartner in the 2026 SBC residency program providing access to woodworking facilities (cabinetmaking and joinery). Located at 5445 Av. de Gaspé, suite 112, Montreal. Offers 5 days of workshop access and 8 hours of technical coordinator support during the residency.
- VidéographecorePartner in the 2026 SBC residency program specializing in experimental forms of moving image. Located at 4550 Rue Garnier, Montreal. Provides access to edition rooms and equipment rental for post-production work.
- REPAIREminorPartner organization supporting the Hydrophonies training program focused on aquatic environments and sound art practices.
- 4001 Berri Artistic PolecoreCollaborative artistic hub housing multiple arts organizations at the same address: Ada X, GIV, MICA (Centre d'exposition en art contemporain), Studio 303, and Turbine. OBORO is an anchor tenant in this shared space that strengthens local collaboration and resource sharing among arts organizations.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
OBORO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Pioneer Works: Brooklyn-based artist-run organization combining residencies, exhibitions, and programming across visual, sonic, and new media arts. Comparable as a larger artist-run centre with multi-disciplinary production facilities and exhibition programming, though operating at a much larger scale than OBORO.
Direct peers
- Vidéographe: Montreal-based artist-run centre dedicated to experimental video and moving image, distributing and producing works since 1971. Highly comparable to OBORO's New Media Lab for video/multimedia post-production support and artist residencies in the same city.
- Eastern Bloc: Montreal non-profit devoted to the exploration, creation, and dissemination of new media arts. Directly comparable to OBORO as a Montreal new media arts centre with residencies, exhibitions, and community programming.
- Ada X: Montreal feminist media arts centre co-located with OBORO at 4001 Berri, providing residencies and digital production support. Comparable as a Montreal artist-run centre focused on digital/new media practices serving a distinct artistic community.
- Trinity Square Video: Toronto-based artist-run centre providing production facilities, equipment access, and residencies for video, audio, and new media art. Direct functional analogue to OBORO's New Media Lab at Canadian national scale.
- InterAccess: Toronto-based artist-run centre for media arts with galleries, studios, and a media arts lab. Highly comparable to OBORO in operating model, equipment/studio provision, and exhibition programming for new media practice.
- Centre for Art Tapes: Halifax-based artist-run media art centre providing production facilities, equipment, and residencies since 1978. Closely mirrors OBORO's New Media Lab model in a different Canadian region.
- Western Front: Long-established Vancouver artist-run centre with galleries, residencies, and new media production facilities. Comparable to OBORO as a multi-decade, multisite-track Canadian artist-run centre supporting contemporary and new media practice.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
OBORO social profiles
Digital presenceOBORO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OBORO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
OBORO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OBORO 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 OBORO
What does OBORO do?
OBORO is a Montreal-based artist-run center dedicated to the production and presentation of contemporary visual, media, and digital arts. It offers exhibition programming in two gallery spaces, multi-week research residencies for artists, and operates the New Media Lab (LAB OBORO) which provides studios, equipment, and technical support for digital and media art creation, including audio production, video post-production, and a lending library of multimedia equipment.
Is OBORO a public or private company?
OBORO is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was OBORO founded?
OBORO was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is OBORO based?
OBORO is headquartered in Montréal, Québec, Canada, in the North America region.
How does OBORO make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and charitable contributions are the primary driver. The others are equipment and studio rental, publication sales and workshop and training fees.
Who are OBORO's main competitors?
Pioneer Works is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Vidéographe, Eastern Bloc, Ada X, Trinity Square Video, InterAccess, Centre for Art Tapes and Western Front.
Does OBORO have an API?
No public API is recorded for OBORO.
What industry is OBORO in?
OBORO's product category is Artist-run center (contemporary and new media arts). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAGAA, Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration). Its NAICS code is 512240 and its SIC code is 7812.