ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART

What ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART does

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA) is a 501c(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer, artist-run contemporary art gallery founded in 1980 and located at 117 North Sycamore Street in the Santa Ana (California) Artists Village. The organization operates with 6 staff and an artist membership capped at 37 members by by-laws, who collectively manage all aspects of gallery operations including curation, installation, public relations, accounting, grant writing, and gallery sitting. OCCCA has exhibited over 1,000 guest artists and 6,000+ participants across more than 600 solo and 300 group exhibitions in its 45-year history, and is recognized as one of the longest-existing all-volunteer, artist-run galleries in the United States. Its core offerings include rotating exhibitions, a juried Call for Art program, an artist membership program, gallery rental for events ($650-$3,800), guided tours, and 360-degree virtual exhibition tours via Kuula.

OCCCA's primary customers are emerging and mid-career visual artists in Southern California who seek exhibition opportunities with complete creative freedom, supplemented by event organizers who rent the 175-capacity Grand Gallery for weddings, corporate events, and film/photo shoots, and art enthusiasts who visit during free-admission hours (Thursday-Sunday 12PM-5PM) and First Saturday Art Walk receptions. The organization differentiates itself through its censorship-free exhibition policy, volunteer member co-ownership model, and ability to attract high-profile jurors such as Peter Frank (Guggenheim, Reina Sofía).

Revenue is generated through five streams: a 40% commission on art sales (members keep 100% of their own sales), entry fees for Call for Art submissions ($45-$100), gallery rental fees ($650-$3,800), a $30 artist membership application fee plus monthly dues, and donations/grants including a partial funding relationship with the City of Santa Ana. The technology stack is intentionally minimal: PayPal for payments, EntryThingy for juried submissions, Kuula for 360-degree virtual tours, and a Wix-hosted website. There is no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capabilities, and no app or API exposure. OCCCA reaches its audience through a 10,000+ email subscriber list, social media (Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook), earned media in LA Times Daily Pilot and Orange Coast Magazine, and the Santa Ana Artists Village monthly Art Walk.

Name

ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART

Legal name

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art

Website

https://occca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA) is a 501c(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer artist-run gallery founded in 1980 in Santa Ana, California. It serves emerging and mid-career visual artists through membership, juried exhibitions, and event rental, with over 1,000 guest artists exhibited historically.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemporary Art Gallery Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

Keywords

• Contemporary art gallery
• Artist-run nonprofit
• Juried exhibitions
• Event venue rental
• Artist membership program

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Ana

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Art Sales Commission: OCCCA retains 40% commission on all sales of artwork. Artists receive 60% of sales proceeds. For member artists, they keep 100% of revenue from their own artwork sales at OCCCA.
2. Gallery Rental: Event venue rental for weddings, corporate events, conferences, workshops, film/photo shoots. Three-hour rental at $650, half-day (6 hours) at $1,800, full day wedding at $3,800. Non-profit events receive 25% reduced rental fee. Includes $500 non-refundable deposit.
3. Artist Membership Fees: Annual membership with $30 application fee. Members gain exhibition opportunities, marketing support, and participate in gallery operations. Members pay monthly dues and contribute volunteer hours.
4. Call for Art Entry Fees: Entry submission fees for juried exhibitions: $45 for up to 3 JPGs, $90 for 6 JPGs, $100 for maximum 9 JPGs. Entry fees support the nonprofit artist-run organization.
5. Donations and Grants: The organization is a 501c(3) nonprofit California corporation. Accepts PayPal donations. Receives funding from the City of Santa Ana for exhibitions. Donations support ongoing operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

OCCCA is an all-volunteer, artist-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit gallery operating a physical exhibition space at 117 N. Sycamore St. in Santa Ana's Artists Village. It hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions, juried open calls, an artist membership program limited to 37 members, gallery rental for private events, and guided tours and workshops.

Product overview

OCCCA operates as an all-volunteer, artist-run gallery offering a unified portfolio of exhibition and art services. The core offering is the physical exhibition space at 117 N. Sycamore St. in Santa Ana's Artists Village, complemented by a Call for Art/Juried Exhibitions program, Artist Membership Program (limited to 37 members), and Gallery Rental services. Additional offerings include Guided Tours and Painting in Realtime Workshops. The organization provides 360-degree virtual tours via Kuula and manages art sales with commission structures. Founded in 1980 as a 501c(3) non-profit, OCCCA has exhibited over 1,000 guest artists and 6,000+ participants across its history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gallery Rental Event venue rental service for weddings, corporate events, conferences, workshops, and film/photo shoots. Rates: 3-hour $650, half-day (6 hours) $1,800, full-day wedding $3,800, plus $500 non-refundable deposit.
• Artist Membership Program Artist membership program limited to 37 members by bylaws. Members gain exhibition opportunities, participate in curatorial and gallery operations, retain 100% of personal artwork sales, and receive marketing support including access to the 10,000+ email list. $30 non-refundable application fee.
• Call for Art / Juried Exhibitions Open call program for themed juried exhibitions. Artists submit entries online via the EntryThingy platform with entry fees of $45 (3 JPGs), $90 (6 JPGs), or $100 (9 JPGs). Selected works are exhibited with a 60% artist / 40% OCCCA commission split on sales.
• Guided Tours Educational tour service providing insights into exhibitions covering aesthetic concepts, content, and historical context. Available by scheduling through OCCCA contact.
• Painting in Realtime Workshop Educational workshop offering hands-on painting instruction and artistic development for participants. Launched in September 2024 alongside the Painting in Realtime exhibition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 guest artists exhibited in 44+ years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BackhausdanceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2025Dance company collaborated with OCCCA to launch their season with 'Co-Lab' performance event at the gallery, demonstrating OCCCA's role as a multi-disciplinary venue for performing arts collaborations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights14 records

Direct peers

• Hyde Park Art Center: Hyde Park Art Center is one of the oldest artist-run, alternative contemporary art spaces in the US (since 1939), supporting Chicago-area artists through exhibitions and programming. Comparable to OCCCA in artist-run governance, nonprofit structure, and dedication to community-rooted contemporary art practice.
• Southern Exposure: Southern Exposure is a San Francisco-based nonprofit artist-run contemporary art space supporting experimentation and emerging artists. Mirrors OCCCA's artist-run nonprofit model, juried exhibitions, and community-driven curatorial approach.
• Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts: Bemis Center is a nonprofit contemporary arts organization in Omaha offering exhibitions, residencies, and public programs. Comparable to OCCCA in nonprofit artist-supporting model, juried/curated programming, and reliance on donations plus earned revenue.
• The Drawing Center: The Drawing Center is a nonprofit contemporary art museum in New York dedicated to drawing as a primary medium. Comparable to OCCCA in nonprofit contemporary art focus, curated exhibition programming, and educational/public engagement activities.
• Pioneer Works: Pioneer Works is an artist-run nonprofit cultural center in Brooklyn supporting contemporary art, music, and science through exhibitions and residencies. Comparable to OCCCA as an artist-led nonprofit contemporary art venue with diversified programming and community-engaged exhibitions.
• Artists Space: Artists Space is a nonprofit, artist-run contemporary art venue in New York City founded in 1972, supporting emerging artists and experimental practices. Closely mirrors OCCCA's artist-run model, nonprofit status, and focus on emerging-to-mid-career contemporary art.
• Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE): LACE is a nonprofit, artist-run contemporary art space in Los Angeles presenting exhibitions and public programs since 1978. Highly comparable to OCCCA in mission (artist-controlled contemporary art), nonprofit structure, and regional Southern California context.

Regional players

• Laguna Art Museum: Laguna Art Museum is a regional contemporary and California-focused art museum in Orange County. Closest geographic peer to OCCCA, both serving the OC contemporary art audience, but Laguna operates as an established institution rather than a volunteer artist-run space.

Broad incumbents

• The Broad: The Broad is a major contemporary art museum in downtown Los Angeles with a much larger collection, free general admission, and significantly bigger programming budget. Comparable to OCCCA in contemporary art focus and Southern California catchment, but operates at a vastly larger scale with paid staff and major donor base.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Los Angeles: MOCA is one of the largest contemporary art museums on the US West Coast, with multiple LA locations, major donor backing, and large-scale exhibitions. Comparable to OCCCA in contemporary art mission and Southern California audience, but as a broad incumbent with institutional scale OCCCA cannot match.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Occcart
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKIuV1z2ii7HX8d7j22cOuA
• Facebookfacebook.com/OCCCA
• Instagraminstagram.com/occcart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orange-county-center-for-contemporary-art

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ORANGE COUNTY CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART