What Open Studio Project, Inc. does

Open Studio Project, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 and headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, operating an 18-person team that delivers art-based wellness programming across Chicagoland. The organization's core intellectual asset is the Open Studio Process, a proprietary four-step art-making methodology developed by its three founders (Dayna Block, Deborah Gadiel, Pat Allen) that combines mindfulness, intuitive art-making, witnessing, and non-critical group sharing; OSP operates the only global Facilitator Certification program for this methodology. Revenue and program delivery are diversified across adult Art & Wellness classes ($250 per 6-week in-studio session or $25-$30 per virtual session), Creative Adventures Camp ($295/week for ages 6-12), sliding-scale art therapy delivered by licensed clinical counselors, corporate team workshops, and large-scale community events including the 39-year-old YEA! Festival (2,000+ attendees annually at Raymond Park). The organization operates Gallery 901 (monthly exhibitions) and is executing the Main Street Mural public art project at 727 Main Street, funded by a Cook County Arts Creative Placemaking grant.

OSP's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by deep institutional partnerships with Chicago Public Schools (Taylor Elementary, Turner Drew), Skokie District 69, Evanston Township High School, Y.O.U., Family Focus Evanston, Connections for the Homeless (Margarita Inn), North Side Housing & Supportive Services, the Evanston Vet Center (under NEA Creative Forces funding), and Hulse Juvenile Detention Center. Funding is a hybrid of fee-for-service, donations (via the qgiv platform), corporate sponsorship (YEA! tiers from $200 to $5,000), and competitive grants from public and philanthropic sources. Distribution occurs through in-studio programming at 903 Sherman Ave, virtual Zoom delivery (global reach), on-site outreach residencies, and flagship events including the annual Artopia fundraiser and YEA! Festival.

Leadership is led by Executive Director Rob Lentz (previously of Project Onward), with Co-Founder Dayna Block and Board President Ted Harris (LCSW, CADC) maintaining operational involvement. The organization has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed equity funding; it is governed as an independent nonprofit with active board oversight. Recent strategic emphasis has been on placemaking (Main Street Mural), diversification of earned income (corporate workshops, facilitator training), and geographic reach through virtual programming, while maintaining its core community-impact mission across schools, shelters, veterans, and youth.

Name

Open Studio Project, Inc.

Legal name

Open Studio Project, Inc.

Website

https://openstudioproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Open Studio Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Evanston, Illinois delivering art therapy, wellness classes, and community programming using its proprietary Open Studio Process methodology, serving schools, shelters, veterans, and adults across Chicagoland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Arts Therapy & Wellness Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts & Design Camps (Visual Arts, Crafts, Design Thinking) (EDAMALAH)

Keywords

• Creative arts therapy
• Experiential wellness programs
• Art-based mindfulness
• Community arts education
• Facilitator training

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Adult Art Classes: In-person and virtual Art & Wellness classes offered in multi-week sessions. In-studio classes at $250 for 6-week sessions; virtual classes at $30 (Thursday) or $25 (Friday) per session.
2. Summer Camp Programs: Creative Adventures Camp for ages 6-12 years, priced at $295 per week-long session (Monday-Friday, 9:30am-12:30pm).
3. Art Therapy Services: Individual and group art therapy sessions offered on a sliding scale and negotiable basis. Services provided in a calm, creative studio environment by licensed clinical counselors and art therapists.
4. Facilitator Training: 4-day Intensive Facilitator Training Program (July 27-30) providing complete Open Studio Process Facilitator Certification—the only place in the world offering this certification.
5. Corporate/Team Workshops: Art & Renewal and Art & Envisioning workshops for work teams, customized for team-building, strategy, or self-care and renewal purposes.
6. Event Activity Fees: Fees charged for specific events and activities such as Plushie Creation at $30 per participant and holiday pop-up activities.
7. Art Therapy Bundles: Art & Wellness bundle of 10 sessions available for purchase at discounted rate compared to individual session pricing.
8. Donations and Grants: Funding from Cook County Arts Creative Placemaking Grant, National Endowment for the Arts Creative Forces grant, and individual donations supporting community programs and the Main Street Mural project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Open Studio Project delivers creative arts–based wellness programs anchored in its proprietary Open Studio Process, a structured, evidence-informed method that uses art-making for emotional expression, regulation, and personal growth. Offerings include ongoing classes, short wellness sessions, adult retreats, summer camp, school residencies, corporate workshops, facilitator certification, and custom programs for community and social-service agencies.

Product overview

Open Studio Project is a non-profit organization offering a diverse portfolio of art-based programs and services centered around the Open Studio Process—a therapeutic art-making methodology developed in 1991. The organization provides in-person and virtual Art & Wellness classes, Art Therapy services, Facilitator Training certification, Creative Adventures Camp for children, Gallery 901 exhibitions, and community programs through schools and partner organizations. The portfolio includes youth programming (YEA! Festival, Harvey Pranian Scholarship), team-building workshops (OSP Workshops), and community engagement initiatives including the Main Street Mural public art project. Programs serve individuals across Chicagoland for personal growth, social emotional learning, and community well-being.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gallery 901: A community-based gallery featuring artists and community organizations whose work reflects Open Studio Project's vision that art is a path to wellbeing. Exhibitions are held monthly with opening receptions on First Saturdays.
• YEA! (Young Evanston Artists)
• Creative Adventures Camp
• OSP Workshops

Products and services

• Art & Wellness Classes (in-studio and online) Ongoing, structured classes for adults using the proprietary Open Studio Process to support emotional expression, regulation, and personal insight. Delivered weekly in-studio in Evanston and via Zoom.
• Open Studio Wellness Sessions (90-minute single sessions) Short-format, single-session experiences for individuals seeking a one-time introduction to the Open Studio Process and creative arts wellness.
• Creative Adventures Camp (summer camp for children entering grades K-5) Multi-week summer program offering children entering grades K-5 hands-on creative arts experiences that build confidence, social-emotional skills, and self-expression in a supportive environment.
• Facilitator Training & Certification (Train the Trainer) Multi-week professional training pathway that certifies clinicians, educators, and other professionals to deliver the Open Studio Process in clinical, corporate, and educational settings.
• Open Studio Retreats (multi-day immersive experiences) Multi-day immersive creative arts experiences for adults seeking deeper, more intensive work using the Open Studio Process.
• School Residencies (K-12 SEL and creative arts programming) Multi-week to year-long residencies bringing the Open Studio Process into K-12 schools to support social-emotional learning, counseling, and student well-being in partnership with school counselors, social workers, and administrators.
• Corporate Workshops & Custom Team Experiences Offsite or on-site structured workshops for teams that use the Open Studio Process for stress relief, team-building, and reflective practice, sold to corporate HR, L&D, and team leaders.
• Community Partnership Programs (grant-funded programs with social-service agencies) Custom programs delivered in partnership with social-service and trauma-focused agencies (including the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital Trauma Center and similar agencies) that bring the Open Studio Process to trauma-impacted populations, typically funded through grants and donations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2000 community members attend annual YEA! Fest
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• Connections for the HomelesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP partners with Connections for the Homeless to provide weekly art groups for residents of the Margarita Inn shelter. Art-making provides a safe space for socialization, creativity, and healing as residents work toward permanent housing.
• Evanston Vet CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWith support from National Endowment for the Arts: Creative Forces grant, OSP provides monthly Art & Wellness workshops to veterans and their families, including Vision Board workshops for women veterans focused on goal-setting and readjusting to civilian life.
• Chicago Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP provides art residencies at Taylor Elementary (East Chicago) and Turner Drew (South Side Roseland) through Ingenuity Creative Schools Fund grant. Taylor received additional art therapy sessions through NEA supplemental grant.
• North Side Housing & Supportive ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP provides therapeutic art groups at Chicago's newest transitional housing shelter for men in Rogers Park, offering open-studio environment for creative self-expression toward independence and resilience.
• Skokie School District 69supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP provides art residencies and creative programming at Madison and Edison Elementary Schools in Skokie District 69.
• Evanston Township High School (Wildkit Academy)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP programming extends to ETHS Wildkit Academy for in-school art education and creative enrichment.
• Family Focus EvanstoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP facilitates regular art groups for children enrolled in after-school programming at Family Focus 5th Ward location, providing judgment-free creative expression opportunities.
• Y.O.U. (Youth Opportunity United)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-running partnership bringing Open Studio process to youth in Evanston schools during after-school and summer hours. Students from Nichols and Chute Middle Schools work in OSP studio.
• Hulse Juvenile Detention CentersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with 19th Judicial Circuit court providing art therapy groups to court-involved youth at secure and residential facilities.
• EmbarcsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSP collaborated with Embarc and Da Oasis (west side location) hosting multiple groups of students throughout the year, focusing on free expression with air dry clay.
• Right at SchoolsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOSP provides after-school art programming services at Willard Elementary School through Right at School partnership.
• Oscar JoyoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago-based muralist (Malawian-born, Best Mural 2025 Chicago Reader) leading the Main Street Mural project. Creating a 3-story monumental painting inspired by community input.
• Edwige Massart and Xavier Wynn (EMXW)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative duo leading the mixed media mosaic section of the Main Street Mural. Using found objects and community-contributed materials for collaborative mural installation.
• Main Dempster MilesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business association participating in community workshops and Main Street Mural project engagement, strengthening neighborhood placemaking efforts.
• Project OnwardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRob Lentz (OSP Executive Director) previously worked at Project Onward, and Edwige Massart works with Austin Special Chicago for developmentally disabled individuals—connecting art therapy communities.
• Austin Special ChicagosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdwige Massart serves as Art Facilitator for developmentally disabled individuals at Austin Special Chicago, bringing art therapy expertise to OSP community partnerships.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Marwen: Chicago nonprofit providing free arts education to youth, particularly from under-resourced communities. Closely matches OSP's 'In the Schools' programming and Creative Adventures Camp model—both serve Chicago-area youth with studio-based arts learning.
• Arts of Life: Chicago nonprofit advancing artists with and without disabilities through a shared studio and gallery model. Comparable to OSP's combination of art-making methodology, community engagement, and Gallery 901 exhibitions.
• Project Onward: Chicago studio and gallery for artists with mental illness and developmental disabilities. Comparable as a Chicago-based nonprofit combining therapeutic art-making with gallery programming; OSP Executive Director Rob Lentz has prior ties to this organization.
• Snow City Arts: Chicago-based nonprofit that provides arts education and creative expression programs to children and families in healthcare settings. Directly comparable to OSP as a Chicagoland nonprofit using arts as a tool for wellbeing and serving vulnerable populations (OSP's shelters/vets/schools vs. Snow City's hospitalized kids).
• Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE): Chicago nonprofit integrating arts education into school curricula through partnerships with Chicago Public Schools. Highly comparable to OSP's school residency work and Ingenuity-funded CPS programming at Taylor and Turner Drew Elementary.
• Expressive Arts Therapy Institute: Organization offering training and certification in expressive arts therapy modalities. Closely comparable to OSP's Facilitator Training program, which similarly certifies practitioners in a specific creative-arts methodology.

Broad incumbents

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): Major Chicago art school offering fine arts instruction, continuing education, and certificate programs. Comparable as a much larger incumbent in the Chicago fine arts education space where OSP's Facilitator Training and Art & Wellness classes compete for adult learners.
• Ingenuity (formerly Ingenuity Creative Schools Fund): Chicago's largest arts education funder and partner to OSP through CPS residencies. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the Chicago arts-education ecosystem where OSP operates as a delivery partner.
• Lookingglass Theatre Company: Established Chicago arts organization with significant education and community engagement programming. Comparable as a larger Chicagoland arts nonprofit with deep institutional roots and education/community programming.

Regional players

• Family Focus: Chicago-area family services nonprofit where OSP already runs weekly art groups. Comparable as a regional community-services organization that delivers OSP's programming to its constituents in the Evanston 5th Ward.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OpenStudioProject
• Instagraminstagram.com/open_studio_project
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/open-studio-project-inc

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 Open Studio Project, Inc.