OXY ARTS

What OXY ARTS does

OXY ARTS is a multidisciplinary arts programming initiative operated by Occidental College at 4757 York Boulevard in Los Angeles's Highland Park neighborhood. It provides free exhibitions, community events, after-school art education, artist residencies, and film screenings open to the public. The organization serves three primary constituencies: K-8 students and families in the surrounding neighborhood (notably through five LAUSD elementary school partnerships: Toland Way, Garvanza, Buchanan, Monte Vista, and Yorkdale), Occidental College students seeking hands-on arts administration experience, and the broader Los Angeles public, with explicit programmatic prioritization of Black, Indigenous, and POC artists and organizers.

The organization's core offerings include the Wanlass Artist-in-Residence program, the Community Studio after-school workshop series (6-week semester cohorts serving 4-5th and 6-8th grade students), the Community Hall initiative (free programmatic space rental prioritizing BIPOC-led projects), educational lesson plans, and the current National Museum of the Aftermath exhibition (June 9 to August 8, 2026), a traveling curatorial project conceived by Cauleen Smith and co-curated with Harrison Kinnane Smith and Jon Rubin. The organization uses no proprietary technology platforms; engagement occurs through the physical gallery, the website oxyarts.oxy.edu, a weekly email newsletter, and standard social channels (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, Flickr).

Revenue mechanics are non-commercial. OXY ARTS is funded through Occidental College's institutional budget and supplemented by external foundation grants from the Kathryn Caine Wanlass Charitable Foundation, Reed Foundation, and Mellon Foundation, primarily for the Community Studio and Wanlass Artist-in-Residence programs. All exhibitions and public programs are offered free of charge with no admission fees, reservations, or ticketing. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on grassroots networks, LAUSD school partnerships, and relationships with grassroots organizations such as Malaya Movement LA and Defend Migrants Alliance.

Name

OXY ARTS

Legal name

Occidental College

Website

https://oxyarts.oxy.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

OXY ARTS is a free, nonprofit multidisciplinary arts initiative at Occidental College in Los Angeles's Highland Park, serving local K-8 students, college students, and the public through exhibitions, after-school workshops, artist residencies, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Programming

NAICS

Museums (712110), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Community arts programming
• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Arts education outreach
• Artist residencies
• Cultural community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

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. College-funded arts initiative: As a department of Occidental College, OXY ARTS is funded through the college's institutional budget rather than commercial revenue. Programming is provided free to the public. Funding support is acknowledged from external foundations including the Kathryn Caine Wanlass Charitable Foundation, Reed Foundation, and Mellon Foundation for specific programs like Community Studio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OXY ARTS is a multidisciplinary arts programming initiative operated by Occidental College that presents free public exhibitions, after-school art workshops, film screenings, artist residencies, and community events at its Highland Park gallery in Los Angeles. It serves as a community-facing cultural hub that connects the college's academic arts programs with the surrounding neighborhood, prioritizing projects led by Black, Indigenous, and POC artists and organizers. All exhibitions, events, and educational programs are free and open to the public.

Product overview

OXY ARTS is a multidisciplinary arts programming initiative at Occidental College. It offers free public exhibitions, educational programs, community workshops, artist residencies, film screenings, and educational lesson plans. The organization serves as a gateway to the college's academic arts programs. Key offerings include the Wanlass Artist-in-Residence program, the Community Hall initiative for community use of space, Community Studio after-school art workshops for local students, and LAUSD partnership programs. OXY ARTS curates projects across mediums including film, visual art, performance, writing, and music, with a focus on centering Black, Indigenous, and POC artists and organizers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wanlass Artist-in-Residence A residency program for visiting artists at OXY ARTS, funded primarily by the Kathryn Caine Wanlass Charitable Foundation, supporting artists working at the intersection of contemporary art and community engagement.
• Community Studio (After-School Art Workshops) Free after-school art workshop series for local K-8 students, taught by Occidental College students, with semester-long cohorts (6 weeks) for 4+5th grade and 6-8th grade students. Supported by the Wanlass, Reed, and Mellon Foundations and offered in partnership with five LAUSD elementary schools.
• Community Hall (Free Event Space) A free, flexible programmatic space offered to local artists, community members, and projects, with priority given to BIPOC-led projects and those serving the immediate Highland Park community.
• Public Art Exhibitions Free contemporary art exhibitions presented at the OXY ARTS gallery, including projects such as the National Museum of the Aftermath, prioritizing Black, Indigenous, and POC artists and organizers.
• Film Screening Series Free public film screenings presented at OXY ARTS, including the four-night summer 2026 series under the National Museum of the Aftermath.
• Educational Lesson Plans Free curriculum-aligned lesson plans and educational resources for teachers and students, available on the OXY ARTS website for classroom use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Partnerships with 5 LAUSD elementary schools for after-school and field trip programming
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Malaya Movement LAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026Los Angeles chapter of the Malaya Movement for human rights and democracy in the Philippines. Presented an event at OXY ARTS as part of the National Museum of the Aftermath open call programming, benefiting Defend Migrants Alliance. Anti-fascist Filipino organization focused on human rights and democracy.
• Defend Migrants AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026United alliance to defend migrants, convened by IMA USA and Tanggol Migrante Movement with 100+ organizational members. Beneficiary of fundraising event hosted by Malaya Movement LA at OXY ARTS. Part of National Museum of the Aftermath open call programming.
• Beta Local (San Juan, Puerto Rico)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Beta Local in San Juan, Puerto Rico is one of the current iterations of Jon Rubin's National Museum project, alongside OXY ARTS in Los Angeles. The National Museum is a traveling project that changes its name and form as it moves between cities, critically examining which histories and futures are deemed worth telling.
• LAUSD Elementary Schools (Toland Way, Garvanza, Buchanan, Monte Vista, Yorkdale)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOXY ARTS has established partnerships with five LAUSD elementary schools in the Highland Park area for after-school art programs and field trip coordination. These schools participate in the Community Studio @ LAUSD program, receiving free art education on-site.
• Cauleen SmithmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist Cauleen Smith conceived and titled the National Museum of the Aftermath, currently operating within OXY ARTS for summer 2026. She is filming scenes for the speculative museum project addressing collective struggle and racial justice.
• Jon RubinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist, curator, and founder of the National Museum project. Co-curator of the National Museum of the Aftermath alongside Harrison Kinnane Smith. The National Museum critically examines which histories are worth saving.
• Occidental CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOXY ARTS is the multidisciplinary arts programming initiative of Occidental College. The college provides institutional support, facilities (4757 York Boulevard), and acts as the parent organization. OXY ARTS serves as a gateway to the college's five academic arts majors and minors.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• REDCAT: REDCAT is CalArts' downtown Los Angeles contemporary arts center inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall, presenting exhibitions, performances, and film screenings free or low-cost to the public. It is the closest direct peer to OXY ARTS as a university-affiliated, multidisciplinary contemporary art space with community-facing programming.
• LA Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE): LACE is a Hollywood-based nonprofit contemporary art space presenting exhibitions, performances, and public programs free to the public since 1978. It is comparable to OXY ARTS as a free, nonprofit LA contemporary art venue prioritizing experimental and community-engaged programming.
• Armory Center for the Arts: The Armory Center for the Arts is a Pasadena-based community arts center offering free exhibitions, studio art classes for youth and adults, and artist residencies. It is a strong direct peer given its comparable mix of gallery programming, K-12 education partnerships, and community workshop model in the greater Los Angeles area.
• Self Help Graphics & Art: Self Help Graphics & Art is a Boyle Heights-based Chicano/Mexican-American arts nonprofit offering free exhibitions, artist residencies, and youth arts education programs with explicit cultural and equity-centered mission. It is comparable to OXY ARTS in its free programming, BIPOC-centered curatorial focus, and nonprofit education mission.
• 18th Street Arts Center: 18th Street Arts Center is a Santa Monica-based nonprofit artist residency complex offering free exhibitions, residencies for international and local artists, and community programming. It is comparable to OXY ARTS as a free community arts nonprofit combining residencies, exhibitions, and educational outreach in Southern California.
• Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA): ICA LA is a downtown Los Angeles nonprofit contemporary art museum offering free admission and presenting exhibitions of emerging and underrepresented artists. It is comparable to OXY ARTS as a free-admission LA contemporary art nonprofit focused on diverse and emerging artist programming.
• Art + Practice: Art + Practice is a Leimert Park-based nonprofit combining free contemporary art exhibitions with programming for youth aging out of foster care. It is comparable to OXY ARTS as a free LA arts nonprofit combining exhibitions with social-mission-driven community education programming.

Broad incumbents

• Hammer Museum: The Hammer Museum is a UCLA-affiliated art museum in Westwood offering free admission, contemporary exhibitions, and public programs. It is comparable to OXY ARTS as a university-affiliated LA contemporary art institution with free public access, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OxyArts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRaDeL4bWemjBiCp_l9ixpw
• Facebookfacebook.com/oxyarts
• Instagraminstagram.com/OxyArts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oxy-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 OXY ARTS