Protocinema

What Protocinema does

Protocinema is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization (EIN 46-1366509) founded in 2011 by Mari Spirito and headquartered at 31 Madison Street, New York, with parallel international operations in Istanbul, Turkey. The organization operates as an itinerant entity without permanent brick-and-mortar facilities, producing site-specific exhibitions and public programs in partnership with host venues in New York, Istanbul, Dubai, Bangkok, Seoul, Berlin, Beirut, Philadelphia, Guatemala City, Santurce, Lagos, and elsewhere. Its core products include (1) Protocinema Exhibitions, (2) the Protocinema Emerging Curator Series (PECS) mentorship program launched in 2015, (3) Protodispatch, a monthly digital publication launched in 2022, (4) Protozine exhibition catalogues in multiple languages, and (5) Public Programs. The underlying technology footprint is modest: a multilingual (English/Turkish) website at protocinema.org, a digital publishing platform for Protodispatch, and social/direct channels including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and an email mailing list.

Protocinema's business model is donation-based. Revenue derives from individual contributions (accepted via Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Square, wire, and check) and from foundation/institutional grants, with named supporters including the Graham Foundation, Henry Moore Foundation, Mondriaan Foundation, Pro Helvetia, Goethe Institut, Art Council Korea, SAHA Association, Alserkal Arts Foundation, Cowles Charitable Trust, and The Foundation for Art Initiative. All exhibitions and public programs are free to attendees; Protocinema does not monetize programming through ticket or admission fees. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees (including Defne Ayas, Dillon Cohen, Jane Lombard, Ari Meşulam as President, Jason Heard as Treasurer, and Sheldon La Pierre as Secretary) and an International Commissioning Committee that includes Haro Cümbüşyan and Bilge Öğüt.

The core operational team is approximately 4-5 people: Mari Spirito (Executive Director and Curator; formerly of 303 Gallery, RISD faculty, and Art Basel Conversations curator), Dylan Seh-Jin Kim (Emerging Curator 2025-26; concurrently curatorial assistant at MoMA PS1 and programs coordinator at Independent Curators International), Tamara Khasanova (Adjunct Curator), and Murat Orozobekov (MuratBooks Bookkeeping). Protocinema serves artists, emerging curators, general public audiences, community organizations (e.g., ISS Storefront for Ideas), and partner art institutions, with explicit accessibility goals across culture, age, field, and background.

Name

Protocinema

Legal name

Protocinema

Website

https://protocinema.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Protocinema is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2011, operating itinerantly in New York and Istanbul to commission site-specific exhibitions, mentor emerging curators via PECS, and publish the monthly digital platform Protodispatch.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Protocinema is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization relying on donations from friends, patrons, and sponsors. All contributions go directly toward producing new artworks, supporting the team, and artistic communities. Multiple donation methods available including Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Square, wire transfer, and check.
2. Foundation and Institutional Support: Support from foundations including United States Mission Turkey, Polat Piyalepaşa Çarşı Istanbul, Umur Printing Istanbul, The Foundation for Art Initiative, American Chai Trust, Cowles Charitable Trust, Graham Foundation, Henry Moore Foundation, Mondriaan Foundation, Alserkal Arts Foundation, Pro Helvetia, Goethe Institut, Art Council Korea, SAHA Association, and others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Protocinema is an itinerant nonprofit arts organization that commissions site-specific contemporary artworks and exhibitions through partnerships with artists and host institutions across global cities. It runs the Protocinema Emerging Curator Series (PECS) mentorship program, publishes the monthly digital publication Protodispatch, and produces Protozine exhibition catalogues — all offered free to the public and supported by donations and foundation grants.

Product overview

Protocinema is a nonprofit arts organization that operates without permanent physical space ("brick and mortar"), functioning as an itinerant organization since 2011. The organization advances its mission through a portfolio of interconnected programs: (1) Protocinema Exhibitions — site-specific art exhibitions exploring shared human experiences across global contexts; (2) Protocinema Emerging Curator Series (PECS) — a mentorship program for emerging curators launched in 2015; (3) Protodispatch — a monthly digital publication featuring artists' dispatches; (4) Protozine — exhibition catalogues and curatorial texts; and (5) Public Programs — educational and community events. The organization maintains presence in both the United States and Turkey, with operations spanning multiple cities globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Protodispatch: Monthly digital publication featuring artists' dispatches on life conditions that necessitate their work.
• Protocinema Emerging Curator Series (PECS)
• Protozine

Products and services

• Protocinema Exhibitions Site-specific contemporary art exhibitions exploring shared human experiences, collaborating with artists and partner institutions across multiple cities globally.
• Protocinema Emerging Curator Series (PECS) Mentorship program for emerging curators providing end-to-end professional training and hands-on experience through the exhibition-making process, including fundraising, concept development, artist selection, critical writing, installation, and public programs.
• Protodispatch Monthly digital publication featuring artists' dispatches on the life conditions that necessitate their work, covering cross-continental themes from locations such as Palestine, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Puerto Rico.
• Protozine Exhibition catalogues and curatorial texts documenting Protocinema's exhibitions, published in multiple languages including English and Chinese Traditional.
• Public Programs Educational and community programming accompanying exhibitions, including artist talks, workshops, and collaborative events offered free to the public.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• ISS Storefront for IdeascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Host venue for Mulberry Bend exhibition at 127 Walker Street, Chinatown, New York. ISS (Immigrant Social Services) founded in 1972 to serve immigrants in Manhattan's Lower East Side/Chinatown. ISS Storefront for Ideas exists to explore community issues and co-imagine possibilities for Chinatown.
• Independent Curators International (ICI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational curatorial organization. Dylan Seh-Jin Kim serves as Programs Coordinator at ICI while also serving as Protocinema's Emerging Curator 2025-26.
• SAHA AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIstanbul-based arts association. Listed as part of Protocinema's International Commissioning Committee alongside Haro Cümbüşyan and Bilge Öğüt.
• Creative TimesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew York-based arts organization listed in courtesies for Mulberry Bend exhibition.
• Fanta-MLN (Milan)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilan-based exhibition space. Listed in courtesies for Mulberry Bend exhibition.
• Skowhegan School of Painting & SculpturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine-based artist residency program. Listed in courtesies. Sidian Liu participated in Skowhegan 2025.
• Alserkal Arts Foundation (Dubai)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDubai-based arts foundation. Hosted The Substance With Which The Future Is Made, a 6-month public video art program in 2025 at Alserkal Avenue.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• New Museum: Established NYC museum focused on contemporary and emerging art. While larger and institutionally permanent, it pursues a similar mission of supporting emerging artists and curators, and operates in the same NYC nonprofit arts ecosystem as Protocinema.

Direct peers

• The Kitchen: New York nonprofit presenting experimental contemporary art across disciplines. Comparable mission of supporting emerging artists, producing free public programming, and operating outside of traditional commercial gallery models.
• Participant Inc: New York nonprofit art space supporting emerging and under-recognized artists. Protocinema's Executive Director Mari Spirito serves as Vice President on Participant Inc's Board. Both are NYC-based nonprofits producing experimental contemporary art programming.
• Independent Curators International (ICI): International nonprofit that produces exhibitions and curatorial programs. Already named as a Protocinema strategic partner, with current PECS curator Dylan Seh-Jin Kim serving as Programs Coordinator there. Both focus on curatorial development, exhibition-making, and global touring shows.
• Artists Space: Long-running NYC nonprofit supporting emerging artists and curators. Both organizations share a focus on early-career talent development, exhibitions, and free public programs in the contemporary art field.
• SAHA Association: Istanbul-based arts association supporting contemporary art production in Turkey. Partner organization supporting Protocinema's work, with shared ties to the Istanbul contemporary art ecosystem and the same transregional artistic concerns.
• Creative Time: New York-based nonprofit producing public art commissions and exhibitions. Listed as a courtesy in Protocinema's Mulberry Bend exhibition. Both produce artist commissions and free public programming exploring social concerns.
• Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture: Maine-based artist residency program. Listed as a courtesy partner in Protocinema's Mulberry Bend exhibition, with a Protocinema-affiliated artist (Sidian Liu) participating in Skowhegan 2025. Both focus on supporting artists through programmatic infrastructure.
• ArteEast: New York-based nonprofit supporting artists from the Middle East, North Africa, and their diasporas. Mari Spirito serves on ArteEast's Board. Both are NYC-based nonprofits producing curatorial programming with Middle Eastern/transregional focus.
• Alserkal Arts Foundation: Dubai-based arts foundation hosting Protocinema's 6-month public video art program in 2025. Both produce artist commissions and public programs in international/transregional contexts, with foundation-based funding models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/protocinema
• Facebookfacebook.com/Protocinema
• Instagraminstagram.com/protocinema
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protocinema

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Protocinema