running with scissors art studios

What running with scissors art studios does

Running With Scissors Art Studios is a privately held, single-location artist workspace operating as Running With Scissors Studios LLC from 250 Anderson Street in Portland, Maine's East Bayside neighborhood. Founded in 2003, the organization serves over 80 experienced to experimental artists and fine craftspeople, providing shared professional-grade workspace organized into three departments: Clay Center, Print Shop, and Wood Shop. The core technology is the physical studio infrastructure itself — kilns, printmaking equipment, woodworking tools, and the facilities supporting multiple artistic mediums — with no software product, app, or API. Supporting programs include the EMERGE Artist in Residence initiative, the ACCESS Fund for member financial support, recurring workshops, and annual community events such as the EMERGE Exhibition, Print Jam, 6x6/MCW, Holiday Sale, and Collective Marks.

The business operates a community-led go-to-market model built on word-of-mouth within the Portland creative community and active social media presence on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Revenue is generated through three streams: recurring studio memberships (subscription-based access to workspace, equipment, and community), product sales through a physical retail shop and online e-commerce storefront, and fee-based workshops and classes for members and external participants. Membership pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm is founder-led, with Kate Anker appearing on the company's LinkedIn profile, though no formal leadership title is published, and no external institutional investment or parent company has been disclosed. The organization has no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, no patents, and no regulatory or compliance certifications on file.

Name

running with scissors art studios

Legal name

Running With Scissors Studios LLC

Website

https://runningwithscissorsartstudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Running With Scissors Art Studios is a privately held, single-location artist workspace in Portland, Maine, founded in 2003, serving 80+ professional artists across Clay, Print, and Wood departments through recurring memberships, workshops, and retail sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Shared Artist Workspace

NAICS

Art Dealers (459920)

akta.pro primary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA), Fine Art Materials Retail (Paint, Canvas, Drawing) (CRALACAB)

Keywords

• Shared artist studios
• Ceramics workspace
• Printmaking studio
• Woodworking studio
• Artist residency programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Studio Memberships: Monthly/annual membership fees for access to shared studio spaces, equipment, and community resources across Clay, Print, and Wood departments
2. Product Sales (Shop): Sales of artwork and handcrafted products through the studio's retail shop and online storefront
3. Workshops and Classes: Fee-based workshops and educational programming for members and external participants

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Running With Scissors Art Studios is a membership-based physical artist workspace in Portland, Maine, providing shared access to professional-grade equipment across Clay, Print, and Wood departments for over 80 artists and fine craftspeople. Revenue is generated through recurring studio memberships, retail product sales of member artwork, fee-based workshops, and the EMERGE Artist in Residence program. The studio also operates an ACCESS Fund providing financial support to members.

Product overview

Running With Scissors Art Studios is a physical artist workspace and community center in Portland, Maine, not a software or technology product company. The organization offers a unified platform of studio spaces organized into three departments—Clay Center, Print Shop, and Wood Shop—serving over 80 professional artists and craftspeople. The core product is the Membership program, which provides access to shared equipment, workspace, and community resources across all departments. Supporting offerings include the EMERGE Artist in Residence program, ACCESS Fund financial support, Workshops, and various exhibitions and community events including EMERGE Exhibition, Print Jam, 6x6/MCW, Holiday Sale, and Collective Marks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Studio Memberships Recurring membership program granting individual artists access to shared studio workspace, professional-grade equipment, and community resources across the Clay, Print, and Wood departments.
• Clay Center Studio department within RWS Art Studios dedicated to clay and ceramics work, providing workspace and equipment for member artists working in the clay medium.
• Print Shop Studio department offering printmaking facilities and equipment for member artists, supporting various printmaking techniques and processes.
• Wood Shop Studio department equipped with woodworking tools and space for member artists and craftspeople to work with wood.
• Studios (General Workspace) General professional artist workspace at 250 Anderson Street, Portland, ME serving over 80 experienced to experimental artists and fine craftspeople across multiple mediums.
• EMERGE Artist in Residence Artist-in-residence program providing emerging artists with studio space, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities at RWS Art Studios.
• Workshops Fee-based educational programming covering various artistic techniques and mediums, offered to members and external participants.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Portland Mural InitiativeminorOthersCollaborative mural project with artists Tessa O'Brien and Will Sears. Running With Scissors Art Studios serves as a base for participating artists working on public art projects in the Portland area.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• The Steel Yard: Providence, RI-based industrial maker space providing shared studio access, equipment, and education across metal, jewelry, and other craft disciplines. Directly comparable as a community-led, multi-discipline maker workspace serving professional and emerging artists.
• The Clay Studio: Philadelphia, PA ceramic arts center providing studio access, classes, exhibitions, and residencies. Directly comparable as a single-medium (clay) studio community serving both professional artists and the broader public through workshops and retail.
• Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts: Newcastle, ME ceramic arts center offering studio access, residencies, and workshops. Directly comparable as a Maine-based single-medium (clay) studio community with memberships, workshops, and artist residency programs.
• Houston Center for Contemporary Craft: Houston, TX craft-focused arts organization providing studio access, exhibitions, classes, and residencies. Comparable as a multi-discipline craft community offering memberships, education, and gallery/exhibition programming.
• AS220: Providence, RI artist-run organization providing affordable studio space, galleries, and performance venues across multiple disciplines. Directly comparable as a community-driven, multi-department artist workspace with memberships, exhibitions, and residencies.
• Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Deer Isle, ME craft school and residency offering studio access, workshops, and residencies across ceramics, printmaking, wood, and other mediums. Comparable as a craft-focused community providing shared studio space and educational programming, with strong Maine regional overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Penland School of Craft: Penland, NC craft school with a broader national footprint, offering studios, workshops, and residencies across many craft disciplines. Comparable as an established, larger-scale craft community with multi-department studio offerings and residency infrastructure.
• Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts: Gatlinburg, TN school of arts and crafts with studios, workshops, residencies, and exhibitions across multiple craft disciplines. Comparable as an established craft education/community organization with similar multi-department structure and residency programs.

Emerging players

• Joan Mitchell Center: New Orleans, LA artist residency and studio community for visual artists. Comparable as a residency-based artist workspace providing studio access, community, and programming for working artists.
• Vermont Studio Center: Johnson, VT artist residency and studio center serving writers and visual artists. Comparable in the residency/artist-support space, with overlapping audience of professional artists seeking studio access and community, though more residency-focused than ongoing workspace.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RWSartstudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/running-with-scissors-art-studios
• Instagraminstagram.com/rwsartstudios

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 running with scissors art studios