The Creative Center at University Settlement
The Creative Center at University Settlement is a New York-based nonprofit arts-in-health organization founded in 1994 that deploys 8 artists-in-residence across 30+ NYC hospital sites and 40 national partners to combat social isolation through creative programming serving 9,000+ beneficiaries annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Creative Center at University Settlement does
The Creative Center at University Settlement is a nonprofit arts-in-health organization founded in 1994 and headquartered at 184 Eldridge Street in New York City. It deploys arts programming — including visual arts, music, writing, and performance workshops — to combat social isolation among vulnerable populations, with particular emphasis on hospital patients, older adults, family caregivers, and community members facing illness or bereavement. The organization operates five core programs: the Hospital Artist-in-Residence program placing 8 staff artists across 30+ New York City hospital sites; the Art Workshop Program serving community participants; Creative Aging for older adults; a Training Institute; and consulting services for external replication. It serves more than 9,000 New Yorkers annually and has extended to 40 U.S. hospital partners through national replication.
The organization merged with the University Settlement Society of New York in 2011, integrating into one of New York's oldest continuously operating settlement houses and gaining access to shared back-office infrastructure. As a 7-person team, The Creative Center sustains its programming through diversified grant funding from institutional sources including the National Endowment for the Arts, the LIVESTRONG Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, the Daria and Michael King Philanthropic Fund, and The Hearthland Foundation. The revenue model is grant-driven and philanthropic rather than transactional: services are delivered at subsidized rates to healthcare institutions and community partners, with methodology licensing through the Training Institute and consulting representing a smaller auxiliary revenue stream.
The business model is best characterized as a hybrid direct-service-plus-methodology-licensing nonprofit: primary value is created through in-person artist deployment at hospital and community sites, with a secondary revenue line monetizing 30 years of programmatic IP through training and consulting engagements with external healthcare and cultural institutions. There is no disclosed pricing per seat, per site, or per engagement; unit economics are anchored in grant dollars per beneficiary served rather than commercial SaaS metrics. Customer segments are functionally split between (a) institutional funders (federal/state arts agencies, private foundations, corporate philanthropy) and (b) service-delivery partners (hospitals, community centers, aging-services organizations).
The Creative Center at University Settlement firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Creative Center at University Settlement
- Legal name
- The Creative Center at University Settlement
- Website
- https://thecreativecenter.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Creative Center at University Settlement is a New York-based nonprofit arts-in-health organization founded in 1994 that deploys 8 artists-in-residence across 30+ NYC hospital sites and 40 national partners to combat social isolation through creative programming serving 9,000+ beneficiaries annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Creative Center at University Settlement industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts-in-Healthcare Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community & Senior Center Lifelong Learning Programs (EDAAAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Arts, Culture & Creative Learning for Seniors (Music, writing, crafts) (EDAAAMAI), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)
Keywords
Where The Creative Center at University Settlement is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Creative Center at University Settlement business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Hospital Residency Contracts: Contract-based pricing model with healthcare sites for Artist-in-Residence programs. Costs determined by scope of service including hours of on-site presence, supervision, program coordination, training, materials, and evaluation.
- Foundation and Government Grants: Funding from organizations including National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, LIVESTRONG Foundation, and other philanthropic sources.
- Fee-based Creative Aging Services: Direct services including art workshops, classes and training programs to older adult organizations and community centers, as well as residential facilities serving older adults.
- Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, bequests, and volunteer support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Art Workshops for Participants |
| Subscription | Annual | Hospital Artist-in-Residence Programs |
| Professional services/ project-based | Multi-year contract | Creative Aging Services for Organizations |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Creative Center at University Settlement product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Creative Center at University Settlement delivers free daily art workshops (in-person and online) and year-long professional Artist-in-Residence programs to people living with cancer, chronic illness, caregivers, and healthcare staff in hospitals across the New York City area. It supplements these programs with a fee-based Creative Aging service line for older adults, an annual Training Institute for arts-in-health practitioners, and consulting services for healthcare and community organizations seeking to implement arts-in-health programming.
Product overview
The Creative Center at University Settlement is a nonprofit arts in healthcare organization offering a suite of programs centered around art-making as a tool for emotional resilience and healing. The core offerings include the Art Workshop Program (free daily in-person and online workshops for people with cancer, chronic illness, and caregivers) and the Hospital Artist-in-Residence Program (placing professional artists in healthcare settings). These are complemented by the Training Institute (annual professional development program), Creative Aging services (fee-based programming for older adults), and Consulting Services for organizations seeking to implement arts-in-healthcare methods. The organization does not operate a technology platform but provides direct service programming through professional artists and partnerships with hospitals and community organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Art Workshop Program
- Hospital Artist-in-Residence Program
- Creative Aging
- Training Institute
- Consulting Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 88% of workshop participants reported feeling more connected to others in a meaningful way after completing a workshop series (2024 data)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Creative Center at University Settlement
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Creative Center at University Settlement technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Creative Center at University Settlement partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- University SettlementcoreIn 2011, The Creative Center merged with University Settlement, the oldest settlement house in the United States. The Creative Center is now integrated throughout University Settlement's senior programming. This partnership expanded The Creative Center's reach and embedded it within a larger community organization serving more than 40,000 New Yorkers annually on the Lower East Side and in Brooklyn.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Creative Center at University Settlement competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rx Art: Nonprofit organization that places visual art and artists in hospitals to humanize clinical environments and support healing. Direct comparable to The Creative Center's Hospital Artist-in-Residence model, serving similar patient populations in healthcare settings.
- Lifetime Arts: Nonprofit that trains organizations and artists to deliver creative aging programs for older adults. Closely comparable to The Creative Center's Creative Aging program and Training Institute in serving senior-serving organizations.
- Foundation for Art and Healing: Nonprofit that uses creative expression to support mental health and well-being. Comparable arts-in-health mission targeting similar psychosocial outcomes for individuals navigating health challenges.
- Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network: National Endowment for the Arts initiative delivering clinical arts interventions to military and veteran populations. Comparable trauma-informed, evidence-based arts-in-healthcare model with training and residency components.
- Musicians on Call: Nonprofit delivering live music programs to hospital patients, families, and staff. Comparable hospital-bedside arts-in-health delivery model serving similar populations (cancer, chronic illness), though focused on music rather than visual arts.
- Institute for Music and Neurologic Function: Nonprofit advancing research and clinical application of music therapy for neurological conditions. Comparable hospital-based arts therapy program with strong clinical and training infrastructure serving patient populations similar to The Creative Center's.
- Hospital Audiences Inc. (HAI): NYC-based nonprofit providing arts programming and entertainment to people in hospitals, correctional facilities, and social service settings. Closely mirrors The Creative Center's NYC hospital-residency model and community-arts-in-health approach.
Others
- Center for the Arts in Healthcare Research and Education: University of Florida-based research and training center advancing arts-in-healthcare practice and education. Comparable arts-in-health training and curriculum focus, complementary rather than competing.
- Arts + Mind Lab: Johns Hopkins-affiliated research initiative studying the impact of arts on brain, health, and well-being. Comparable evidence-building focus that supports the broader arts-in-health field in which The Creative Center operates.
- National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH): Industry membership organization advancing arts-in-health practice through advocacy, research, and convening. Ecosystem peer that elevates the field The Creative Center operates in, rather than direct service competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Creative Center at University Settlement social profiles
Digital presenceThe Creative Center at University Settlement financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Creative Center at University Settlement leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Creative Center at University Settlement funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Creative Center at University Settlement M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Creative Center at University Settlement
What does The Creative Center at University Settlement do?
The Creative Center at University Settlement delivers free daily art workshops (in-person and online) and year-long professional Artist-in-Residence programs to people living with cancer, chronic illness, caregivers, and healthcare staff in hospitals across the New York City area. It supplements these programs with a fee-based Creative Aging service line for older adults, an annual Training Institute for arts-in-health practitioners, and consulting services for healthcare and community organizations seeking to implement arts-in-health programming.
Is The Creative Center at University Settlement a public or private company?
The Creative Center at University Settlement is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Creative Center at University Settlement founded?
The Creative Center at University Settlement was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Creative Center at University Settlement based?
The Creative Center at University Settlement is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Creative Center at University Settlement make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hospital Residency Contracts are the primary driver. The others are foundation and Government Grants, fee-based Creative Aging Services and donations and Fundraising.
Who are The Creative Center at University Settlement's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rx Art, Lifetime Arts, Foundation for Art and Healing, Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, Musicians on Call, Institute for Music and Neurologic Function and Hospital Audiences Inc. (HAI). Others are Center for the Arts in Healthcare Research and Education, Arts + Mind Lab and National Organization for Arts in Health (NOAH).
Does The Creative Center at University Settlement have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Creative Center at University Settlement.
What industry is The Creative Center at University Settlement in?
The Creative Center at University Settlement's product category is Arts-in-Healthcare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAMAB, Community & Senior Center Lifelong Learning Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAGAA, Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration). Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7900.