Arts Connection
Arts Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designated as the state-local partner of the California Arts Council for San Bernardino County. It supports 200+ arts organizations, individual artists, schools, and municipalities through grants, fiscal sponsorship, residencies, and arts education programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSan Bernardino, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Arts Connection does
Arts Connection (legally \"Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County\") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Bernardino, California. It is the designated state-local partner of the California Arts Council for San Bernardino County, a status conferred by the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, and serves as the umbrella organization for arts and culture across the county, supporting over 200 arts and cultural organizations, individual artists, schools, and municipalities.
The organization operates a platform-plus-programs architecture. Core programmatic products include Estudio Aire (an Artist-in-Residence program with 24/7 studio access, stipends, and customized professional development); workSPACE (affordable studio rentals at $150/day and $75/evening); ARTS Avenue (free K-12 after-school arts workshops delivered across 17 school sites); Poetry Out Loud (a high school poetry recitation competition hosted locally for seven years); and Arte Común (a shared third-space studio environment). Distribution mechanisms include Artist Micro Grants ($500–$1,000 to 22 artists annually, totaling $15,000) and a fiscal sponsorship program covering 16+ independent artist collectives and programs. Supporting infrastructure includes the Creatives At Work storytelling campaign, the SB County Arts Happenings newsletter, and a Consulting Services vertical providing Arts & Culture Master Planning, public art planning, fund development, and creative economy development for municipalities (e.g., City of Redlands).
Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: government grants (California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts), municipal partnerships (City of Ontario microgrant pilot), individual and corporate philanthropy, studio rental fees, and fee-based microgrant administration. Go-to-market is community-led and regional, leveraging partnerships with Riverside Arts Council, California Desert Arts Council, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, and the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. No revenue figures are disclosed in source data, and headcount is reported at 1–10 employees, indicating a small operating base relative to its regional scope.
Arts Connection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arts Connection
- Legal name
- Arts Connection - The Arts Council of San Bernardino County
- Website
- https://artsconnectionnetwork.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Arts Connection is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit designated as the state-local partner of the California Arts Council for San Bernardino County. It supports 200+ arts organizations, individual artists, schools, and municipalities through grants, fiscal sponsorship, residencies, and arts education programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arts Connection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts Council Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building) (BPAGAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)
Keywords
Where Arts Connection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Bernardino
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Arts Connection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Grants and Government Funding: Arts Connection receives funding from government agencies including California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and local municipal partners. As the state-local partner designated by San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, the organization facilitates and distributes grant funding to arts organizations.
- Donations and Philanthropy: Individual and corporate donations from community members, local partners, and sponsors support operations and microgrant programs.
- Program Fees and Rentals: Revenue from studio rentals (workSPACE program), and nominal fees for certain workshops and programs.
- Microgrant Administration: Arts Connection administers microgrant programs for municipalities like City of Ontario, taking administrative fees to manage application processes and fund distribution.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Day Rental - $150 (Thursday-Sunday, 9AM-5PM) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Evening Rental - $75 (Monday-Sunday, 5:30PM-9:30PM) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Artist Micro Grants - $500 to $1,000 per award |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | City of Ontario Artist Microgrant - $500 to $1,500 per award |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Arts Connection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arts Connection - The Arts Council of San Bernardino County supports individual artists, arts organizations, schools, and municipalities through artist residency programs (Estudio Aire), microgrants ranging from $500 to $1,500, fiscal sponsorship administration, K-12 after-school arts education (ARTS Avenue), national poetry recitation competitions (Poetry Out Loud), affordable studio rentals (workSPACE), shared studio programming (Arte Común), and customized consulting for cities and arts organizations. The organization serves as the designated state-local partner to the California Arts Council for San Bernardino County.
Product overview
Arts Connection operates as a comprehensive arts council serving San Bernardino County, offering a multi-faceted portfolio of programs and services centered around artist support, arts education, and community engagement. The core offerings include Estudio Aire (Artist-In-Residence program with companion workSPACE rentals and Arte Común shared studio space), ARTS Avenue (K-12 after-school arts workshops), Poetry Out Loud (high school poetry competition), Artist Micro Grants ($500-$1,000 grants), and the Ontario Artist Microgrant (City of Ontario partnership grants of $500-$1,500). Supporting infrastructure includes Fiscal Sponsorship for tax-exempt status, Consulting Services for municipalities and organizations, Creatives At Work documentation campaign, and the SB County Arts Happenings newsletter. This platform-plus-programs architecture is designed to serve artists at every career stage from youth through established professionals, with funding provided by organizations including US Bank, California Arts Council, NEA, and the Inland Empire Community Foundation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Estudio Aire An Artist-In-Residence (AIR) program located in San Bernardino, providing emerging and mid-career artists from local communities with 24/7 access to a self-contained studio space for one- to two-month residencies, financial stipends, free studio materials, mentorship, and personalized professional development workshops. Artists create community-engaged culminating events.
- ARTS Avenue (After School Program) A free after-school arts and culture workshop program for youth K-12, offering disciplines including painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, dance, creative writing, and music, delivered by local professional artists at multiple school sites across San Bernardino County.
- Poetry Out Loud A free national poetry recitation and competition program for high school students, hosted locally by Arts Connection for seven years. Students select poems from the National Poetry Foundation Anthology, memorize, interpret, and recite them in competitions advancing from classroom to regional to state and national levels with cash prizes.
- Artist Micro Grants A cornerstone grant initiative providing $15,000 annually to 22 artists who reside in or work within San Bernardino County, with individual grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 to support materials, production, professional development, and other artistic needs.
- Ontario Artist Microgrant A pilot grant program in partnership with the City of Ontario, supporting creative projects by artists living in San Bernardino County with $500 to $1,500 grants for public activations such as workshops, pop-up installations, performances, or cultural events within Ontario city limits.
- workSPACE Studio Rentals Affordable reserved studio access for artists and creative teams needing exclusive, uninterrupted production time at Estudio Aire, offering day rentals ($150 for 8 hours, up to 12 people, Thursday-Sunday 9AM-5PM) and evening rentals ($75 for 4 hours, up to 6 people, Monday-Sunday 5:30PM-9:30PM), priced below typical regional studio rental costs.
- Fiscal Sponsorship Program Administrative support and guidance enabling artists, projects, and organizations to pursue grants, donations, and sponsorship opportunities requiring tax-exempt status. Arts Connection manages funds disbursement according to grant proposals and guidelines, currently sponsoring 16+ artist collectives and programs.
- Arte Común A free, artist-centered third space offering shared time and space at Estudio Aire for artists to practice together in a supportive, shared studio environment, supporting creative presence, process, and flow.
- Consulting Services Customized consultancy services for organizations and municipalities, including public art planning, fund development strategy, program development and evaluation, arts leadership recruitment and coaching, event management, creative economy development, arts and culture master planning, artist microgrant program administration, creative placemaking, and VAPA planning.
- Inland Film Festival An annual film festival program showcasing films from and about the Inland Empire region, with programming including calls for submissions, screenings, and related events.
Quantifiable outcome
- 22 artists received microgrants totaling $15,000 annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Arts Connection
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Arts Connection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Arts Connection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- City of OntariocoreCity of Ontario launched its first Artist Microgrant Pilot Program in partnership with Arts Connection, providing $500-$1,500 grants to 7-12 artists for public activations within Ontario city limits.
- Inland Empire Community FoundationcoreFounded in 1941, IECF is the oldest and largest community foundation serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Arts Connection partners with IECF for funding coordination and community foundation services across the 27,000+ square mile region.
- Riverside Arts CouncilcoreEstablished in 1977, Riverside Arts Council is Riverside County's central source for arts-related services. Arts Connection collaborates on regional arts initiatives and creative economy development across the Inland Empire.
- California Desert Arts CouncilcoreCDAC unifies, empowers, and promotes arts and culture in the Coachella Valley region. Arts Connection partners on advocacy, business development, and cultural initiatives in the desert region.
- Garcia Center for the ArtscoreEstablished in 1932 and renamed in 2015, the Garcia Center serves as a hub for creatives and art organizations in San Bernardino. Arts Connection hosts programs and events at this venue and collaborates on community arts initiatives.
- San Bernardino County Superintendent of SchoolscoreWith a $350 million budget and nearly 2,000 staff, the County Superintendent collaborates with Arts Connection on Poetry Out Loud and other arts education programs for K-12 schools.
- California Arts CouncilcoreCalifornia's state arts agency designated Arts Connection as its state-local partner for San Bernardino County. This partnership enables distribution of state arts funding and advocacy for the creative sector.
- National Endowment for the ArtscoreThe independent federal arts agency partners with Arts Connection through the Poetry Out Loud program and other initiatives to support arts learning and access.
- Poetry FoundationcorePublisher of Poetry magazine, the Poetry Foundation partners with Arts Connection on the Poetry Out Loud program, providing resources and national competition structure.
- Inlandia InstituteminorRegional literary organization that collaborates with Arts Connection on Poetry Out Loud programming in San Bernardino County.
- California State University, San BernardinominorCSUSB collaborates with Arts Connection through board leadership (Board Chair Kathryn Ervin is Professor and Chair of Theatre Arts) and regional arts initiatives.
- City of San BernardinocoreThe City partners with Arts Connection on Clean California grant projects including Sole Alley revitalization and 4th Street Alley Beautification in the Historic Arts District.
- City of RedlandscoreArts Connection is leading the Arts and Culture Master Plan (ACMP) for the City of Redlands, gathering community input to develop shared vision and goals for arts and culture.
- Compound YVminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection, operated by independent artists making communities better through creative work.
- Creative GroundsminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection supporting community arts initiatives.
- Eclipse Creative SpaceminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for creative space development.
- Institute of InquiryminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection focused on inquiry-based learning through arts.
- Kapoeira Angola Preto VelhominorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for cultural arts programming.
- Other Desert RadiominorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection, a creative arts project.
- Perry PicasshoeminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection supporting artistic projects.
- 3 Lines CollectiveminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection, an artist collective.
- The Firehouse JTminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for Joshua Tree arts programming.
- Frontline ObserverminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for documentary and journalistic arts.
- SoCal Trash ArmyminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection focused on environmental arts activism.
- Solstice Theatre IEminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection, a QBIPOC community shadow puppet theatre.
- Studio Works Art CollectiveminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection, an artist collective.
- Sun SpotminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for creative arts.
- Jamii PublishingminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for literary publishing.
- Public RoadminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for literary arts.
- Wild WomxnminorFiscally sponsored program under Arts Connection for women's arts programming.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Arts Connection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance: Regional arts service organization supporting cultural groups and artists in the Greater Philadelphia area through advocacy, research, and capacity building. Comparable as a regional arts intermediary serving member organizations, though operating in a different geography.
Direct peers
- Fractured Atlas: National nonprofit providing fiscal sponsorship and business services to artists and arts organizations. Directly comparable to Arts Connection's fiscal sponsorship program, with similar value proposition of enabling tax-exempt grant access for individual artists and small collectives.
- Arts Council for Long Beach: Long Beach's local arts council providing grant administration, advocacy, and arts programming in a single California municipality. Comparable to Arts Connection as a California-based arts service/support nonprofit serving artists, cultural organizations, and municipal partners.
- Riverside Arts Council: Riverside County's central arts service organization and a named strategic partner of Arts Connection. Operates the same state-local partner model for Riverside County, delivering grants, advocacy, fiscal sponsorship, and arts education programming — directly comparable in mission, structure, and revenue model.
- California Desert Arts Council: Coachella Valley's regional arts council and a named partner of Arts Connection. Mirrors the same CAC state-local partner structure, providing advocacy, regranting, and business development for artists and arts organizations within its region — directly comparable organizational model and customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Mid-America Arts Alliance: Regional arts organization serving multiple states through grantmaking, professional development, and artist services. Comparable to Arts Connection in mission as an arts service/support intermediary that distributes funding and builds capacity across a multi-state region.
- Americans for the Arts: National nonprofit arts service organization advancing the arts through advocacy, research, and professional development. Comparable as a larger, nationally scoped arts service/support organization with overlapping functions in advocacy, capacity building, and grant program design.
- New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Long-established New York arts service organization operating fiscal sponsorship, grants, fellowships, and professional development across all artistic disciplines. Comparable as a larger incumbent offering the same combination of fiscal sponsorship and artist support services that Arts Connection delivers at the regional level.
- LA County Arts Commission: County-level arts body for Los Angeles County administering grants, public art, and cultural services at much larger scale. Comparable as a government-affiliated arts service organization in California with overlapping functions in grant administration, advocacy, and arts education.
- San Francisco Arts Commission: Municipal arts body for San Francisco administering grants, public art, and cultural programming. Comparable to Arts Connection as a government-connected arts service organization in California with overlapping grant administration and community arts programming functions.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Arts Connection social profiles
Digital presenceArts Connection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arts Connection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Arts Connection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arts Connection 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 Arts Connection
What does Arts Connection do?
Arts Connection - The Arts Council of San Bernardino County supports individual artists, arts organizations, schools, and municipalities through artist residency programs (Estudio Aire), microgrants ranging from $500 to $1,500, fiscal sponsorship administration, K-12 after-school arts education (ARTS Avenue), national poetry recitation competitions (Poetry Out Loud), affordable studio rentals (workSPACE), shared studio programming (Arte Común), and customized consulting for cities and arts organizations. The organization serves as the designated state-local partner to the California Arts Council for San Bernardino County.
Is Arts Connection a public or private company?
Arts Connection is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Arts Connection founded?
Arts Connection was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Arts Connection based?
Arts Connection is headquartered in San Bernardino, United States, in the North America region.
How does Arts Connection make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Grants and Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy, program Fees and Rentals and microgrant Administration.
Who are Arts Connection's main competitors?
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Fractured Atlas, Arts Council for Long Beach, Riverside Arts Council and California Desert Arts Council. Broad incumbents are Mid-America Arts Alliance, Americans for the Arts, New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), LA County Arts Commission and San Francisco Arts Commission.
Does Arts Connection have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arts Connection.
What industry is Arts Connection in?
Arts Connection's product category is Arts Council Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAL, Arts & Culture Service/Support Organizations (Networks, Advocacy, Capacity Building), with a secondary code of BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 8600.