The Black Art Today Foundation

What The Black Art Today Foundation does

The Black Art Today Foundation is a U.S.-based public charity founded in 2018 and headquartered in Lanham, Maryland, that curates contemporary Black art and supports Black, Indigenous, and artists of color (BIPOC) across visual, literary, and performing arts. Its core offerings include the Grants & Scholarships Program (direct financial support for emerging BIPOC artists), the Artists Cohort (a community of practice with mentorship, workshops, joint exhibitions, and networking), Featured Exhibits (curated exhibitions at partner venues), a Members Portal for supporters, and an e-commerce Shop and digital Gallery for art sales. The foundation's go-to-market is community-led, event-driven, and direct-to-consumer, relying on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), physical exhibitions at partner galleries such as Tysons Gallery, and its WordPress website to reach artists and supporters.

The organization operates with 1–10 staff and has no proprietary technology platform of its own; its digital infrastructure relies on third-party services including Artwork Archive for portfolio management and online art sales, PayPal for donation processing, and a website maintained by CJSJ Enterprises LLC. Revenue is generated through three streams: art sales (primarily via the Artwork Archive marketplace and the foundation's Shop), grants and scholarships funded by donations, and direct charitable contributions from supporters. Strategic partnerships with the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), Tysons Gallery, LevelUp, Artwork Archive, and CJSJ Enterprises LLC provide institutional support, exhibition channels, and marketing amplification. There are no publicly disclosed financial figures, membership counts, or impact metrics, and no AI or advanced technology capabilities are referenced in the source material.

Name

The Black Art Today Foundation

Legal name

The Black Art Today Foundation

Website

https://blackarttoday.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Black Art Today Foundation is a U.S.-based public charity that supports BIPOC artists through grants, scholarships, mentorship, curated exhibitions, and a community cohort program, funded by art sales and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts and Culture Nonprofit / Black Contemporary Art

NAICS

Museums (712110), Art Dealers (459920), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH), Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

Keywords

• Arts nonprofit foundation
• Black contemporary art
• Artist grants scholarships
• Artist mentorship program
• Art exhibitions gallery

Headquarters

HQ city

Lanham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Art Sales: Revenue generated from selling artwork created by BIPOC artists through the foundation's gallery and shop, including art available on the Artwork Archive platform.
2. Grants and Scholarships: Provides direct financial support to aspiring and emerging BIPOC artists representing cultural experiences across visual, literary, and performing arts, funded through donations and charitable contributions.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Accepts donations through PayPal and other channels to support the foundation's mission of nurturing and elevating Black artists and artists of color.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Black Art Today Foundation is a public charity that nurtures and elevates Black, Indigenous, and artists of color (BIPOC) by providing direct financial support through grants and scholarships, running the Artists Cohort community and mentorship program, curating contemporary Black art exhibitions, and selling artwork through its online shop and gallery partnerships. Its offerings are guided by the principle of Kuumba (creativity) and focus on equitable access, professional development, and cultural preservation for BIPOC artists.

Product overview

The Black Art Today Foundation is a public charity offering a portfolio of programs and services for BIPOC artists. The core offerings include the Grants & Scholarships Program providing direct financial support, the Artists Cohort for community building and mentorship, Featured Exhibits showcasing contemporary Black art, a Members Portal for exclusive access, and a Shop/Gallery for art sales. The organization is guided by the principle of Kuumba (creativity) and focuses on nurturing artistic excellence and cultural preservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grants & Scholarships Program Direct financial support program providing grants and scholarships to aspiring and emerging BIPOC artists across visual, literary, and performing arts, funded through donations and charitable contributions.
• Artists Cohort Community program fostering collaboration, mentorship, and professional growth through shared learning, workshops, joint exhibitions, and networking for BIPOC artists.
• Featured Exhibits Curated exhibitions showcasing contemporary Black art installations and works from the foundation's artists.
• BATF Members Portal Exclusive member-only portal for BATF members providing access to resources and member services.
• Shop Online shop featuring Black art for sale from the foundation's artists, operated directly through the foundation's website.
• Gallery Digital gallery featuring exhibits and art for sale through the Artwork Archive platform integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Scholarship and grant recipients receive direct financial support for creative futures

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tysons GallerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGallery partnership for exhibitions and showcasing Black contemporary art. The partnership enables physical exhibition space for foundation artists.
• MSAC (Maryland State Arts Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaryland State Arts Council partnership supporting arts programming and funding for Maryland artists and arts organizations.
• LevelUpminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing or promotional partnership supporting foundation initiatives and artist visibility.
• Artwork ArchivecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform partnership providing online portfolio and exhibition management for the foundation's artists, enabling public visibility and art sales.
• CJSJ Enterprises LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSite design and development partner responsible for the foundation's website design and technical maintenance.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Artwork Archive: The technology platform partner that powers the foundation's online portfolio and marketplace. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler and adjacent infrastructure provider in the art sales and portfolio management space.

Broad incumbents

• Creative Capital: A national nonprofit that provides grants, professional development, and career support to artists across disciplines. Comparable to the foundation's artist grantmaking and professional development model, though broader in artistic scope.
• Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts: A major arts foundation that funds visual arts organizations and curatorial programs through grants. Comparable in operating as an arts grantmaking foundation, though at vastly greater scale and emphasizing contemporary art broadly rather than Black art specifically.
• Studio Museum in Harlem: A leading institution dedicated to Black artists, with an Artist-in-Residence program, exhibitions, and collection. Comparable in mission and audience, but operates at substantially larger institutional scale with a permanent gallery and major endowment.
• Museum of the African Diaspora: A San Francisco-based museum focused on African diaspora art and culture, operating exhibitions, education programs, and a permanent collection. Comparable in its curation and exhibition of Black art, with broader geographic and institutional reach.

Regional players

• Black Arts Houston: A Houston-based nonprofit organization supporting Black artists through exhibitions, programming, and community engagement. Comparable to the Black Art Today Foundation's community-driven arts model, but operating in a different geographic market (Texas vs. Maryland).

Direct peers

• Black Artists & Designers Guild: A membership organization for Black artists and designers providing community, mentorship, and visibility. Highly comparable to the Artists Cohort program and the foundation's mission of building a supportive ecosystem for BIPOC creative professionals.
• Black Art In America: A media and community platform dedicated to Black art and artists, providing news, artist directories, exhibitions, and marketplace functionality. Highly comparable to The Black Art Today Foundation's mission of curating, promoting, and selling Black contemporary art while building an artist community.
• Souls Grown Deep Foundation: A nonprofit foundation dedicated to promoting the work of Black artists from the American South, with programs in artist support, exhibitions, and scholarship. Directly comparable to the Black Art Today Foundation's grantmaking, artist advocacy, and community-building model.
• Joan Mitchell Foundation: A national arts foundation that provides grants, residencies, and professional development to artists. Comparable to the Black Art Today Foundation's combined grantmaking, mentorship (Artists Cohort), and exhibition programming model, though at a larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@blackarttodayllcuncovered?si=P7eq-3W_8IfZIHRd
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlkArtToday
• Instagraminstagram.com/black_art_today?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-art-today-llc

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 The Black Art Today Foundation