STAMFORD ART ASSOCIATION

What STAMFORD ART ASSOCIATION does

Stamford Art Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1971 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, operating from a historic 1874 townhouse. It serves artists, students, collectors, and the local community through visual arts programming, providing exhibition venues, education, and membership services.

The organization operates two gallery spaces—the Townhouse Gallery and the satellite 'Art at the Ferguson' gallery at the Ferguson Library—and runs approximately eight annual juried exhibitions, including the long-running Faber Birren National Color Show (now in its 45th year). Programming also includes twelve annual workshops, open painting sessions, and youth art classes. Exhibition entries are managed through the EntryThingy platform, and exhibition adjudication draws jurors from major institutions including MoMA, the Whitney, the Met, and the Guggenheim.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: individual and family memberships, $35 exhibition entry fees, a 30% commission on artwork sales, $100/hour private gallery rentals, workshop fees, and grants from foundations such as the Kuriansky Foundation, Connecticut Office of the Arts, and the City of Stamford. The organization is volunteer-led by a board of directors and supported by a small staff (1-10 employees), with recent investments in digital infrastructure, social media, and member relations indicating incremental modernization.

Name

STAMFORD ART ASSOCIATION

Legal name

Stamford Art Association

Website

https://stamfordartassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Stamford Art Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that operates two galleries and runs juried exhibitions, workshops, and membership programs serving artists, students, and the Stamford, Connecticut community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Community art exhibitions
• Juried art shows
• Art gallery rentals
• Artist membership programs
• Nonprofit arts education

Headquarters

HQ city

Stamford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Art Exhibition Services: SAA generates revenue through gallery rental fees for solo and group shows at the Townhouse Gallery, as well as entry fees from artists submitting work to juried exhibitions.
2. Commission on Art Sales: The Stamford Art Association takes a 30% commission on any artwork sold through their exhibitions. The buyer pays SAA, which then pays the artist less the commission.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues from artists and supporters including painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, and multimedia artists.
4. Grants and Donations: Supported by grants from Connecticut Commission on the Arts, Connecticut Humanities, City of Stamford, and Kuriansky Foundation, plus generous donations from individual artists and friends.
5. Event Sponsorships: SAA holds an annual fundraiser that celebrates artists and local business partnerships, with opportunities for local businesses to become event sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Stamford Art Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organization that organizes juried and solo art exhibitions, gallery rentals, workshops, and educational programs at its historic Townhouse Gallery in Stamford, CT and at the Ferguson Library. It sustains operations through a 30% commission on artwork sales, gallery rental fees, annual membership dues, grants, and donations. The organization provides a forum for emerging and professional artists to exhibit and sell work while offering the community accessible, inclusive art experiences.

Product overview

The Stamford Art Association operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organization running two primary physical gallery spaces: the Townhouse Gallery in a historic 1874 townhouse and Art at the Ferguson at Ferguson Library. The organization hosts eight annual exhibitions including the flagship Faber Birren Color Award Show (since 1980) and the Annual Vivian & Stanley Reed Marine Show. Key offerings include juried exhibitions, solo shows, gallery rental, workshops (Art Critique, Figure Drawing, Art in The Park), Open Mic Nights, and a membership program. Exhibitions are also accessible online, combining in-person and virtual viewing experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Faber Birren Color Award Show: Annual national color award exhibition held since 1980, honoring color theorist Faber Birren. Features $1000 first prize and attracts international artists.
• Townhouse Gallery
• Art at the Ferguson
• 26th Annual Vivian & Stanley Reed Marine Show

Products and services

• Townhouse Gallery A 3-story historic townhouse gallery established in an 1874 building that hosts eight consecutive shows annually, including two solo exhibits and six juried exhibits with prominent jurors from New York museums and institutions. Open Friday through Sunday 12-3 pm.
• Art at the Ferguson Curated exhibitions at Ferguson Library, Third Floor Auditorium Gallery. SAA curates three annual exhibits at this ADA-accessible location as part of the Art Spaces in Fairfield County Libraries consortium.
• Faber Birren Color Award Show Annual national color-focused art competition held since 1980 at Townhouse Gallery. The only artistic event devoted exclusively to the use of color, featuring cash prizes including a $1,000 first prize. Pulls artists internationally and runs for 6+ weeks, selecting 40 artists annually for display.
• Annual Vivian & Stanley Reed Marine Show Annual multimedia juried exhibit at Townhouse Gallery focused on marine themes (sea, seashore, boats, water activity). Named after founding members Vivian and Stanley Reed, avid sailors. Features cash prizes and attracts jurors from major regional institutions.
• Gallery Rental Program Townhouse Gallery space available for rental for solo shows or small group shows, priced by floor (first and second floors available). Also available for special events with fees available upon inquiry.
• Workshops and Events Includes Art Critique (monthly members benefit), figure drawing sessions at UCONN Stamford, Art in The Park (free public walk-in workshops at Mill River Park every other Saturday April-October), Open Mic Night events, and Annual Fundraiser events.
• Membership Program Annual membership program for painters, sculptors, printmakers, photographers, and multimedia artists with benefits including reduced entry fees ($30 vs $35 for first piece; $15 vs $20 for additional entries) and access to member-only events like Art Critique.
• Artist Pop-Up Shows Short-term gallery rental opportunities for artists to exhibit work at Townhouse Gallery for limited engagements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 consecutive shows per year at Townhouse Gallery
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ferguson LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAA curates multiple annual 'Art at the Ferguson' exhibitions at the Ferguson Library, Third Floor Auditorium Gallery. This partnership provides additional public gallery and presentation space with ADA accessibility. Ferguson Library is part of Art Spaces in Fairfield County Libraries, a consortium of 13 libraries offering curated visual art exhibits.
• UCONN StamfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAA hosts figure drawing sessions at UCONN Stamford, providing a self-directed 3-hour figure drawing session with a live model. This partnership supports adult art education and community engagement.
• Mill River ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAA conducts free 'Art in The Park' workshops every other Saturday, April through October, at The Whittingham Center in Mill River Park. Free, public walk-in arts and crafts workshops for all ages with supplies provided.
• Local High SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThrough partnerships with local high schools, SAA provides learning opportunities for young aspiring artists, as well as teaching and community volunteer opportunities.
• Art Spaces in Fairfield County LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium of 13 libraries in Fairfield County that offer curated visual art exhibits; Ferguson Library is a member where SAA curates exhibitions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greenwich Arts Society: A Fairfield County, CT-based nonprofit arts organization offering juried exhibitions, workshops, and member programs — directly comparable to SAA in mission, scale, and community-anchored gallery model.
• Rowayton Arts Center: A nearby Connecticut nonprofit arts center running juried exhibitions, gallery rentals, and educational programming; comparable in scale, programming mix, and community nonprofit structure.
• Ridgefield Guild of Artists: A Fairfield County artist guild hosting juried shows, solo exhibitions, and workshops in a community gallery setting — highly comparable in operating model and member-driven structure.
• Silvermine School of Art / Silvermine Arts Center: A Connecticut-based nonprofit arts center combining gallery exhibitions, art school programming, and artist residencies; comparable in mission to SAA but with broader programming scope.
• Mamaroneck Artists Guild: A Westchester County, NY nonprofit guild running juried exhibitions and artist workshops; structurally analogous to SAA as a community-anchored membership arts organization.
• Pen and Brush: A nonprofit dedicated to supporting women in the arts with juried exhibitions and member programs; comparable mission and exhibition-driven nonprofit model, though with a narrower demographic focus.

Regional players

• Katonah Museum of Art: A regional museum in Westchester County, NY featuring rotating exhibitions and educational programming; broader institutional scale but overlapping local arts audience with SAA.
• Bruce Museum: A Greenwich, CT museum that has provided jurors to SAA exhibitions; larger and broader in scope (art + science), but part of the same regional museum ecosystem.
• Westchester Arts Council: A regional arts council providing grants, programming, and advocacy for artists in Westchester; overlaps with SAA's nonprofit arts funding and community programming roles in a neighboring geography.

Broad incumbents

• National League of American Pen Women: A national nonprofit organization for professional women artists, writers, and composers; comparable membership-based artist-community model at much broader geographic scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stamfordartassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/stamfordartassn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stamford-art-association

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 STAMFORD ART ASSOCIATION