The Center For Emerging Visual Artists
The Center for Emerging Visual Artists is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that supports emerging visual artists through fellowships, citywide studio tours, exhibitions, outreach, and consulting programs, serving more than 400,000 artists and audience members annually across a 1,500+ artist network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Center For Emerging Visual Artists does
The Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA) is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 (originally as the Creative Artist Network by Felicity Roosevelt "Bebe" Benoliel) that supports emerging visual artists through fellowships, exhibitions, education, and consulting programs. Its core programs include the two-year Visual Artist Fellowship (currently 6 fellows per year, 300+ alumni since inception), the annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tours spanning 20+ neighborhoods with 40,000+ visitors, the biennial Art in the Open along the Schuylkill River Trail, the Hand-in-Hand Outreach Program for at-risk youth, the Senior Partnership Initiative with NewCourtland, the Rebeccah Milena Maia Blum Curatorial Fellowship with Allens Lane Art Center, Custom Exhibitions for corporate clients, and the CFEVA Shop online marketplace for member artwork.
CFEVA operates a hybrid revenue model combining tax-deductible donations, foundation grants (William Penn Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, NEA, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Independence Foundation), corporate sponsorships, tiered individual membership (Friends of CFEVA at $250-$5,000), POST advertising and studio sponsorships ($300-$2,500), $10,000 named fellowship sponsorships, custom exhibition fees for B2B clients, and direct art sales ($200-$7,500). Distribution is regional and city-focused, with a single gallery at the Felicity R. "Bebe" Benoliel Gallery at The Barclay plus citywide event programming and an online shop. The organization is governed by a 20-member Artist Advisory Board, operates with 1-10 employees, and serves more than 400,000 artists and audience members annually through a network of 1,500+ visual artists. Technology footprint is minimal by design, with no software products, apps, or APIs; the underlying "platform" is the artist network, fellowship structure, and citywide event logistics built over four decades.
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Center For Emerging Visual Artists
- Legal name
- Center for Emerging Visual Artists Ltd
- Website
- https://cfeva.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Center for Emerging Visual Artists is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1983 that supports emerging visual artists through fellowships, citywide studio tours, exhibitions, outreach, and consulting programs, serving more than 400,000 artists and audience members annually across a 1,500+ artist network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Visual Arts Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Creator Partnerships & Sponsorship Sales (Brand Partnerships) (MPAAAHAK)
Keywords
Where The Center For Emerging Visual Artists is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors, corporate partners, and foundation grants including major support from William Penn Foundation, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and Independence Foundation
- Annual Membership (CFEVA Champions): Annual giving program with donor recognition at various levels including Visionary, Patron, Friend, and Young Friend categories
- Friends of CFEVA Membership: Annual membership program offering VIP events, studio visits, artist talks, workshops with tiered pricing from $250 (Young Friend) to $5,000 (Visionary)
- Year-End Giving Campaigns: Annual fundraising campaign with suggested donation amounts of $100, $500, $2,500, and $5,000 plus custom amounts
- Custom Exhibitions: Fee-based exhibition services for businesses and commercial settings including office building lobbies, private offices, restaurants, and condominiums. Includes artwork selection, curating, installation, and signage
- Named Fellowship Sponsorship: $10,000 donation fully supports a Visual Artist Fellowship named in honor of the donor. Fellowship runs for two years with funding and mentorship
- Art Sales (CFEVA Shop): Online marketplace selling original artwork by CFEVA artists with prices ranging from $200 to $7,500. Purchase directly supports local artists
- POST Sponsorship and Advertising: Sponsorship packages for Philadelphia Open Studio Tours including studio sponsorships starting at $1,500 and advertising in tour directory from $300 to $2,500
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | POST Artist Basic Registration - $50 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | POST Artist Premium Registration - $150 |
| Subscription | Annual | Young Friend - $250/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Friend - $500/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron - $1,000/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Visionary - $5,000/year |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Visual Artist Fellowship Sponsorship - $10,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | POST Directory Advertising - $300 to $2,500 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Studio Sponsorship - Starting at $1,500 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CFEVA supports emerging visual artists through a portfolio of in-person programs including a two-year Visual Artist Fellowship with funding and mentorship, the citywide Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), and the biennial Art in the Open outdoor exhibition. It also operates community outreach (Hand-in-Hand with at-risk youth, Senior Partnership Initiative), fee-based Custom Exhibitions for businesses, an online CFEVA Shop selling original art, and tiered individual membership/donor programs (Friends of CFEVA, CFEVA Champions). The organization is funded by individual donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, membership fees, and marketplace sales.
Product overview
CFEVA offers a comprehensive suite of artist support programs centered around its Visual Artist Fellowship (a two-year program for emerging artists), citywide event programming including the annual Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) and biennial Art in the Open, community outreach through Hand-in-Hand and Senior Partnership Initiative, custom exhibition services for businesses, and a curatorial fellowship. The organization operates CFEVA Shop as an online art marketplace and maintains membership/donor programs (Friends of CFEVA, CFEVA Champions) to support its mission of fostering equitable and sustainable artistic practices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST): The largest tour of artist studios and creative workspaces in the region, celebrating the contribution of artists to Philadelphia's vibrancy
- Art in the Open (AiO)
- Visual Artist Fellowship
- Senior Partnership Initiative
- Hand-in-Hand Outreach Program
- The Rebeccah Milena Maia Blum Curatorial Fellowship
- CFEVA Champions
- Friends of CFEVA
Products and services
- Visual Artist Fellowship Two-year flagship program of CFEVA providing funding, mentorship, exhibition opportunities, and professional development to emerging visual artists in Philadelphia, with access to a 20-member Artist Advisory Board and visiting curators.
- Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) Largest tour of artist studios and creative workspaces in the Philadelphia region, a free citywide self-guided event spanning 20+ neighborhoods with exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, and artist talks held each October across two weekends (East and West of Broad Street).
- Art in the Open (AiO) Biennial outdoor art event partnering with Fairmount Water Works where professional multidisciplinary artists create works in real time along the Schuylkill River Trail between Fairmount Water Works and South Street, offering open-air studio experiences.
- Hand-in-Hand Outreach Program Community outreach initiative bringing professional visual artists together with at-risk children and other underserved populations for meaningful arts engagement, partnering with local homeless shelters, transitional housing facilities, and social service agencies.
- Custom Exhibitions Fee-based curated art exhibition services for businesses and commercial venues including office building lobbies, private offices, restaurants, and condominiums, including artwork selection, installation, signage, and ongoing rotation services.
- The Rebeccah Milena Maia Blum Curatorial Fellowship Fellowship providing funds, mentorship, and a $1,500 curatorial research stipend along with an exhibition opportunity at Allens Lane Art Center for up-and-coming local curators.
- Senior Partnership Initiative Program bringing collaborative art workshops to senior communities across Philadelphia through the NewCourtland Artist Fellowship, fostering creativity and connection among older adults.
- CFEVA Shop Online marketplace featuring original artworks by CFEVA artist members with rotating monthly artist spotlights; artworks priced from $200 to $7,500, with purchases directly supporting local artists.
- Friends of CFEVA Annual membership program offering behind-the-scenes access to Philadelphia artists through VIP events, studio visits, artist talks, workshops, and collection tours, with tiered pricing from Young Friend ($250) to Visionary ($5,000).
- CFEVA Champions Annual giving program recognizing donors who provide broad support for visual artists with tools, resources, and opportunities for artistic development, with Visionary, Patron, Friend, and Young Friend recognition levels.
Companies that use The Center For Emerging Visual Artists
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Fairmount Water WorkscoreHost partner for Art in the Open (AiO), a biennial outdoor art event along the Schuylkill River Trail. Partnership enables public art programming connecting artists with river ecosystem.
- Allens Lane Art CentercorePartner in The Rebeccah Milena Maia Blum Curatorial Fellowship, providing exhibition space and hosting juried curatorial fellowship program for up-and-coming local curators.
- NewCourtlandcoreNewCourtland Artist Fellowship bringing collaborative art workshops to senior communities across Philadelphia through CFEVA artist programming.
- Philadelphia Corporate PartnersmajorCorporate partnerships for sponsorship of events like Philadelphia Open Studio Tours and Art in the Open, as well as hosting art exhibitions and pop-ups at corporate offices.
- DICK Art MaterialsminorArt supply sponsor providing support for Philadelphia Open Studio Tours and artist programming.
- Sonesta PhiladelphiaminorHotel partner hosting CFEVA exhibitions at their Rittenhouse Square location, featuring work by Philadelphia artists.
- Stratton Sculpture StudiosminorSculpture studio supporting POST and CFEVA programming through sponsorship.
- My Personal CuratorminorArt advisory partner supporting POST and CFEVA artist community.
- Plaza ArtminorArt gallery partner supporting POST and Philadelphia arts community.
- Artist CraftsmanminorArt supply retailer supporting POST and CFEVA artist community.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Penland School of Craft: National nonprofit arts education center offering workshops, residencies, and fellowships to artists across multiple disciplines. Comparable model of artist development, donor-supported programming, and workshop-driven community.
- Haystack Mountain School of Crafts: Nonprofit craft and visual arts school offering workshops, residencies, and conferences. Directly comparable in nonprofit artist-support model and workshop-based community engagement.
- Anderson Ranch Arts Center: National nonprofit supporting emerging and established artists through workshops, residencies, and exhibitions. Closely aligned mission of providing resources, mentorship, and community to visual artists with diversified revenue from donations, tuition, and earned income.
- Vermont Studio Center: Nonprofit artist residency and fellowship program supporting emerging visual artists through residencies, grants, and community programs. Closely aligned in mission and nonprofit funding structure.
Regional players
- The Alfred Foundation (formerly Alfred University Art programs): Educational institution supporting visual artists through academic programs and community programming. Tangentially comparable artist-support mission.
- The Fabric Workshop and Museum: Philadelphia-based contemporary art nonprofit that supports artists through residencies, exhibitions, and publications. Shares CFEVA's mission of supporting emerging and mid-career artists and operates in the same Philadelphia cultural ecosystem.
- Main Line Art Center: Philadelphia-area nonprofit offering exhibitions, classes, and arts programming for emerging and professional artists. Comparable artist-support nonprofit with community-based programming model.
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA): Philadelphia's oldest art school and museum, supporting visual artists through education, exhibitions, and fellowship programs. Overlapping mission around emerging artist development and a Philadelphia-based audience.
- Bucks County Community College Visual Arts Programs: Regional community college with strong visual arts programs, including certificate programs and exhibitions serving emerging artists in the Philadelphia region.
- The Print Center: Philadelphia nonprofit dedicated to printmaking and photography, offering exhibitions, education, and artist support services. Comparable nonprofit artist-support model with similar program structure and donor/foundation funding base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists social profiles
Digital presenceThe Center For Emerging Visual Artists financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists 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 Center For Emerging Visual Artists
What does The Center For Emerging Visual Artists do?
CFEVA supports emerging visual artists through a portfolio of in-person programs including a two-year Visual Artist Fellowship with funding and mentorship, the citywide Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST), and the biennial Art in the Open outdoor exhibition. It also operates community outreach (Hand-in-Hand with at-risk youth, Senior Partnership Initiative), fee-based Custom Exhibitions for businesses, an online CFEVA Shop selling original art, and tiered individual membership/donor programs (Friends of CFEVA, CFEVA Champions). The organization is funded by individual donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, membership fees, and marketplace sales.
Is The Center For Emerging Visual Artists a public or private company?
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Center For Emerging Visual Artists founded?
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists was founded in 1983. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Center For Emerging Visual Artists based?
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Center For Emerging Visual Artists make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are annual Membership (CFEVA Champions), friends of CFEVA Membership, year-End Giving Campaigns, custom Exhibitions, named Fellowship Sponsorship, art Sales (CFEVA Shop) and POST Sponsorship and Advertising.
Who are The Center For Emerging Visual Artists's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Penland School of Craft, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Anderson Ranch Arts Center and Vermont Studio Center. Regional players are The Alfred Foundation (formerly Alfred University Art programs), The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Main Line Art Center, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Bucks County Community College Visual Arts Programs and The Print Center.
Does The Center For Emerging Visual Artists have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Center For Emerging Visual Artists.
What industry is The Center For Emerging Visual Artists in?
The Center For Emerging Visual Artists's product category is Visual Arts Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAJ, Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAAAGAA, Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration). Its NAICS code is 712 and its SIC code is 7330.