What TaikoArts Midwest does

TaikoArts Midwest is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit taiko (Japanese drumming) performing arts organization headquartered at 655 Fairview Ave N, Suite 1701 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The organization was formally incorporated in March 2016 as a spin-off from Mu Performing Arts (Theater Mu), carrying forward a performing tradition that originated in 1997 with the founding of Mu Daiko. It operates four resident groups — Ensō Daiko (the flagship ensemble, renamed from Mu Daiko), TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble, Mighty Drumming Club (a community outreach ensemble serving BIPOC and queer youth), and Big Gravity Tour Group — under the leadership of Executive Director Jennifer Weir and Associate Artistic Director Megan Chao Smith.

The organization's programming spans tiered taiko classes for multiple age groups and skill levels, ticketed concert performances including the TaikoGROOVE series and HERbeat at the Ordway Center, and the documentary film Finding Her Beat, which premiered at the 2021 Pan Asian Film Festival and is distributed via Amazon Prime Video and Vimeo. Additional products include ensemble-MA programming, branded merchandise, gift cards, and the Swingposium touring collaboration co-developed with San Jose Taiko and Theater Mu. The Mighty Drumming Club provides free or low-cost community outreach performances and workshops, often in partnership with schools and community organizations.

Revenue is generated through a diversified but grant-heavy mix: class tuition priced in $30–$250 tiers, performance ticket sales, individual donations, merchandise and gift-card sales, and event booking fees, supplemented by institutional grants from the McKnight Foundation, Knight Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC), St. Paul Cultural Star, Martin and Brown Foundation, MAP Fund, and Japan Foundation. Customer segments include individual class participants, concert attendees, schools and community partners served through outreach, and grant-making institutions. The geographic footprint is primarily Minnesota-based with national touring performances and select international engagements through artist-exchange and touring partnerships.

Name

TaikoArts Midwest

Legal name

TaikoArts Midwest

Website

https://taikoartsmidwest.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TaikoArts Midwest is a St. Paul, Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit taiko (Japanese drumming) performing arts organization offering classes, concert performances, and community outreach programs, serving primarily Twin Cities audiences with national touring performances.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts & Cultural Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

Keywords

• Taiko performances
• Japanese drumming
• Performing arts education
• Drum studio classes
• Cultural arts programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Class Tuition and Workshops: Revenue from taiko classes including intro workshops, 6-week series, ongoing studio classes, and special workshops. Students purchase punchcards or individual classes through the Punchpass system.
2. Performance Tickets: Revenue from major concerts and events including TaikoGroove, Swingposium, and appearances at venues like the Ordway Center and Cedar Cultural Center.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Nonprofit donations from individuals, including Shiomi Drum Circle members ($1,000+), founding donors, and general public. Also accepts stock donations and planned giving.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sales of Finding Her Beat merchandise including t-shirts, with proceeds benefiting the film's national impact campaign and screenings.
5. Gift Cards: Gift certificates for classes, workshops, and punchcards sold to consumers as gifts.
6. Booking Fees: Fees for corporate, private, and community performances; school residencies; and lectures/workshops brought to external venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TaikoArts Midwest is a nonprofit performing arts organization that provides high-quality taiko performances, classes, and community programs in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area. It supports four resident taiko groups (Ensō Daiko, TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble, Mighty Drumming Club, Big Gravity Tour Group) and produces concerts, school residencies, corporate/private bookings, and special workshops. Revenue is generated through class tuition, performance bookings, donations, and grants.

Product overview

TaikoArts Midwest is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) performing arts organization offering taiko drumming performances, training, and community programs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The organization operates as a single integrated offering with multiple programs: the core Ensō Daiko ensemble provides professional performances; four resident groups (Ensō Daiko, TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble, Mighty Drumming Club, and Big Gravity Tour Group) form the performance infrastructure; educational services include taiko classes and punch card systems; special programs include the HERbeat concert series and Finding Her Beat documentary; and event-based products include TaikoGROOVE, Swingposium, and ensemble-MA. The organization also provides school residencies, corporate performances, and workshops with guest artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ensō Daiko: Primary resident taiko performance group offering loud, energetic performances combining music, dance, culture, and athleticism. Previously known as Mu Daiko.
• TAM Edo Bayashi Ensemble
• Mighty Drumming Club
• Big Gravity Touring Group
• TaikoGROOVE
• Swingposium

Quantifiable outcome

• Taught thousands of students in schools and through studio classes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, minor and advisory.

• Theater MucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal parent organization. TAM was spun off from Mu Performing Arts in March 2016. Co-presents Swingposium and maintains close collaborative relationship.
• Ordway Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for HERbeat concert (Feb 2020), Big Gravity performances, Flint Hills Family Festival. Featured partner for major productions.
• The Cedar Cultural CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual host venue for TaikoGroove concerts. Community cultural center in St. Paul.
• San Jose TaikomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of Swingposium - collaboration combining taiko, jazz, swing dance, and immersive theater. Co-presented with Theater Mu and TAM.
• Taiko Community AlliancemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational taiko organization. TAM is a member and supporter of the broader taiko community.
• MN TaikominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal taiko community organization. Special thanks as local drum maker and supporter.
• Unit Souzou (Michelle Fujii)advisoryOthersAdvisory council member from Portland, OR. Shares expertise and connections in taiko community.
• Fubuki Daiko (Naomi Guilbert, Hiroshi Koshiyama)advisoryOthersAdvisory council members from Winnipeg, MB. Expertise in traditional and contemporary taiko.
• San Jose Taiko (PJ and Roy Hirabayashi)advisoryOthersFounding advisory council members from San Jose, CA. Pioneers in North American taiko.
• On Ensemble (Shoji Kameda)advisoryOthersAdvisory council member from Los Angeles, CA. Contemporary taiko artist.
• Sacramento Taiko Dan and Portland Taiko (Tiffany Tamaribuchi)advisoryOthersAdvisory council member. Performed at HERbeat concert. Award-winning taiko artist.
• Ensō DaikocoreOthersResident taiko ensemble (formerly Mu Daiko). Offers loud, energetic performances combining music, dance, culture, and athleticism.
• TAM Edo Bayashi EnsemblecoreOthersResident ensemble specializing in traditional Japanese festival music (Edo Bayashi) from the Edo period.
• Mighty Drumming ClubcoreOthersResident youth performance group serving BIPOC, queer, and homeless youth in the Twin Cities.
• Big Gravity Tour GroupcoreOthersResident touring ensemble bringing taiko to venues across the Midwest and beyond.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Kaoly Asano / GOCOO: Renowned Japanese taiko artist and TAM guest instructor/advisory collaborator. Featured in Finding Her Beat. Comparable international touring presence but based in Japan rather than the U.S.
• Taiko Community Alliance: National umbrella organization for North American taiko groups, of which TAM is a member. Ecosystem/network peer rather than direct competitor — provides field-wide coordination and convening.

Regional players

• Fubuki Daiko: Winnipeg-based taiko ensemble represented on TAM's advisory council by Naomi Guilbert and Hiroshi Koshiyama. Comparable traditional and contemporary taiko mission, operating in Canada rather than the U.S. Midwest.
• Mu Performing Arts / Theater Mu: Asian American theater company from which TAM spun off in 2016. Operates in the same Twin Cities AAPI cultural ecosystem and continues as a co-producer of Swingposium.

Direct peers

• San Jose Taiko: One of the most established North American taiko ensembles, founded in 1973. Direct peer with comparable offerings: professional performances, classes, school programs, and national touring. Co-produces Swingposium with TAM.
• Portland Taiko: Oregon-based taiko group with comparable performance, education, and community programs. Performs at HERbeat and is represented on TAM's advisory council.
• Ho Etsu Taiko: Chicago-based Japanese taiko ensemble where TAM staff member Emily Harada trained. Comparable performance, classes, and Japanese cultural education mission with overlapping Midwest geography.
• Unit Souzou: Portland-based taiko ensemble directed by Michelle Fujii, a TAM advisory council member. Comparable scale, performance + community education model, and similar artistic mission blending traditional and contemporary taiko.
• On Ensemble: Los Angeles-based contemporary taiko ensemble led by Shoji Kameda, who serves on TAM's advisory council. Comparable mission of innovating within the taiko form and serving as a touring/educational ensemble.
• Sacramento Taiko Dan: California-based taiko group led by Tiffany Tamaribuchi (TAM advisory council member). Comparable ensemble structure with performance, education, and community engagement programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TaikoArts
• Facebookfacebook.com/TaikoArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/taikoarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taikoarts-midwest

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 TaikoArts Midwest