Shreveport Regional Arts Council

What Shreveport Regional Arts Council does

The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1976 and headquartered at the Central ARTSTATION, 801 Crockett Street, Shreveport, Louisiana. It operates as the designated regional arts council for a nine-parish service area across Northwest Louisiana (Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, and Webster) and serves a registered community of more than 1,200 artists. Core operations include grants and fellowships (Artist Mini-Grants, Artist Fellowships, Project Assistance grants, Artist Travel Grants), the annual Critical Mass invitational exhibition juried by national critics, the KAT Artist Residency at Central ARTSTATION, the Culturalyst online artist directory at nwla.culturalyst.com, and public-facing venues including the artspace gallery (with a 70/30 artist-house commission structure) and Caddo Common Park.

The Bakowski Bridge of Lights, activated on February 22, 2022, is a notable technical asset: 13,320 programmable LED lights on the Texas Street Bridge spanning the Red River between Shreveport and Bossier City, controlled via Pharos Control System and used for Glo Fest events, custom light-show bookings, and nonprofit color-flow rentals. SRAC's go-to-market is hybrid: a community-led motion (monthly Roster Artist meetings, annual juried critic reviews), an event-driven motion (Critical Mass, Levitt AMP free concert series, Glo Fest, ArtBreak), and a sales/regrant motion (City of Shreveport and Louisiana Division of the Arts pass-through grants processed via Submittable).

SRAC's business model is predominantly grant-funded rather than transaction-based. Operating revenue is derived from pass-through administration of City of Shreveport and Louisiana Division of the Arts regrants, federal funding routed through the National Endowment for the Arts, foundation support (notably the Levitt Family Foundation for the Levitt AMP series), corporate sponsorships of signature events, and a commission/sales layer from artspace and Holidaze exhibitions plus custom bridge bookings. The organization employs 11-50 staff, is governed by a Board of Directors, and operates as an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recent activity has expanded the footprint into healthcare (LSU Health Shreveport Center for Medical Education artwork purchases), hospitality (Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana Mardi Gras program), municipal infrastructure ($7 million Water Tower Art Design Contest across three elevated storage tanks), and tourism/heritage (163-mile Boom or Bust Byway gateway signage with Visit Shreveport-Bossier).

Name

Shreveport Regional Arts Council

Legal name

Shreveport Regional Arts Council

Website

https://shrevearts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shreveport Regional Arts Council is a 1976-founded nonprofit arts organization serving nine parishes across Northwest Louisiana. It administers grants, fellowships, residencies, and exhibitions through Central ARTSTATION, artspace gallery, the Bakowski Bridge of Lights LED installation, and the Culturalyst artist directory platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Cultural Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Arts grant programs
• Public art installations
• Artist development services
• Community arts programming
• Cultural nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shreveport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants Administration: SRAC serves as regrantor for City of Shreveport and Louisiana Division of the Arts funding, administering grants to artists and arts organizations. This includes operating support grants for 501(c)(3) organizations and project assistance grants.
2. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships for events including Levitt AMP Music Series (Levitt Family Foundation), Bakowski Bridge of Lights sponsors, Christmas in the Sky fundraiser, and various program sponsors.
3. Event Revenue: Revenue from events including bridge bookings for custom light shows, nonprofit color-flow rentals, and baby announcements. Also includes admission and participation fees for programs.
4. Art Sales Commission: artspace gallery operates on commission basis, taking 30% of art sales with artists receiving 70%. Similar arrangement for Holidaze exhibition and giftspace consignment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) is the regional arts council for Northwest Louisiana's nine parishes, administering regrant funding from the City of Shreveport and Louisiana Division of the Arts, delivering artist fellowships and mini-grants, and operating public-facing arts venues. Its service portfolio includes the artspace gallery, the annual Critical MASS juried exhibition, the Bakowski Bridge of Lights LED public art installation, the KAT artist residency, the Artist UP! entrepreneurial training program, and the Culturalyst online artist directory of 1,200+ artists. The council also produces signature events such as the Levitt AMP Shreveport free concert series at Caddo Common Park, Glo Fest, ArtBreak, and the Christmas in the Sky fundraiser.

Product overview

The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) is a nonprofit arts organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include artspace gallery for rotating exhibitions and art sales, Central ARTSTATION headquarters housing the KAT Artist Residency, the annual Critical MASS invitational exhibition with professional critics, and the Bakowski Bridge of Lights public art installation. SRAC supports artists through grant programs (Artist Mini-Grants, Fellowship Awards), professional development (Artist UP! Entrepreneurial Training, Juried Artists Roster), and the Culturalyst online artist directory platform. Additional offerings include the Levitt AMP free concert series at Caddo Common Park, public art projects like the Boom or Bust Byway signage and Water Tower Art Contest, and annual events like Christmas in the Sky fundraiser. The organization serves the nine-parish Northwest Louisiana region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• artspace Gallery A two-floor gallery space at 708 Texas Street in downtown Shreveport featuring mainspace and coolspace exhibition areas, giftspace consignment, Holidaze sales, and artist studios. Operates on a 70/30 commission basis with artists retaining 70% of sales.
• Central ARTSTATION SRAC's headquarters at 801 Crockett Street, Shreveport, housing administrative offices, the Central Gallery, the KAT Artist Residency apartment, and serving as the center for arts presentation, exhibition, performance, creation, and education.
• Critical MASS Annual Exhibition An annual invitational juried exhibition open to artists residing in or owning property in the nine Northwest Louisiana parishes, featuring professional critical reviews by published national critics and Critics' Choice awards of $5,000 ($2,500 cash award plus $2,500 commission for solo exhibition).
• Bakowski Bridge of Lights A programmable LED public art installation on the Texas Street Bridge spanning the Red River between Shreveport and Bossier City, featuring 13,320 LED lights controlled via the Pharos Control System and available for custom light show bookings, nonprofit color-flow rentals, and baby announcements.
• Levitt AMP Shreveport Music Series A free outdoor concert series at Caddo Common Park featuring diverse musical genres including zydeco, country, smooth jazz, gospel, and soulful jazz, supported by the Levitt Family Foundation. The 2026 season presents 10 free family-friendly concerts.
• KAT (Kallenberg Artist Tower) Residency A unique five-story apartment residency at Central ARTSTATION offering visual, performing, and literary artists a week-long retreat with a $500 stipend, including an artist talk and workshop requirement.
• Artist Fellowship Awards $2,500 non-matching cash awards recognizing artistic excellence across Visual, Literary, Music, Theatre, and Multi-Disciplinary categories. Recipients' history goes back to 1995.
• Artist Mini-Grants $1,500 grants for professional artists in the City of Shreveport to produce, present, promote, or support the arts, requiring a 50% match ($750) with documented in-kind support or cash.
• Project Assistance Grants Funding requests between $1,000 and $7,500 with no match required, awarded to arts projects with professional artistic value meeting specific community needs. Administered as a regrant program for the City of Shreveport.
• Artist Travel Grants $1,000 grants for artists representing the City of Shreveport at approved exhibitions or performances outside the city.
• Artist UP! Entrepreneurial Training Program An intensive artist entrepreneurial training program led by Lesli Marshall covering branding, marketing, pricing, retail display, LLC/liability/taxes, and intellectual property, with a goal of increasing artists' earned income by 30%. Includes a $50 course fee and a $450 Pay It Forward cost to the community.
• Culturalyst (NWLA Artist Directory) A free online directory for Northwest Louisiana artists across visual, performing, and literary disciplines, providing promotion, networking opportunities, digital portfolio hosting, and access to grants, funding, and artist opportunities. Over 1,200 artists are registered.
• NWLA Juried Artists Roster An annual juried review program where national published critics evaluate artists' work to determine professional Roster status, providing validation and eligibility for commissions and solo exhibitions. Current roster includes 70 artists validated through 2024.
• Caddo Common Park A public park venue at 869 Texas Ave hosting the Levitt AMP concert series, Sunday programming with artists, and various community arts events.
• Christmas in the Sky Fundraiser An annual fundraising event supporting free arts access across Northwest Louisiana.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90+ water tower designs submitted for City of Shreveport contest
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Levitt Family FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Primary supporter of Levitt AMP Shreveport Music Series. Levitt Family Foundation partners with nonprofits to strengthen communities through free outdoor concerts. Supporting over 900 free concerts in 90+ towns in 2026, bringing joy to over a million people.
• Live! Casino and Hotel LouisianaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for Mardi Gras artwork display program. 12 artists selected for $1,000 artwork purchases displayed in casino space February-March 2026. Works later support Christmas in the Sky auction.
• LSU Health ShreveportminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025LSUS Artist Call for artwork purchases at newly completed LSU Health Center for Medical Education. SRAC administering open call for NWLA artists to contribute work for permanent installation.
• Visit Shreveport-Bossier (Tourist Bureau)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Convention and Tourist Bureau collaborating on Boom or Bust Byway gateway signage project. SBCTB envisioned artistic gateway signs along 163-mile byway to encourage tourism and highlight heritage of Northwest Louisiana communities.
• City of ShreveportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024City partnered with SRAC for Water Tower Art Design Contest - $7 million infrastructure project. Mayor's office suggested beautification; First Lady Elizabeth Arceneaux proposed artist contest. SRAC administered design selection process.
• Dixie Weld-FabminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Fabrication company in Belcher, Louisiana selected to fabricate Boom or Bust Byway laser-cut metal gateway signs with iconic community imagery.
• Dixie Painting & Sandblasting, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Contractor for water tower repairs, painting, and artwork installation. Responsible for structural repairs, exterior/interior coating, electrical upgrades, and site restoration for three elevated storage tanks.
• Dunham EngineeringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering firm contributing design services for Water Tower Art Design Contest alongside AFJM, Incorporated.
• AFJM, IncorporatedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Engineering firm contributing design services for Water Tower Art Design Contest alongside Dunham Engineering.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Three SCAD faculty members (Sara Rastegar, Nida Bangash, Fatemeh Hosseini) exhibited Living the Unknown at artspace. Rastegar is full professor in Foundation Studies; Bangash and Hosseini also hold SCAD positions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Americans for the Arts: A national nonprofit providing research, advocacy, and capacity-building for the arts sector. Not a direct competitor but operates in the same broad space of supporting local arts councils like SRAC.

Regional players

• Mid-America Arts Alliance: A regional arts organization serving six mid-America states with grantmaking, touring, and professional development programs. Comparable regrantor and capacity-building role, though covering a larger geographic footprint than SRAC.
• Louisiana Division of the Arts: Louisiana's state arts agency that funds SRAC directly through Project Grants, Percent for Art, and artist relief programs. Functions as both upstream funder and parallel grantmaker — relevant peer for SRAC's regrantor and public-art-administration activities within Louisiana.

Direct peers

• ArtsWave: Cincinnati's community-powered arts funding and support organization running a regional campaign, grantmaking, and arts services. Comparable in operating as a community arts intermediary combining grantmaking with civic arts programming.
• Arts Council of New Orleans: A regional arts council administering Community Arts Grants, presenting public art, and running artist development programs in the greater New Orleans area. Closest structural parallel to SRAC given overlapping role as municipal regrantor and cultural programming hub within Louisiana.
• Houston Arts Alliance: Houston's local arts council that administers municipal and foundation grants, manages public art collections, runs grant programs for individual artists and organizations, and convenes the cultural sector. Mirrors SRAC's regrantor-plus-cultural-presenter model at larger scale.
• South Arts: A regional arts organization serving nine southeastern states including Louisiana, administering grants and artist fellowships. Direct comparable for SRAC's role as a regrantor and arts presenter in the South.
• Create Birmingham: A community arts and culture organization in Birmingham, Alabama that invests in arts projects, supports artists, and produces cultural programming. Similar mid-sized regional model with municipal and corporate funding dependencies.
• Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance: A regional alliance of cultural organizations and individuals providing research, advocacy, and grantmaking support in the Philadelphia region. Shares the membership-driven, regrantor-style operating model with SRAC.

Others

• Shreveport-Bossier Tourism Commission (Visit Shreveport-Bossier): Local tourist bureau that partners with SRAC on Boom or Bust Byway and promotes arts-driven tourism. Relevant ecosystem peer rather than competitor — represents a co-marketing partner whose fortunes rise with SRAC's signature assets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shrevearts
• Facebookfacebook.com/Shrevearts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shreveport-regional-arts-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 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 Shreveport Regional Arts Council