The Art Outreach Society

What The Art Outreach Society does

The Art Outreach Society (TAOS) is an award-winning non-profit organization incorporated in 2016 and headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, India. It delivers art education, therapeutic art interventions, and community-building programs aimed at women, children, and students across underprivileged and institutional settings (including a Borstal remand home and schools). Its core offerings are the Art Education Project — implemented in collaboration with the Education Department, Government of Kerala, across approximately 13,000 schools — Art & Health/Healing Programs using expressive arts for emotional and mental well-being, Community Building Programs, and a portfolio of exhibitions and participatory art projects such as 'A Place at the Table' (Kochi Muziris Biennale 2022–2023), 'who put out the fire?', 'I Hear the Echo', and 'Thousand Fragmented Sunbeams'.

TAOS operates a small core team of roughly eight members, led by Founder-Director Dr. Tanya Abraham, with specialized roles in psychology-driven art interventions, fundraising, operations, and project coordination. The KULAM Festival of Food in Cultural Discourse, launched in Fort Kochi in March 2026, extends the organization into a marquee cultural event with its own extended team and a roster of festival partners. No proprietary technology platform underpins the offerings; delivery is field-based through workshops, school partnerships, public exhibitions, and events.

The business model is a non-profit funding mix comprising individual donations (with 80G tax-benefit documentation), corporate sponsorships and CSR-linked contributions, project-based grants from government and institutional partners, and ticket revenue from the KULAM festival via the MakeMyPass platform. Distribution is regional (Kerala and select national/international collaborations) and reaches beneficiaries through direct program delivery, government-anchored school channels, a volunteer network, and cultural event programming. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and there are no reported funding rounds, acquisitions, or investor backing.

Name

The Art Outreach Society

Legal name

The Art Outreach Society

Website

https://taos.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Art Outreach Society is a Kochi-based non-profit delivering art education across 13,000 Kerala schools, healing programs for women and children, community-building workshops, and cultural events including the KULAM Festival of Food in Cultural Discourse.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education and Community Programs

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Arts & Media Arts Programs (Art Club, Photography, Film) (EDAJAJAF), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils) (EDAAAFAD), Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)

Keywords

• Art education programs
• Community arts initiatives
• Art therapy services
• Non-profit arts organization
• Cultural festival programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Kochi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Support and Donations: Accepts donations from individuals who want to support TAOS's mission. Provides 80 G tax benefit documentation for donors.
2. Corporate Support: Corporate partnerships and sponsorships for projects and programs. Includes charitable planned giving options.
3. Project Sponsorships: Specific project-based funding for initiatives like art education in schools, healing programs, and community events.
4. Festival Revenue: KULAM Festival generates revenue through ticket sales for its cultural discourse events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Art Outreach Society delivers community-based art education, art therapy and healing programs for women and children, and cultural programming in Kerala, India. Its flagship offerings include the Art Education Project implemented across 13,000 schools with the Government of Kerala's Education Department, Art & Health/Healing Programs for emotional and mental well-being, Community Building Programs, art exhibitions (e.g., 'A Place at the Table'), and the annual KULAM Festival of Food in Cultural Discourse held in Fort Kochi.

Product overview

The Art Outreach Society (TAOS) operates as an award-winning non-profit arts organization offering a portfolio of programs rather than a unified technology product. Its offerings include the KULAM Festival of Food in Cultural Discourse (annual cultural festival), Art Education Project (across 13000 schools in Kerala), Art & Health/Healing Programs, Community Building Programs, and various art exhibitions and projects including 'A Place at the Table' (Kochi Muziris Biennale 2022), 'who put out the fire?', 'I Hear the Echo', and 'Thousand Fragmented Sunbeams'. These programs collectively aim to promote arts, art education, mental health through art, and community building through creative initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KULAM: KULAM is a festival of food in cultural discourse, curated by TAOS. The name means 'community' in Malayalam. It is a two-day celebration where food takes centre stage as a source of creativity, conversation, and connection, bringing together artists, writers, and thinkers from across Kerala and beyond.

Products and services

• KULAM Festival of Food in Cultural Discourse Annual festival held in Fort Kochi that brings together artists, writers, and thinkers to explore food as a source of creativity, conversation, and cultural discourse, blending recipes with resistance and artistic practice. Open to the public via ticketed admission through MakeMyPass.
• Art Education Project School-based art education initiative implemented in collaboration with the Education Department, Government of Kerala, promoting creative development and innovative art methodologies across 13,000 schools in Kerala for K-12 students.
• Art & Health/Healing Programs Art therapy and healing programs that use expressive arts to provide emotional, mental, and physical well-being support for women and children, including survivors of intimate partner violence, children in remand homes, and special-needs students.
• Community Building Programs Community engagement initiatives connecting people of diverse backgrounds through art, fostering social connections, community development, and participatory cultural experiences in Kochi and surrounding areas.
• A Place at the Table (Satellite Exhibition) Invited satellite exhibition at the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2022-2023 curated by Tanya Abraham, exploring memory, gender equality, and patriarchy through participatory art for biennale visitors.
• who put out the fire? (Public Participatory Project) Public participatory art project in the Mattancherry/Fort Kochi area examining the memory of customs and traditions shaping gender identities and women's relationship to kitchens.
• I Hear the Echo (Sound Art Project) Sound art project on Bazaar Road featuring nine individual panels with sound works by various artists, evoking memories and inviting participants to reflect on generational perceptions.
• Thousand Fragmented Sunbeams (Art Project) Art project featuring visual documentation and videos exploring artistic themes, presented to public audiences.
• Beyond Tomorrow Creative economies discussion and project initiative developed in collaboration with Kerala Startup Mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1845 women and 1024 students directly impacted through individual work
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Education Department, Government of KeralacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government partnership for implementing Art Education Project across 13000 schools in Kerala. Collaboration focuses on integrating art education into the formal schooling system using innovative methodologies.
• Kerala Startup MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-backed startup ecosystem partner. Dr. Tanya Abraham serves as Senior Fellow for creative sector at Kerala Startup Mission. Collaboration on programs and events including Beyond Tomorrow initiative.
• Corporation of Cochin (C-HED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban local body partnership for community development initiatives in Kochi area.
• KULAM Festival Partners (Various)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival partners include Kerala Startup Mission, Kochi Heritage Project, Eikowa, C313, CGH Earth, KLF (Kerala Literature Festival), Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Itale, Brunton, KARA. These partners support the annual food and cultural festival in Fort Kochi.
• Kochi Muziris Biennale FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTAOS curated 'A Place at the Table' as invited satellite exhibition during Kochi Muziris Biennale 2022-2023. Ongoing collaboration for cultural events.
• Polytechnic Institute of Milan, ItalysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic institution partnership for cultural and educational exchange.
• Parsons School of Design, New YorksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic institution partnership for art education and cultural exchange programs.
• Christ University, BangaloresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partnership for art education initiatives and student engagement.
• St Teresa's College, KochisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal educational institution partnership for academic collaboration and student programs.
• Sacred Heart College, KochisupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal educational institution partnership for art education and community programs.
• National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), IndiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational fashion technology institute partnership for design and creative education.
• National Institute of Design (NID), IndiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier design institute partnership for art and design education collaboration.
• International School of Brooklyn, New YorksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational school partnership for cultural exchange and art education programs.
• Kenniscentrum Open Time, Belgium (Erasmus University)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research partnership under UNESCO Chair in Futures Images for 'Future Learnings' project exploring transformation of societies through art-based education.
• WICCI IndiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen in business council partnership supporting women's empowerment through arts.
• CGH EarthsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeritage hospitality partner for sustainable tourism and cultural initiatives. CEO Michael Dominic participates in KULAM festival.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Institute of Design (NID): Premier Indian design school partnering with TAOS for design and creative education collaboration. Adjacent as an institutional peer in arts/design education rather than a direct competitor.
• National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT): National fashion and design institution partnered with TAOS. Adjacent as an arts/design education peer rather than a competitor; relevant for benchmarking education-program scope.

Emerging players

• Asia Art Archive (India): Asia-wide non-profit archiving and supporting contemporary art practice and research, with India programming. Overlaps with TAOS in using arts/culture to drive education and social discourse, though focused on documentation rather than direct service.
• Magic Bus India Foundation: Large India-based non-profit running education and life-skills programs for underprivileged children across multiple states. Comparable to TAOS in delivering structured programs through school partnerships, but operating at significantly greater scale and using sports/life-skills rather than arts.
• Pratham Education Foundation: One of India's largest education NGOs, with state-wide government school partnerships. Comparable to TAOS in channeling programs through public-school systems and partnering with state education departments, though focused on literacy rather than arts.

Direct peers

• Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation: India's leading contemporary art biennale, also based in Kochi/Kerala. TAOS was an invited satellite exhibition partner for the 2022-2023 edition, making them a directly comparable peer in operating cultural-art programming for public benefit in the same city and ecosystem.
• India Foundation for the Arts (IFA): Bangalore-headquartered arts philanthropy that funds and supports arts research, practice, and education across India. Comparable grant-giving/arts-development role and similar non-profit operating structure to TAOS.
• Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA): New Delhi-based non-profit supporting contemporary art practice, public programming, and grants for artists in India. Highly comparable to TAOS in mission (promoting arts, education, public engagement) and operating model (NGO-driven programs, exhibitions, and capacity-building).
• KHOJ International Artists' Association: New Delhi-based non-profit running artist residencies, workshops, and public art programs. Comparable to TAOS in operating arts programs for community impact, working with international and local artists, and emphasizing education and exchange.
• Sahapedia: India-focused arts, culture, and heritage knowledge non-profit offering public programming and educational content. Comparable to TAOS in operating at the intersection of arts education, heritage preservation, and digital/physical public engagement.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theartoutreachsociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/artwithtaos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-art-outreach-society-taos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Art Outreach Society