Nars Foundation, Inc.

What Nars Foundation, Inc. does

NARS Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization incorporated in New York State and headquartered at 201 46th Street, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11220, where it co-locates its residency studios with the Main Gallery and Project Space inside a single industrial building. The foundation operates an International Artist Residency Program offering three- and six-month residencies to emerging and mid-career artists from the US and abroad, a six-month Curatorial Fellowship for early-career curators, an Exhibition Program presenting resident and alumni work, the "Art in Dialogue" public programming series (artist talks, screenings, panels, open studios), free community outreach to South Brooklyn youth through partners such as the Brooklyn Public Library - Sunset Park Branch, and a searchable Artists & Curators Database. Underlying technology is a standard web-based platform for residency management, exhibition programming, and community engagement — no proprietary AI/ML capabilities, APIs, SDKs, or third-party model dependencies are disclosed.

The organization's primary customer segments are (i) emerging and mid-career international and US-based artists seeking subsidized Brooklyn studio space and exhibition opportunities; (ii) early-career curators seeking fellowship-based curatorial experience and portfolio development; and (iii) South Brooklyn youth and families receiving free hands-on arts education. NARS Foundation's revenue model is a hybrid of charitable donations, foundation and government grants (notably from NYSCA, the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, City Council District 38, Con Edison, Material for the Arts, Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Council Korea, Asian Cultural Council, and Maryland State Arts Council), and partially subsidized residency fees — with one full fellowship per season awarded to a US-based artist and partial fellowships available to other US-based residents. Go-to-market is community-led: applicants are acquired through the website, the Artists & Curators Database, social media (Instagram, Facebook), word-of-mouth within the global arts community, and referral partnerships with national and international cultural councils that sponsor their constituents' participation. Since founding in 2012, the foundation has hosted residents and curated exhibitions representing more than 56 countries.

Name

Nars Foundation, Inc.

Legal name

NARS Foundation

Website

https://narsfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NARS Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization in Brooklyn, NY that operates an international artist residency program, a curatorial fellowship, an exhibition program, and free community outreach to South Brooklyn youth, funded by grants, donations, and subsidized program fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist Residency Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)

Keywords

• Artist residency programs
• Contemporary art exhibitions
• Curatorial fellowships
• Community arts education
• International cultural exchange

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions and Foundation Grants: NARS Foundation relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, private foundations, and public funding agencies including New York State Council on the Arts and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. These grants support exhibition programs, residency operations, and community outreach.
2. Residency Program Fees: The organization offers partial fellowships to US-based artists-in-residence, with each season awarding one US-based artist a full fellowship covering all program fees. International artists may have separate fee structures. The residency program provides 3 and 6-month residencies with studio space and exhibition opportunities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NARS Foundation operates international artist residency programs (3 and 6-month residencies) for emerging and mid-career artists and curators, alongside a Curatorial Fellowship and Residency Fellowship. It runs an Exhibition Program in its Main Gallery and Project Space, public programming (artist talks, screenings, open studios), and free Community Outreach initiatives delivering hands-on visual arts experiences to South Brooklyn youth and families.

Product overview

NARS Foundation (The New York Art Residency and Studios) is an art residency foundation offering a portfolio of programs including the International Artist Residency Program (supporting emerging and mid-career artists through 3 and 6-month residencies), Curatorial Fellowship, Residency Fellowship, Exhibition Program (with Main Gallery and Project Space), Community Outreach initiatives, Art in Dialogue public programs, an Artists & Curators Database, and Gallery Tours. The organization operates as a unified platform providing artist residencies, exhibition spaces, educational outreach, and professional development opportunities for artists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• International Artist Residency Program A residency program supporting emerging and mid-career artists and curators through 3 and 6-month residencies, open to both international and US-based artists, creating a shared space for artistic dialogue and international cultural exchange. Each season awards fellowships and provides studio space in Brooklyn with exhibition opportunities.
• Curatorial Fellowship A six-month position for an early-career curator to develop their vision and skills, working closely with artists-in-residence to produce public programming and curate the residency exhibition.
• Residency Fellowship Partial fellowships offered to all US-based artists-in-residence, with one US-based artist awarded a full fellowship covering all program fees each season. International artists may receive fellowships through partner arts agencies.
• Exhibition Program Presents compelling and innovative work by emerging and mid-career artists through the Main Gallery and Project Space located in the industrial building amongst residency studios, open to the public Monday-Friday 12-5pm.
• Community Outreach Educational community outreach initiatives connecting contemporary artists with the local South Brooklyn community through hands-on visual arts experiences for youth and families, including free animation workshops for children ages 6-14 delivered in partnership with Brooklyn Public Library's Sunset Park Branch.
• Art in Dialogue (Public Programs) Public programs including artist talks, screenings, community gatherings, workshops, professional development, panels and performances, free and open to the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Artists from 56+ countries have participated in residency programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Brooklyn Public Library - Sunset Park BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2026NARS Foundation partners with Brooklyn Public Library's Sunset Park Branch to deliver free animation workshops for children ages 6-14. The partnership enables community outreach by providing workshop space and access to local families. NARS Foundation supplies teaching artist, materials, and program design.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MacDowell: Nation's oldest artist residency providing studio residencies across disciplines with fellowship support; comparable program structure and reliance on foundation/individual giving.
• International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP): Brooklyn-based nonprofit supporting international artists and curators through studio residencies and exhibitions — directly comparable to NARS in mission, format, and target audience.
• Wave Hill: NYC cultural institution offering artist residencies, public programs, and gallery exhibitions; comparable integrated residency-plus-public-engagement nonprofit arts model.
• Smack Mellon: Brooklyn nonprofit studio and exhibition program for emerging artists — comparable geographic and operational model with subsidized studios and gallery programming.
• BRIC Arts Media: Brooklyn-based arts and media organization offering residencies, exhibitions, and community programming; comparable multi-program nonprofit arts center operating in Brooklyn.
• Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC): NYC nonprofit providing artist residencies, workspace, and cultural programming funded by city and state arts sources — directly comparable residency model with overlapping funder base.
• Yaddo: Historic artist residency in Saratoga Springs, NY offering extended residencies across disciplines; a benchmark peer for the artist-residency model even if geographic focus differs.
• A.I.R. Gallery: Brooklyn gallery supporting contemporary artists through exhibitions and fellowship programs; comparable exhibition-plus-fellowship structure targeting emerging practitioners.
• Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture: Invitational summer residency program for visual artists — comparable fellowship-supported residency model with public programming component.
• Triangle Arts Association: New York-based nonprofit dedicated to international artist and curator residencies with public programming; operates a similar residency-plus-exhibition model in the NYC arts ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NARSresidency
• Instagraminstagram.com/narsfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nars-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Nars Foundation, Inc.