Ottawa School Of Art, The

What Ottawa School Of Art, The does

The Ottawa School of Art (OSA) is a Canadian charitable non-profit organization founded in 1983 that delivers visual arts education and community programming across Ottawa, Ontario. It operates two physical campuses: the Downtown campus at 35 George Street in the ByWard Market and the Orléans campus at the Shenkman Arts Centre (established in 2009), both equipped for accessibility. The core educational portfolio spans a 3-year immersive Fine Arts Diploma, a 1-year Portfolio Certificate, a non-credit Visual Art Fundamentals structured program, and flexible adult general-interest courses covering lifedrawing, ceramics, photography, sculpture, printmaking, lithography, watercolour, and etching. Children and teen programs serve ages 5-17 through classes, workshops, and summer camps, supplemented by a free Outreach Program for underserved communities, an artist Residency Program, and live online courses for remote learners.

The institution is supported by three exhibition galleries (Lee Matasi Gallery, Orléans Gallery, J.W. Stellick Gallery) and a retail boutique, providing both programming and revenue diversification. Course registration is managed through the Amilia SaaS platform, and a new registration system is being launched in 2026 to streamline enrollment. Funding is derived from tuition and course fees (one-time), memberships (recurring), donations and fundraising across multiple giving tiers (recurring and one-time), and gallery and boutique sales. Charitable registration #126510528 RR0001 enables tax-deductible donations processed via PayPal, CanadaHelps, e-transfer, planned giving through Will Power, and securities gifts via the Ottawa Community Foundation. Key partnerships include the Shenkman Arts Centre (facility) and the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation (youth outreach funding).

Name

Ottawa School Of Art, The

Legal name

Ottawa School of Art

Website

https://www.artottawa.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Ottawa School of Art is a charitable non-profit founded in 1983 that provides visual arts education to adults, youth, and pre-professional students in Ottawa through two campuses, online courses, and community outreach programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation) (EDAMAAAB), Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

Keywords

• Visual arts education
• Fine arts diploma
• Art classes workshops
• Community art programs
• Children's art camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Course Fees: Revenue from registration fees for art courses, workshops, camps, and structured programs including the Fine Arts Diploma, Visual Art Fundamentals, and Portfolio Certificate programs.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships offering benefits to supporters and community members.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations directed to bursaries, scholarships, gallery programs, outreach, and general operations. Multiple giving channels including online, e-transfer, phone, mail, and CanadaHelps.
4. Gallery and Boutique Sales: Revenue from art sales through galleries (J.W. Stellick Gallery, Orleans Gallery, Lee Matasi Gallery) and the boutique offering art supplies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ottawa School of Art is a charitable visual arts education institution offering a 3-year Fine Arts Diploma, a 1-year Portfolio Certificate, Visual Art Fundamentals, adult general interest courses, children's and teen programming, summer art camps, online courses, and an outreach program for underserved communities. It also operates three exhibition galleries and a retail boutique selling art supplies and artist-made items.

Product overview

The Ottawa School of Art is a visual arts education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs across multiple formats. The core offerings include a 3-year Fine Arts Diploma, a Portfolio Certificate program, and Visual Art Fundamentals as structured educational paths, alongside flexible Adult Courses, Kids & Teens Programming, Art Camps, and Online Courses for general interest learners. The school also operates an Outreach Program for underserved communities, a Residency Program, and provides Scholarships and Bursaries for financial support. Physical infrastructure includes three galleries (Lee Matasi Gallery, Orleans Gallery, J.W. Stellick Gallery) and a Boutique, all supporting the institution's mission as the leading centre for visual arts education and creative expression in the Ottawa region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fine Arts Diploma: Immersive studio-first education program for emerging artists spanning three years
• Portfolio Certificate
• Visual Art Fundamentals

Products and services

• Fine Arts Diploma

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ children and youth reached annually through TELUS-funded programs

Named customers3 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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shenkman Arts CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009The Shenkman Arts Centre houses OSA's Orléans Campus and Gallery. Launched in 2009 alongside the Orleans Campus opening, this partnership provides the facility for OSA's eastern Ottawa operations.
• Will PowerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWill Power is a national giving platform that OSA partners with for legacy giving. They offer tools, resources, and access to legal and financial advisors to help donors make informed decisions about leaving charitable gifts in their wills to support OSA's programs.
• CanadaHelpsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadaHelps is a platform through which donors can make secure donations to the Ottawa School of Art, expanding access to arts education and supporting community programs.
• Ottawa Community FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ottawa Community Foundation facilitates gifts of shares, allowing donors to transfer publicly traded securities to OSA as a charitable donation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Toronto School of Art: Toronto-based independent studio art school offering certificate and diploma programs in painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. Closely comparable non-accredited, community-rooted fine arts institution operating in a major Canadian city, with similar workshop-based teaching model and multi-program structure.
• Vancouver Island School of Art: Independent non-accredited fine arts school in Victoria offering diploma programs, certificate programs, and short courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, and ceramics. Direct comparable peer given parallel non-degree studio-based model, multi-format course offering, and Canadian community-arts positioning.
• Kootenay School of the Arts (Selkirk College): Nelson, BC-based fine arts diploma and certificate programs hosted within Selkirk College, serving studio-focused emerging artists. Directly comparable as a regional Canadian studio-first fine arts school with non-degree pathways and adult-learner programs.
• Royal Drawing School: London, UK-based non-profit drawing-focused art school offering short courses, foundation programs, and a postgraduate diploma. Comparable as a charitable, studio-led visual arts school with multi-tier programming and donor-supported scholarship/bursary model analogous to OSA's structure.
• Haliburton School of Art and Design: Fleming College's Haliburton campus offers studio-based visual arts certificate and diploma programs for full-time and part-time learners. Comparable as a Canadian studio-first fine arts school with similar summer programming and adult-learner focus.

Broad incumbents

• OCAD University: Toronto-based accredited university dedicated to art, design, and digital media, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Larger incumbent in the Canadian fine arts education space; competes for pre-professional students but offers credentialed pathways OSA does not.
• NSCAD University: Halifax-based accredited fine arts university offering undergraduate and graduate programs across studio disciplines. Comparable Canadian fine arts institution competing for the same pre-professional pool of emerging artists that OSA's 3-year diploma targets.
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): Major accredited U.S. fine arts college and museum school offering degree programs and continuing studies. Comparable as a long-established studio-based fine arts institution with continuing education arms; represents international scale benchmark for community-rooted art schools.
• Alberta University of the Arts: Calgary-based accredited institution offering four-year fine arts degrees, diplomas, and continuing education in studio disciplines. Comparable fine arts education programming at larger scale and with degree-granting authority, representing the accredited alternative to OSA's non-credit diploma.

Regional players

• Visual Arts Centre of Clarington: Ontario community-based visual arts centre offering courses, workshops, and gallery programs for adults and youth in a different regional catchment. Comparable as a community-rooted visual arts school with parallel mission and programming, though serving a different Ontario geography than Ottawa.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/artottawa
• Facebookfacebook.com/ArtOttawa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/ottawa-school-of-art-downtown-and-orleans-campuses-23207234
• Instagraminstagram.com/artottawa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Ottawa School Of Art, The