Jackson School Of The Arts

What Jackson School Of The Arts does

Jackson School of the Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit arts education organization headquartered in downtown Jackson, Michigan, operating out of a newly renovated facility at 135 W. Cortland St. in the former Vermeulen Furniture building. Founded approximately 2005-2006, the organization has built a 25-year community presence and currently offers more than 190 year-round classes spanning visual art, dance (ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, contemporary, competitive), theater and film, gymnastics, martial arts, and aerial/circus arts, serving children from newborn through adulthood. Its mission-driven model centers on accessibility through a sliding tuition scale (33%, 44%, 55%, or 77% of standard rates based on household income and size), with more than $90,000 in tuition assistance distributed annually to approximately 650 children in Jackson County.

The organization runs an integrated set of programs beyond core classes, including a Kids Create Preschool Experience (ages 3.5–5), My First Play & Learn playgroup (ages 0–3), state-licensed summer childcare (ages 3–8), summer day camps, competitive dance teams, American Girl workshops, Girl Scout badge workshops, private paint parties, adult classes, and event space rental. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of recurring monthly tuition ($25–$65 depending on class length), unit-priced programs (camps $135–$250/week, workshops $15–$35/participant, competitive dance $475–$500/group piece), charitable donations processed via Donorbox, grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, corporate sponsorships from roughly 20+ local businesses, and proceeds from the signature annual Fairy Festival fundraiser, which attracts 700+ attendees and has run for 18+ years.

The technology stack is entirely third-party SaaS, with no proprietary platform: The Studio Director handles class registration, Eventbrite manages event ticketing, Donorbox processes donations, and Mailchimp runs email outreach. Distribution relies on direct-to-consumer enrollment (online, phone, and walk-in), after-school art clubs operated at seven named local schools, and a broad local partnership network that includes Jackson Symphony Orchestra, Kids N' Stuff Children's Museum, and Paragon Charter Academy. The organization is led by Executive Director Amanda Loveland and is governed independently with no parent entity.

Name

Jackson School Of The Arts

Legal name

Jackson School of the Arts

Website

https://jacksonarts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Jackson School of the Arts is a nonprofit arts education organization in Jackson, Michigan, offering 190+ year-round classes in visual arts, dance, theater, gymnastics, and martial arts to children, youth, and adults, with sliding-scale tuition serving families across Jackson County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education Instruction (Visual/Performing) (EDAJAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE), Visual Arts & Media Arts Programs (Art Club, Photography, Film) (EDAJAJAF)

Keywords

• Arts education
• Dance instruction
• Theater classes
• Children's programming
• Preschool arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Class Fees: Monthly tuition payments for art, dance, theater, gymnastics, and martial arts classes. Fees vary by class length and type. Includes summer camps, childcare, and special programs.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and proceeds from the annual Fairy Festival fundraiser. Also includes planned giving (bequests in wills) and gifts of securities.
3. Event Space Rental and Private Events: Revenue from hosting private paint parties, events, and workshops including American Girl workshops.
4. Community Support and Grants: Grants from organizations including National Endowment for the Arts, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and corporate sponsors for scholarship programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jackson School of the Arts is a nonprofit arts education organization that provides year-round instruction in visual art, dance, theater, gymnastics, aerial/circus arts, and martial arts for children, youth, and adults. It operates a sliding-scale tuition model based on household income to make arts education accessible, and it offers over 190 classes from a renovated downtown facility in Jackson, Michigan.

Product overview

Jackson School of the Arts is a nonprofit arts education organization offering a comprehensive suite of visual and performing arts programs for children, youth, and adults. The organization operates as a single integrated platform with multiple discipline-specific programs including Art Classes, Dance Classes, Theater/Acting/Film Classes, Gymnastics, Aerial & Cirque Arts, and Martial Arts. Supporting programs include Kids Create Preschool Experience (ages 3.5-5), My First Play & Learn playgroup (ages 0-3), Summer Camps with childcare options, American Girl Workshops, Private Paint Parties, a Competitive Dance Program, Girl Scout Workshops, Event Space Rental, and the Annual Fairy Festival fundraiser. The organization provides over 190 year-round classes and serves approximately 650 children through tuition assistance, with a mission to make arts education accessible through a sliding-scale tuition model based on household income.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art Classes Visual arts instruction for all ages covering painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media, watercolor, acrylic, and various mediums; classes run year-round for children, teens, and adults.
• Dance Classes
• Theater, Acting & Film Classes
• Gymnastics Classes
• Aerial & Cirque Arts
• Martial Arts Classes
• Kids Create Preschool Experience
• My First Play & Learn
• Summer Camps & Classes
• Summer Childcare
• American Girl Workshops
• Private Paint Parties
• Competitive Dance Program
• Girl Scout Workshops
• Event Space Rental
• Annual Fairy Festival
• Adult Classes

Quantifiable outcome

• 650 children receiving tuition assistance and scholarships annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Jackson Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing music instrument exploration activities during Fairy Festival. Both Jackson-based arts organizations supporting youth creative development.
• Kids N' Stuff Children's MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner participating in Fairy Festival with hands-on activities for children.
• Paragon Charter AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal school partner providing additional activities and participation in Fairy Festival.
• Fluff RestorationminorOthersVendor providing Stuffed Animal Spa activity at Fairy Festival. Also offers stuffed animal adoption services.
• Brown Floral Co.minorOthersVendor providing fairy terrariums for purchase at Fairy Festival.
• Wild World AdventureminorOthersVendor providing petting zoo and unicorn rides at Fairy Festival.
• TS Photo StudiominorOthersVendor providing professional fairy photo services at Fairy Festival.
• Great American Food TruckminorOthersFood vendor at Fairy Festival.
• Kona IceminorOthersFood vendor at Fairy Festival.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity rewards program partner. Supporters can search for Jackson School of the Arts by name or RG371 to contribute through Kroger's rewards program.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Little Gym: Franchise-based children's enrichment program offering structured gymnastics, motor-skill development, and parent-child classes for ages 4 months through 12 years. Directly comparable to JSA's gymnastics and My First Play & Learn programs in terms of target customer (young families) and structured class format.
• Color Me Mine: Franchise paint-your-own-pottery studio offering drop-in creative activities, classes, and parties for children and adults. Comparable to JSA's art classes and private paint parties in terms of creative-arts instruction format and recurring family-engagement programming.
• Stagecoach Performing Arts: Performing arts education franchise offering part-time Saturday/weekend classes in singing, dancing, and acting for children ages 4–18. Closely comparable to JSA's theater and dance programs in terms of target demographic, after-hours class delivery, and performance-based progression.
• My Gym: Franchise offering structured fitness, gymnastics, and motor-development classes for children from infancy through early elementary. Directly comparable to JSA's gymnastics and parent-child classes (My First Play & Learn) in target customer and recurring-class delivery model.
• School of Rock: Music education franchise offering after-school and weekend classes, private lessons, and performance programs for children and adults. Comparable to JSA in offering structured, year-round arts instruction with performance-based progression, though focused specifically on music rather than multi-discipline arts.
• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Michigan-based nonprofit arts education organization offering year-round instruction in visual arts, dance, theater, music, and interdisciplinary programs for children, teens, and adults. Highly comparable mission, geographic anchor, and multi-discipline programmatic structure to JSA, though at a significantly larger scale.
• Painting with a Twist: Paint-and-sip franchise offering instructor-led painting classes primarily for adults, plus private events and kids' parties. Directly comparable to JSA's Wine & Canvas and Private Paint Party offerings in terms of format, target audience, and event-space utilization.
• Gymboree Play & Music: Early childhood enrichment program offering play, music, and art classes for children from infancy through age 5, with parent/caregiver participation. Closely comparable to JSA's My First Play & Learn and Kids Create Preschool Experience programs in target demographic and developmental-arts focus.
• Bach to Rock: Music education franchise offering group classes, private lessons, and performance-based programs for children and adults in a band-format setting. Comparable to JSA's structured, year-round arts classes with performance opportunities and team-based progression (similar to JSA's competitive dance program).

Others

• National Guild for Community Arts Education: National membership association representing community-based arts education organizations including schools, centers, and studios. JSA would fit within this peer set as a member institution; relevant for benchmarking against similar community-arts schools and accessing shared funding/research resources.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/JacksonSchooloftheArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/jacksonschoolofthearts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Jackson School Of The Arts