Lake Wales Arts Council

What Lake Wales Arts Council does

Lake Wales Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1972 in Lake Wales, Florida, that delivers arts education, visual and performing arts programming, and community cultural events to residents of Central Florida. Its core offerings include rotating visual art exhibitions, live concerts, the Lake Wales Chorale (founded 1972), the 54-year-running annual Lake Wales Arts Festival, the Marilyn Newell Youth Music Festival, Summer Arts Camp, Studio 60 teen camp, adult and teen classes, weekend workshops, and event venue rentals at its single Arts Center facility at 1099 State Road 60 E.

The organization operates an event-driven go-to-market motion, acquiring visitors and participants through signature events, educational program registrations, and venue rentals. Its revenue model mixes transactional income (event tickets, class registrations, gift cards, and space rentals), recurring income (Lake Wales Chorale membership dues of $50-100 and Studio Pass artist memberships), and contributed income from donations, sponsorships, and government grants. Headcount is between 1 and 10 employees, led by Executive Director Tommy Frank and Chorale Director Dana Hofstrom.

The Council is supported institutionally by the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, the City of Lake Wales, and Mountain Lake Community Service, with Citizens Bank & Trust serving as the presenting sponsor of the 54th Annual Lake Wales Arts Festival. Distribution occurs in-person at the Lake Wales Arts Center and online via the organization's website, Instagram, and email newsletter. No proprietary technology or AI/ML capability is disclosed in the available source data.

Name

Lake Wales Arts Council

Legal name

Lake Wales Arts Council

Website

https://lakewalesartscouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lake Wales Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization in Lake Wales, Florida, founded in 1972, providing arts education, exhibitions, concerts, community events, and venue rentals to Central Florida residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Cultural Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (71211), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAHAC

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAHAB

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAHAH

Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

Keywords

• Arts education programs
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Performing arts events
• Community cultural services
• Youth music competition

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake Wales

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales for events including the annual Lake Wales Arts Festival (Art-B-Que kick-off party, concert tickets, Tasting Trail), Marilyn Newell Youth Music Festival, and Lake Wales Chorale concerts.
2. Educational Programs: Revenue from class registrations for painting, ceramics, drawing, Summer Arts Camp, Studio 60 teen camp, adult/teen classes, and Weekend Workshops.
3. Membership Dues: Lake Wales Chorale members pay annual dues of $100 or $50 per half-year (semester). Annual Arts Council membership also available.
4. Event Space Rentals: Revenue from renting spaces including Updike Hall, conference room, and Michael Crews Gallery for events, workshops, meetings, and special occasions.
5. Donations and Sponsorships: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives support through donations, sponsorships, and grants from government and private sources.
6. Gift Cards: Gift cards available for purchase for future concert tickets or classes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lake Wales Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization that delivers visual arts exhibitions, live concerts and performances (including the long-running Lake Wales Chorale), and arts education classes and workshops for all ages. It also runs signature annual events such as the Lake Wales Arts Festival (now in its 54th year) and the Marilyn Newell Youth Music Festival, and rents its event spaces to community members and organizations.

Product overview

The Lake Wales Arts Council operates as a nonprofit arts organization offering a unified portfolio of programs rather than a software product. The core offerings center on visual arts exhibitions, performing arts (concerts and the Lake Wales Chorale), and arts education through classes and workshops. Key annual events include the 54th Annual Lake Wales Arts Festival, the Marilyn Newell Youth Music Festival, and seasonal Chorale concerts. Additional revenue-generating services include event space rentals, gift cards, and artist memberships with studio access. The organization serves the Central Florida community through its Arts Center facility at 1099 State Road 60 E in Lake Wales, Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lake Wales Chorale: A choral ensemble united since 1972 to inspire audiences locally and globally with a tradition of artistic excellence.
• Marilyn Newell Youth Music Festival
• Lake Wales Arts Festival
• Studio 60

Products and services

• Lake Wales Arts Festival
• Lake Wales Chorale
• Marilyn Newell Youth Music Festival
• Summer Arts Camp
• Art Classes and Workshops
• Exhibitions
• Concerts and Performances
• Event Space Rentals
• Studio Pass / Artist Membership
• Tours

Named customers3 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Citizens Bank & TrustflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 February 2025Citizens Bank & Trust is the presenting sponsor of the 54th Annual Lake Wales Arts Festival, a 54-year tradition attracting thousands of art enthusiasts annually.
• Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural AffairscoreOthersExhibitions and programs are made possible in part by the generous support of the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs.
• Florida Council on Arts and CulturecoreOthersSupported by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and the State of Florida for exhibitions and programs.
• City of Lake WalescoreOthersThe City of Lake Wales provides support for the Lake Wales Arts Council's mission to cultivate a thriving cultural arts community in Central Florida.
• Mountain Lake Community ServicesupportingOthersMountain Lake Community Service is listed as a generous supporter helping make exhibitions and programs possible.
• Visit Central FloridasupportingOthersVisit Central Florida is listed among sponsors and partners supporting the Lake Wales Arts Council.
• Warner UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWarner University is a sponsor of the Lake Wales Chorale and serves as the employer of Chorale Director Dana Hofstrom as Assistant Professor of Worship/Music & Department Chair.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Crealdé School of Art: Central Florida community art school offering classes, exhibitions, and studio programs (Winter Garden, FL) — directly comparable multi-program arts education and exhibition model with similar nonprofit structure.
• Bok Tower Gardens: A National Historic Landmark botanical garden and Carillon concert venue located less than 10 miles from Lake Wales — directly comparable as a Central Florida cultural/arts destination with overlapping performing arts programming (Carillon concerts parallel the Chorale) and visitor/education mission.
• United Arts of Central Florida: Regional arts funding and advocacy organization for Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, and Volusia counties — comparable mission (community arts funding, advocacy, cultural planning) and aligns with the broader Central Florida arts ecosystem.
• Dunedin Fine Art Center: Florida community art center with classes, exhibitions, and youth programs on a similar nonprofit membership/education-driven model — directly comparable operating structure and program mix.
• Ridge Art Association: Long-running community visual arts organization in Polk County, FL operating a gallery and exhibition program — directly comparable as a neighboring community arts nonprofit with overlapping local audience.
• Maitland Art Center (Art & History Museums of Maitland): Florida nonprofit combining gallery exhibitions, arts education, and historic site programming — comparable multi-disciplinary arts education and exhibition focus within a single regional market.
• Polk Arts Alliance: County-wide arts council and grantmaker serving Polk County, Florida — the most direct functional peer as a regional arts funding/advocacy body serving the same geographic catchment.
• Art Center Sarasota: Florida-based community art center offering classes, exhibitions, and community programs — directly comparable multi-program (education + exhibitions + events) community arts nonprofit model.

Broad incumbents

• Orlando Museum of Art: Major regional art museum within driving distance of Lake Wales — broader-scale incumbent with overlapping exhibition and education programming that competes for regional audience and sponsorship dollars.

Others

• Florida Art Education Association: Statewide professional association for art educators that supports and certifies community-based arts instruction — not a direct competitor but an ecosystem enabler relevant to LWAC's education programming and grant eligibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lakewalesarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lakewalesac
• Instagraminstagram.com/lakewalesartscouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/lakewalesartscouncil

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 Lake Wales Arts Council