What Catskill Mountain Foundation does

Catskill Mountain Foundation (CMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 1998 by philanthropists Peter and Sarah Finn, operating multiple venues and programs across the northern Catskill Mountain region of upstate New York. The foundation operates three principal facilities: the 245-seat Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville (designed by architect Hugh Hardy), the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter (housing the 165-seat Weisberg Hall, Mountain Cinema three-screen film venue, the Piano Performance Museum with its 25+ historic piano collection, and CMF administrative offices), and the Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts in Maplecrest (offering year-round studio workshops in ceramics, painting, fibers, and 2D arts, plus a 4.5-acre Natural Agriculture Farm following the Shumei method). CMF also operates on-campus lodging at the Sherwood House (14 bedrooms at $100+/night).

The foundation's programs span live performance (dance, theater, music, comedy), film programming (70-200+ screenings per year at Mountain Cinema, including a Pay-What-You-Can Thursday series), youth education (Orpheum Dance Program, Art Explorers, Theater Explorers, Groundwork Dance, National Dance Institute residencies), artist residencies (in partnership with Works & Process at the Guggenheim, The Joyce Theater Foundation, and Aquila Theatre Company), and the Maude Adams Theater Hub (MATH) community theater initiative. Community productions of The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Cinderella have engaged over 1,000 local participants onstage since 2015, with alumni progressing to Cleveland Ballet, Ballet British Columbia, Martha Graham Company, and Tabula Rasa Dance Theater.

Revenue is derived from ticket sales (performance tickets $11-$35, approximately 10,000 tickets per year), workshop and class registration fees via CourseStorm, lodging at Sherwood House, gift shop merchandise, and donations including a recurring donor program and an annual benefit event. The foundation has invested nearly $16 million in facilities since 1998, with current capital expansion including a 5,000-square-foot net-zero dance studio annex partially funded by NYSDRI and NYSERDA grants (approximately $2.7 million awarded in 2022). Marketing is anchored by a 100,000-circulation annual print magazine (Catskill Mountain Region Guide), email newsletters, social media presence, and a volunteer Brand Ambassador program across five regional corridors. CMF reports serving over 100,000 individuals annually across performances, workshops, residencies, and magazine readership.

Name

Catskill Mountain Foundation

Legal name

Catskill Mountain Foundation

Website

https://catskillmtn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Catskill Mountain Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three arts venues — the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, Doctorow Center for the Arts, and Sugar Maples Center — in the northern Catskill Mountains, delivering dance, theater, film, art workshops, youth education, and artist residencies to Greene County and the Hudson Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Performing Arts Center

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Museums (712110), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Dance Companies (711120), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Cultural, Arts & Humanities Community Education (Museums/Arts Councils) (EDAAAFAD)

Keywords

• Performing arts center
• Arts education programs
• Youth dance training
• Film exhibition services
• Community arts nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Hunter

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from performances at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center (245 seats) and Doctorow Center for the Arts (165-seat Weisberg Hall), including dance productions, theater, concerts, and film screenings.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable contributions from individuals, including an annual benefit event. Donors receive benefits such as discount tickets, playbill listings, newsletter access, and the Catskill Mountain Region Guide magazine. Matching gift programs are available.
3. Workshop and Class Fees: Registration fees for Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts workshops (ceramics, painting, fibers, 2D), youth programs (Art Explorers, Theater Explorers, Groundwork Dance), dance classes, and summer programs. Additional revenue from campus lodging at Sherwood House ($100+ per night).
4. Gift Shop and Merchandise: The CMF Gift Shop, located adjacent to the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, sells books, gifts, and locally sourced/artisan products. A multi-cultural gift store emphasizing sustainable products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Catskill Mountain Foundation operates a multi-venue performing arts and cultural education complex across three facilities in the northern Catskill Mountains region of upstate New York. Through the Orpheum Performing Arts Center, Doctorow Center for the Arts, Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts, and Mountain Cinema, the foundation presents live dance, theater, music, and film programming; offers youth and adult arts education including dance training, theater, and visual arts workshops; hosts artist residencies in partnership with major New York City arts organizations; and operates the Piano Performance Museum and a Natural Agriculture Farm.

Product overview

Catskill Mountain Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization operating multiple venues and programs across the Catskill Mountains region. The organization operates as a multi-arts center offering live performance venues (Orpheum Performing Arts Center, Doctorow Center for the Arts), art education (Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts), film programming (Mountain Cinema with Independent Film Series), dance training (Orpheum Dance Program), youth programs (Art Explorers, Theater Explorers, Groundwork Dance), theater productions (Maude Adams Theater Hub, V Season festival), a Piano Performance Museum, Natural Agriculture Farm, artist residencies, a gift shop, and an annual regional magazine. The Foundation serves the northern Catskill Mountain region through over 100 yearly events reaching 100,000+ individuals annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Orpheum Performing Arts Center: A 245-seat theater in Tannersville, NY, hosting dance performances, concerts, theater productions, and other live events.
• Doctorow Center for the Arts
• Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts
• Orpheum Dance Program
• Piano Performance Museum
• Maude Adams Theater Hub (MATH)
• Natural Agriculture Farm

Products and services

• Live Performance Tickets Ticketed live performances in dance, theater, music, and comedy at the 245-seat Orpheum Performing Arts Center in Tannersville, NY and the 165-seat Evelyn Weisberg Hall in Hunter, NY. Tickets range approximately $11–$35 with senior and student pricing available. Targeted at regional audiences and visitors to the Catskills.
• Mountain Cinema Film Screenings Three-screen film venue showing Hollywood, foreign, and independent films with over 200 screenings annually in high definition and digital surround sound at the Doctorow Center for the Arts in Hunter, NY. For film enthusiasts in the Catskill region.
• Thursday Classic & Independent Film Series
• Orpheum Dance Program Dance training program for youth ages 5–18 offering pre-ballet, ballet, and jazz classes, plus community dance productions including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Scholarships are available for Greene County students. Led by former Metropolitan Opera ballerina Victoria Rinaldi.
• Art Explorers
• Theater Explorers (MATH)
• Groundwork Dance
• Sugar Maples Workshops and Classes
• Academy of Fortepiano Performance
• Piano Performance Museum Admission
• V Season Winter Theater Festival
• Sherwood House Campus Lodging
• Artist Residencies
• CMF Gift Shop
• Catskill Mountain Region Guide Magazine
• Natural Agriculture Farm

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 individuals impacted annually through performances, workshops, residencies, and magazine readership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Works & Process at the GuggenheimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMF partners with Works & Process to host residencies in small rural communities of Greene County. During residencies, local communities participate in workshops and demonstrations, meet professional artists, and gain insight into the creative process. The program also supports emerging artists with salary support, housing, and rehearsal space for performances at world-class NYC venues.
• The Joyce Theater FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMF hosts multiple two-week residencies annually in partnership with The Joyce Theater Foundation, culminating in performances at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center. Joyce Theater artists benefit from critically needed rehearsal space in the Catskills, unavailable at their NYC facility. Companies hosted have included Camille A. Brown & Dancers, HopeBoykinDance, Olivier Tarpaga Dance Project, and Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE.
• National Dance Institute (NDI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2007, CMF has organized a two-week NDI dance workshop for children in grades 3-8. Funded by Jacques d'Amboise (former NYC Ballet star), the program offers high-energy dance classes, choreography workshops, and live music, concluding with a sold-out performance at the Orpheum Performing Arts Center.
• Aquila Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquila Theatre Company (one of the foremost producers of classical theater in the US) partnered with CMF's Orpheum Dance Program for A Midsummer Night's Dream and other productions. Aquila has performed for the White House and US Supreme Court, and brings classical theater expertise, physical actors, and fresh script adaptations to CMF productions.
• Joffrey Ballet School New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoffrey Ballet School New York provides dancers for CMF productions of The Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Students from the school's trainee program perform alongside Orpheum Dance Program community members, with Era Jouravlev (Ballet Trainee Program Director) participating in casting.
• Maude Adams Theater Hub (MATH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMATH is CMF's internal theater initiative offering theater, musical theater, music, film screenings, comedy, and community theater productions. CMF and MATH established the Community Performing Arts Fund to support community-based performances and bring world-class artists to collaborate with local performers. MATH provides comprehensive training in theater skills for students of all ages.
• Pathways to DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPathways to Dance was a collaboration between nine regional venues in the Catskills, The Joyce Theater Foundation, and renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp. Launched in 2016, the initiative supported creation of new works through workshops, performances, master classes, and film presentations. Twyla Tharp created two repertory works and a new dance set to Beethoven's Grosse Fuge during a six-week residency.
• Shumei International (Natural Agriculture)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Natural Agriculture method taught by the Japanese organization Shumei is the farming methodology used at CMF's 4.5-acre Natural Agriculture Farm at Sugar Maples. This method grows produce without agricultural chemicals or animal products, creating 'some of the freshest and most delicious produce available in the state.'

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Chautauqua Institution: A nonprofit education and arts center in western New York offering summer programming, performing arts, education, and religion. Comparable to CMF as a multi-arts rural nonprofit serving families and youth with year-round programming, though at substantially larger scale.
• The Yard: A dance and theater residency center on Martha's Vineyard, MA, hosting companies, artists, and community programming. Comparable to CMF's rural artist residency and community performance model, with similar seasonal programming dynamics.
• Baryshnikov Arts Center: A New York City arts center providing residencies, performances, and studio space for dance, theater, and music. Comparable to CMF's Joyce Theater and Works & Process residencies, though operating in an urban environment without rural artist retreat components.
• Kaatsbaan International Dance Center: A year-round dance center in Tivoli, NY (Hudson Valley), providing residencies, performances, and artist support. Directly comparable to CMF's residency model and upstate NY dance ecosystem positioning, including shared partner relationships with Joyce Theater.
• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: A National Historic Landmark in Becket, MA, operating as a rural summer dance festival with residencies, performances, and a school. Closely comparable to CMF's Orpheum Dance Program and Joyce Theater residencies in serving as a rural dance ecosystem anchored by world-class companies.

Regional players

• PS21: A performing arts center in Chatham, NY (Hudson Valley), presenting dance, theater, and music with a residency program. Comparable to CMF's upstate NY rural performing arts mission and multi-disciplinary programming model, though without CMF's cinema, museum, or workshop components.
• Fisher Center at Bard College: A performing arts venue at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY (Hudson Valley), presenting music, dance, theater, and film. Comparable to CMF as a rural NY multi-arts presenter with academic partnerships, operating at larger institutional scale.
• Bethel Woods Center for the Arts: A performing arts venue in Bethel, NY (Catskills region), hosting concerts, performances, and educational programming. Comparable to CMF as a Sullivan County performing arts nonprofit serving the same regional audience and tourism base, with a larger outdoor amphitheater focus.

Broad incumbents

• MASS MoCA: A contemporary art museum and performing arts venue in North Adams, MA, with a multi-arts model, residencies, and large-scale exhibits. Comparable to CMF as a rural multi-arts anchor that has driven regional revitalization, though MASS MoCA operates at much larger scale and budget.

Others

• Storm King Art Center: A 500-acre outdoor sculpture park in New Windsor, NY (Hudson Valley), hosting large-scale contemporary art installations. Comparable to CMF as a rural NY arts institution driving tourism and community engagement, but focused on visual rather than performing arts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPtrldXP3_YbNUTplbku7Ww
• Facebookfacebook.com/catskillmtn
• Instagraminstagram.com/catskillmountainfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/catskill-mountain-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Catskill Mountain Foundation