art access
Art Access is a Salt Lake City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1984, that provides free arts accessibility programs—including artist mentorship, gallery exhibitions, and cultural-organization training—for artists with disabilities and Utah's cultural sector.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What art access does
Art Access is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, that operates at the intersection of the arts and disability accessibility. The organization runs three core programs: the Partners Mentorship Program, established in 1994, which pairs emerging artists with disabilities with established artists for 25 hours of paid one-on-one co-mentorship culminating in a free public group exhibit; the Breaking Barriers: A Cultural Accessibility Project, delivered in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, which provides disability accessibility training at no cost to Utah cultural institutions; and the Art Access Gallery, which exhibits work from Partners alumni and independent disabled artists and hosts community workshops. All programming is free to participants.
The organization is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and fundraising events, with the 300 Plates annual fundraiser (running since 2003) historically serving as a flagship community event. As of 2025–2026, Art Access is operating with a lean team of two identified staff (Executive Director Gabriella Huggins and Grant Writer Mario Duran), is governed by a volunteer board chaired by Kerry Ellen Carlson, and is in an explicit transitional period: the 300 Plates fundraiser has been paused for 2026 due to insufficient staff, board, and volunteer capacity, and the organization has engaged Ontic Partners and Union Creative Agency to reorganize financial management and establish a sustainable programming plan. A new street-facing gallery and workshop space at 511 W 200 S, #130, Salt Lake City is slated to open in August 2026 to expand public-facing delivery, supported by an Opening Supporter fundraising campaign. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is programmatic and relationship-driven.
art access firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- art access
- Legal name
- Art Access
- Website
- https://artaccessutah.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Art Access is a Salt Lake City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1984, that provides free arts accessibility programs—including artist mentorship, gallery exhibitions, and cultural-organization training—for artists with disabilities and Utah's cultural sector.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
art access industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Arts Accessibility Services
- NAICS
- Museums (712110), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN)
Keywords
Where art access is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
art access business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Sponsorships: Art Access is a nonprofit organization funded primarily through donations, sponsorships, and grants. The organization runs annual fundraising events including the 300 Plates fundraiser and seeks Opening Supporters for new gallery campaigns.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Art Access receives funding from foundations and corporate sponsors. The organization is working with financial advisors (Ontic Partners) and creative agency (Union Creative Agency) to reorganize financial management and set a sustainable programming plan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | All programs are free to participants |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
art access product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Art Access is a nonprofit arts accessibility organization operating since 1984 that provides free programs including the Partners mentorship program matching emerging artists with disabilities with established artists, the Art Access Gallery showcasing work by disabled artists, and the Breaking Barriers disability accessibility training program delivered in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. All programs and exhibitions are provided at no cost to participants and funded through donations, grants, and sponsorships.
Product overview
Art Access Utah operates as a nonprofit arts accessibility organization offering three core programs: the Partners mentorship program (established 1994) that matches emerging artists with disabilities with established artists for professional development; the Art Access Gallery that showcases artwork from program participants and hosts community workshops; and Breaking Barriers, a disability accessibility training program delivered in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts & Museums. The organization also manages the 300 Plates annual fundraiser and maintains resource libraries for artists, educators, and cultural organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Partners: A professional development program created in 1994 that matches emerging artists with disabilities with established artists for 25 hours of one-on-one co-mentorship, ending in a group exhibit.
- Breaking Barriers
- 300 Plates
Products and services
- Partners Mentorship Program A professional development program matching emerging artists with disabilities with established artists for 25 hours of one-on-one co-mentorship. Both artists receive payment and material stipends, and the program culminates in a free public group exhibit.
- Art Access Gallery A gallery space showcasing work from the Partners program and emerging independent artists with disabilities. Hosts community workshops in collaboration with teaching artists and partner organizations. All exhibitions and workshops are free to the public.
- Breaking Barriers: A Cultural Accessibility Project A cultural accessibility training program and mentorship initiative provided in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, offering disability accessibility training to Utah cultural institutions at no cost.
Companies that use art access
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
art access technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
art access partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Utah Film CentercoreUtah Film Center completed Art Access's Breaking Barriers accessibility training in 2021. The training fundamentally changed their operational practices, leading to implementation of closed captioning for all screenings, ASL-interpreted screenings for K-8 field trips, sensory-friendly screenings, accessibility ramps, and a comprehensive accessibility plan. Utah Film Center serves over 40,000 Utahns annually.
- Utah Division of Arts and MuseumscoreArt Access partners with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums to deliver the Breaking Barriers: A Cultural Accessibility Project, providing disability accessibility training and mentorship to Utah's cultural institutions at no cost.
- Union Creative AgencyminorCreative agency providing assistance with organizational restructuring and future programming planning.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
art access competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VSA / Kennedy Center: VSA, the international organization on art and disability (now part of the John F. Kennedy Center), is the closest direct peer — operating programs in accessibility training, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities for artists with disabilities at national scale.
- Creative Growth: Oakland-based nonprofit art center serving adult artists with developmental disabilities through studio programming, exhibitions, and representation — a direct functional peer to Art Access's gallery and mentorship work.
- National Disability Theatre: National Disability Theatre produces theatrical work by and for disabled artists and provides training pipelines — comparable to Art Access's mission of creating professional pathways for disabled artists.
- AXIS Dance Company: AXIS is an integrated dance company featuring disabled and non-disabled performers with strong education and outreach programs — directly comparable to Art Access's combined artist-development and community-accessibility model.
- Arts & Services for Disabled (ASD): Long-running California-based nonprofit providing vocational arts programming, exhibitions, and training for individuals with disabilities — closely aligned with Art Access's programming mix.
- National Arts and Disability Center (UCLA): UCLA-based center advancing disability inclusion in the arts through training, research, and consultation with cultural institutions — a direct peer in the accessibility-training-for-organizations space Art Access occupies via Breaking Barriers.
- Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts: Advocacy and consulting organization that works with cultural institutions to increase disability access and representation in theater, film, and other art forms — overlaps with Breaking Barriers training content.
Regional players
- ArtMix (Indianapolis): Indiana-based nonprofit delivering arts programming, exhibitions, and accessibility services for people with disabilities — operates a comparable mission in a different geography from Art Access.
Broad incumbents
- Americans for the Arts: National arts advocacy and service organization with a broader portfolio across all arts sectors, including disability-inclusion initiatives — a larger incumbent that overlaps with Art Access on cultural-organization capacity building.
- National Endowment for the Arts: Federal arts funder that channels grants to state arts councils (like Utah's Division of Arts & Museums, Art Access's partner), making it the most consequential incumbent shaping Art Access's funding landscape.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
art access social profiles
Digital presenceart access financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
art access leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
art access funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
art access M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about art access
What does art access do?
Art Access is a nonprofit arts accessibility organization operating since 1984 that provides free programs including the Partners mentorship program matching emerging artists with disabilities with established artists, the Art Access Gallery showcasing work by disabled artists, and the Breaking Barriers disability accessibility training program delivered in partnership with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. All programs and exhibitions are provided at no cost to participants and funded through donations, grants, and sponsorships.
Is art access a public or private company?
art access is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was art access founded?
art access was founded in 1984.
Where is art access based?
art access is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does art access make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Sponsorships are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants.
Who are art access's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VSA / Kennedy Center, Creative Growth, National Disability Theatre, AXIS Dance Company, Arts & Services for Disabled (ASD), National Arts and Disability Center (UCLA) and Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts. ArtMix (Indianapolis) is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Americans for the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts.
Does art access have an API?
No public API is recorded for art access.
What industry is art access in?
art access's product category is Arts Accessibility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAC, Arts Education & Community Arts Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAGAA, Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration). Its NAICS code is 712110 and its SIC code is 7990.