NAICS 611610 Quarterly Industry Report
Fine Arts Schools
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 611610Sector: Educational Services (61)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Fine Arts Schools (NAICS 611610) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[9], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], NASAD accreditation data[8], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, arts education analysts, and business appraisers with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the fine arts schools industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Fine Arts Schools (NAICS 611610) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in offering instruction in the arts, including dance, art, drama, and music per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Programs range from recreational classes for children and adults to pre-professional conservatory training and degree-preparatory coursework. Studios, academies, and performing arts schools provide individual and group instruction across visual arts, instrumental performance, vocal training, theater, and movement disciplines.
Roughly 17,700 establishments employ 107,500 workers and generate approximately $7.8 billion in annual revenue per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] and Census data. School of Rock operates more than 280 franchise locations, while Arthur Murray International and Fred Astaire Dance Studios maintain large franchise networks in ballroom and social dance instruction. Industry fragmentation remains high, with the top 50 companies accounting for only 9 percent of total revenue. Average school size is roughly 9 employees generating $457,000 in annual revenue.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $9 million in average annual receipts. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design[8] accredits 322 institutional members, while parallel bodies oversee music and dance program standards. Post-pandemic recovery has been supported by government relief funding and renewed family spending on extracurricular activities. Hybrid delivery models combining in-person instruction with online components have become standard at many larger schools and franchise networks.
What's Included in This Industry
- Music instruction and instrumental performance lessons
- Dance studio classes and choreography training
- Visual arts and painting instruction programs
- Theater and acting class instruction
- Vocal coaching and voice performance training
- Photography and digital media arts courses
- Sculpture, ceramics, and mixed media workshops
- Children's recreational arts enrichment programs
- Pre-professional conservatory preparatory training
- Online and hybrid arts instruction delivery
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Educational Services | 61 |
| Subsector | Educational Services | 611 |
| Industry Group | Other Schools and Instruction | 6116 |
| NAICS Industry | Fine Arts Schools | 61161 |
| National Industry | Fine Arts Schools | 611610 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 611620 | Sports and Recreation Instruction | Sports and Recreation Instruction shares the non-academic enrichment instruction model and competes for the same family discretionary spending on children's extracurricular activities, with both sectors experiencing seasonal enrollment patterns |
| 611110 | Elementary and Secondary Schools | Elementary and Secondary Schools offer arts education programs within their curricula that supplement demand for private fine arts instruction, with K-12 budget cuts for school arts programs often driving families toward private studio enrollment |
| 611691 | Exam Preparation and Tutoring | Exam Preparation and Tutoring competes for the same after-school time slots and family education budgets, though arts schools target creative development while tutoring focuses on academic test performance improvement |
| 711110 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters employ trained performers from fine arts school programs, with professional theater hiring creating career pathway demand for acting, dance, and vocal performance training |
| 711130 | Musical Groups and Artists | Musical Groups and Artists employ graduates of music instruction programs, with performing artist career opportunities driving enrollment in instrumental, vocal, and music production training courses |
| 611710 | Educational Support Services | Educational Support Services provide curriculum design, accreditation consulting, and student assessment tools that fine arts schools contract for program development and institutional quality assurance |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 14.1% | 2,250 |
| 2 | New York | 8.9% | 1,421 |
| 3 | Texas | 6.9% | 1,108 |
| 4 | Florida | 5.6% | 894 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 4.4% | 697 |
| 6 | Illinois | 4.1% | 650 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 3.8% | 602 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 3.5% | 564 |
| 9 | Washington | 3.1% | 498 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 3.1% | 492 |
% Of Establishments
0%
14%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
1,392
Total SBA Loans
$334.7M
Total Loan Volume
$240K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.62%
Average Interest Rate
9,776
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Fine Arts Schools (NAICS 611610) has a size standard of $9 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[10] support studio buildout, equipment purchases, and program expansion for qualifying fine arts school operators. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[11] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[12] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 88 | $41.7M | $473K |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | 176 | $24.0M | $136K |
| 3 | Oconee State Bank | 8 | $20.6M | $2.6M |
| 4 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 72 | $18.9M | $262K |
| 5 | Live Oak Banking Company | 16 | $13.5M | $843K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for music and art schools?
NAICS 611610 covers fine arts schools offering instruction in music, dance, visual arts, drama, and related artistic disciplines per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
How large is the fine arts school industry?
What is the SBA size standard for fine arts schools?
The SBA size standard[7] is $9 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
Who accredits fine arts schools?
The National Association of Schools of Art and Design[8] accredits 322 institutional members, with parallel bodies overseeing music and dance program standards. Accreditation is voluntary but required for federal financial aid eligibility.
What are the largest fine arts school operators?
School of Rock operates more than 280 franchise locations, while Arthur Murray International and Fred Astaire Dance Studios maintain large franchise networks per industry tracking data.
How fragmented is the fine arts school market?
Industry fragmentation is extremely high, with the top 50 companies accounting for only 9 percent of total revenue, reflecting a market dominated by independent single-location studios and small multi-location operators.
Has the industry recovered from the pandemic?
Post-pandemic recovery has been supported by government relief funding and renewed family spending on extracurricular activities per Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] industry data, with hybrid instruction models expanding operational capacity.
Do fine arts schools offer online instruction?
Many fine arts schools adopted hybrid delivery models combining in-person studio instruction with online video lesson components, particularly for music theory, art history, and performance review sessions.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]National Association of Schools of Art and Design nasad.arts-accredit.org
- [9]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [10]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [12]504 loans sba.gov
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