Chromadiverse Inc

About the Organization

Organization category

Other

Country / State

United States / California

Mission

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ChromaDiverse aims to preserve dance history by reimagining
how it can be honored and activated, helping artists and organizations safeguard and share their
legacies.

Programs or services

ChromaDiverse provides digital archiving, preservation, oral history, cultural heritage documentation, archival consulting, educational programming, workforce development internships, and technology solutions that help artists and arts organizations preserve, manage, and share their legacies. Through its CurtainConnect™ platform and digital preservation tools, ChromaDiverse makes cultural history more accessible, discoverable, and sustainable for future generations.

Detailed programs

Digital Archiving and Preservation Services, CurtainConnect Social-Archival Network, Digital archivist Internship Program

Target Audience

Artists, performing arts organizations, cultural institutions, artist estates, students, educators, researchers, and the general public interested in preserving, accessing, and sharing cultural heritage and performing arts history, with a focus on underrepresented communities.

Geographic Focus

United States

Current projects

Digital Archiving and Preservation Services, CurtainConnect Social-Archival Network, Digital archivist Internship Program

Organization goals

ChromaDiverse's goals are to preserve at-risk performing arts history, expand public access to cultural heritage, empower artists and communities to tell their own stories, advance digital preservation technology, protect underrepresented histories, train the next generation of cultural stewards, and strengthen the long-term sustainability of artists and arts organizations.

Leadership

Judy Tyrus, Founder, CEO, and President
Eric Waldman, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Vik Thairani Chief Product Officer (CPO).
Jessica Cavender, CurtainConnect Product Manager

Strategic priorities

ChromaDiverse's strategic priorities are to preserve at-risk performing arts history, expand digital preservation technology, increase public access to cultural heritage resources, document underrepresented histories, develop the next generation of cultural stewards through internships and training, strengthen organizational sustainability, and build partnerships that expand the impact of cultural preservation efforts.

Organizational capacity

ChromaDiverse possesses the organizational capacity to successfully design, implement, and sustain complex cultural preservation initiatives. The organization combines experienced leadership, strong governance practices, innovative technology platforms, and a growing network of partners and funders. Recent growth in revenue, successful management of multiple preservation projects, and support from nationally recognized funders demonstrate ChromaDiverse's ability to manage resources effectively and deliver meaningful impact. As demand for archival preservation services continues to grow, ChromaDiverse is well-positioned to expand its reach while maintaining high standards of stewardship, innovation, and community engagement.

Funding Needs

Grant categories you're seeking

Arts and Culture, Awards, BIPOC, Operating Support, Technology, Women-Owned Startups and Businesses

Funding needs

Funding supports archival preservation, digitization of historical collections, digital preservation technology, youth internship programs, oral history projects, community storytelling initiatives, public access to cultural heritage resources, and organizational capacity-building. Through these investments, ChromaDiverse helps artists and organizations safeguard and share their legacies for future generations.

Impact & Recognition

Outcomes and impact

ChromaDiverse's programs are designed to be sustainable, scalable, and widely accessible. Through a combination of earned revenue, philanthropic support, strategic partnerships, and preservation technology, the organization creates long-term infrastructure for cultural preservation. Archived materials are disseminated through digital platforms, educational resources, and public-facing collections that increase access for artists, researchers, students, and communities. ChromaDiverse's proven preservation model—successfully implemented with organizations such as Oakland Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem—can be replicated across diverse cultural organizations, enabling broader preservation of artistic legacies nationwide.

Success stories

ChromaDiverse has successfully preserved and expanded access to significant performing arts histories through digital archiving, innovative technology, and community storytelling. Through projects such as CurtainConnect™ and its archival preservation initiatives, the organization has helped artists and cultural organizations safeguard their legacies while making them more accessible to future generations. ChromaDiverse has also trained emerging cultural heritage professionals through its Digital Archivist Internship Program, creating new pathways into the fields of preservation, archives, and digital storytelling. Together, these efforts ensure that valuable artistic contributions remain visible, discoverable, and protected from loss.

Organization achievements

ChromaDiverse has emerged as an innovative leader in performing arts preservation, securing support from the Doris Duke Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and California Arts Council. The organization has developed preservation technologies including CD SmartCapture™ and CurtainConnect™, while helping preserve and expand access to collections from organizations such as Oakland Ballet Dance Theatre of Harlem, and others. Through archival preservation, public access initiatives, and workforce development programs, ChromaDiverse is ensuring that important artistic legacies remain accessible to future generations.

Major funders

National Endowment for the Arts
California Arts Council
California Non Profit Performing Arts Grant Program
Doris Duke Foundation
Metro Services Group
Ronn Guidi Foundation for Dance
Oddo Family Foundation
David and Ann Blood

Partnerships & Collaborations

ChromaDiverse partners with artists, artist estates, dance companies, cultural organizations, educational institutions, students, technology professionals, archives, museums, and philanthropic organizations to preserve and share performing arts history. Key collaborations include initiatives with the Dance Theatre of Harlem community, artist legacy projects, digital preservation technology development, cultural heritage organizations, and workforce development programs that train the next generation of archivists and cultural stewards.

Sustainability, dissemination & replicability

ChromaDiverse's programs are designed for long-term sustainability, broad dissemination, and wide-scale replication. Through a combination of earned revenue, philanthropy, partnerships, and preservation technology, the organization creates enduring infrastructure for cultural preservation. Archived materials are shared through digital platforms and public access initiatives that increase engagement among artists, educators, researchers, students, and communities. ChromaDiverse's proven preservation model—which has been successfully applied across numerous performing arts organizations and legacy projects—can be adapted for use by cultural institutions nationwide, extending the impact of preservation efforts far beyond any single collection or project.

Internal checks & balances to prevent fraud

We have a governing board of 4.
A complete copy of our 990 was provided to our Board
We have a written conflict of interest policy
We have a written document retention and destruction policy
No diversion of Assets reported
We have Board Meeting documentation
We have a CPA. Gratus CPA and Advisors

Get Involved

How can volunteers get involved?

Volunteers support ChromaDiverse through archival preservation, digitization, historical research, oral history collection, technology development, community storytelling, marketing, events, and fundraising. Whether identifying photographs, helping digitize collections, sharing professional expertise, or amplifying artist stories, volunteers play a vital role in preserving and expanding access to performing arts history for future generations.

How can donors support your mission?

When you support ChromaDiverse, you are preserving more than archives—you are preserving lives, accomplishments, artistic legacies, and cultural memory. Your support helps ensure that the stories of artists and organizations are not lost, but remain available to inspire future generations.

Do you accept partnerships?

ChromaDiverse welcomes partnerships with artists, cultural organizations, schools, archives, technology companies, foundations, and community groups. Together, we preserve cultural heritage, expand access to the arts, and ensure that important stories remain available to inspire future generations.

Are you seeking board members?

ChromaDiverse welcomes inquiries from prospective board members who are passionate about preserving cultural heritage and helping artists and arts organizations protect and share their legacies through innovation, technology, and community engagement.

Website & Social Media