Waterville Creates
Waterville Creates is a Central Maine 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Waterville Opera House, Maine Film Center (including MIFF), and Ticonic Gallery + Studios under one ~$5M budget, serving local families, youth, and visitors with performing arts, film, exhibitions, and education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWaterville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Waterville Creates does
Waterville Creates is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in the Paul J. Schupf Art Center at 93 Main Street, Waterville, Maine. It functions as a coordinating umbrella for the Waterville Opera House (a 1902-built performing-arts venue on the National Register of Historic Places), the Maine Film Center (independent cinema plus the annual 10-day Maine International Film Festival screening 112 films), Ticonic Gallery + Studios (visual-arts exhibitions and studios), and the Art of Clay Studio (24-hour-access ceramics facility). It serves Central Maine residents, families, youth, students, seniors, and visitors through live performances, film screenings, exhibitions, classes, camps, and community programs, with a flagship Youth Arts Access Fund providing free admission to youth 18 and under. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of less than 50% earned income (ticket sales, concessions, venue rentals, merchandise, Clay Studio and membership fees across eight tiers from $50 to $2,000/year) and over 50% contributed income (individual donations, corporate sponsorships from ten+ named partners led by the Harold Alfond Foundation and Kennebec Savings Bank, and foundation/municipal grants). Its core technology stack is light: a combined online and walk-in ticketing system at the Ed Harris Box Office, third-party GoodMaps indoor-navigation and Auracast Bluetooth assistive-listening integrations, and broadcast infrastructure for Met Opera Live in HD and National Theatre Live. The organization employs 40+ staff across divisions under President + CEO Shannon Haines and Executive Director Mike Perreault, and operates with an approximately $5 million 2025 operating budget.
Waterville Creates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Waterville Creates
- Legal name
- Waterville Creates
- Website
- https://watervillecreates.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Waterville Creates is a Central Maine 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the Waterville Opera House, Maine Film Center (including MIFF), and Ticonic Gallery + Studios under one ~$5M budget, serving local families, youth, and visitors with performing arts, film, exhibitions, and education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Waterville Creates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts & Cultural Services
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)
Keywords
Where Waterville Creates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waterville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Waterville Creates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from live performances, concerts, theatrical productions, and film screenings. Less than 50% of total budget is covered by ticket sales and program fees.
- Memberships: Annual membership programs with tiered benefits (Patron, Director, Producer, Star levels) offering 15% ticket discounts, presale access, and free popcorn/merchandise.
- Individual Donations and Annual Fund: One-time and monthly recurring donations supporting arts programming. Tax-deductible gifts can be designated to specific divisions.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Business sponsorships providing high-profile exposure to tens of thousands of patrons annually for programs including MIFF and Waterville Opera House events.
- Clay Studio Memberships and Classes: Monthly memberships at $170/month for intermediate ceramic artists plus additional revenue from clay classes and workshops with member discounts.
- Venue Rentals: Rental income from private and corporate events at Waterville Opera House and other venues.
- Concessions: Food and beverage sales including beer, wine, water, soda, snacks at Maine Film Center and Waterville Opera House venues.
- Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts, pride apparel, greeting cards, patches, stickers, and prints.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Live event tickets with service fee |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Film/recorded event tickets with service fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron Membership - Individual |
| Subscription | Annual | Patron Membership - Dual |
| Subscription | Annual | Director Membership - Individual |
| Subscription | Annual | Director Membership - Dual |
| Subscription | Annual | Producer Membership - Individual |
| Subscription | Annual | Producer Membership - Dual |
| Subscription | Annual | Star Membership - Individual |
| Subscription | Annual | Star Membership - Dual |
| Subscription | Monthly | Clay Studio Monthly Membership |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Clay Studio Quarterly Membership |
| Subscription | Monthly | Clay membership discount |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Take A Seat naming opportunity |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Arts Access Fund (YAAF) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Waterville Creates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Waterville Creates operates and unifies multiple arts institutions under one nonprofit umbrella, delivering ticketed live performances (theatre, music, comedy), independent and classic film screenings, the annual Maine International Film Festival, visual art exhibitions, ceramics studio access, and community arts education programs for the Central Maine region. Its divisions — Waterville Opera House, Maine Film Center, Ticonic Gallery + Studios, and Art of Clay Studio — share a consolidated box office, marketing, and administrative infrastructure housed at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center at 93 Main Street in Waterville.
Product overview
Waterville Creates is a Maine-based arts nonprofit and coordinating entity for arts and culture in Waterville, established in 2014. The organization operates as a platform-plus-divisions model, unifying multiple arts institutions under one administrative structure. Its core divisions include the Waterville Opera House (historic performing arts venue with theatre productions and concerts), Maine Film Center (independent cinema with daily screenings and the annual Maine International Film Festival), Ticonic Gallery + Studios (art exhibitions and creative studios), and the Art of Clay Studio (ceramics facility). Additional offerings include the Youth Arts Access Fund (free admission program for youth), Waterville Rocks outdoor concert series, Art in the Park community programming, and Ed Harris Box Office ticketing services. All operations are consolidated at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center. The organization reported a 2025 operating budget of approximately $5 million.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Waterville Opera House Historic performing arts venue (built 1902) hosting community theatre productions, nationally touring musicians and comedians, educational school shows, and youth theatre camps. Located at 1 Common Street, Waterville, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Maine Film Center Contemporary, independent, and classic film programming with first-run screenings at Railroad Square Cinema and programming of the Maine International Film Festival. Located at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center.
- Maine International Film Festival (MIFF) Ten-day annual film festival operated under the Maine Film Center division that screens approximately 112 films including indie premieres, classics, and international films for filmmakers and enthusiasts from around the world.
- Ticonic Gallery + Studios Year-round visual art exhibitions featuring local, regional, and emerging artists, plus studios for creative endeavors across age groups and skill levels. Formerly Common Street Arts.
- Art of Clay Studio Light-filled ceramic studio offering 24-hour member access, two electric kilns, one raku kiln, eight pottery wheels, slab roller, extruder, and Amaco glazes. Open to intermediate ceramic artists via memberships and classes/workshops.
- Youth Arts Access Fund (YAAF) Donor-supported fund providing free or pay-what-you-can access to Waterville Creates events and programs (movies, plays, concerts, classes, camps) for youth aged 18 and under, subsidized by charitable contributions.
- Waterville Rocks Free, family-friendly outdoor concert series held at Head of Falls in downtown Waterville each summer, featuring local and touring musicians alongside food trucks and art-making activities.
- Art in the Park Free outdoor creative summer programming held Thursdays 3–5pm, partnering with Waterville Public Library and Colby College Museum of Art, including story readings and art-making activities for families.
- Venue Rentals Rental of the Waterville Opera House and other Waterville Creates venues for private and corporate events including weddings, corporate functions, and community gatherings.
- Membership Program Tiered annual membership program (Patron, Director, Producer, Star) priced from $50 to $2,000 per year, offering 15% ticket discounts, one-week presale access to live performances, free member-exclusive programs, and other tiered benefits.
- Ed Harris Box Office Combined ticketing service covering all Waterville Creates divisions (Maine Film Center, Waterville Opera House, Ticonic Gallery programs), with walk-in service at 93 Main Street open daily 11am-7pm and online ticket purchasing.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $268,000 in free arts experiences for youth through YAAF since March 2022
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Waterville Creates
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Waterville Creates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Waterville Creates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Colby College Museum of ArtcoreFounding partner of Waterville Creates; shares Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art at Paul J. Schupf Art Center; collaborates on exhibitions, youth programming, and community events including Youth Art Month and Art in the Park
- Waterville Public LibrarycoreFounding partner and National Medal winner; co-programs Art in the Park with Colby Museum; provides space and resources for community programming including Crafternoons, Rhymetime, and Curious Kids Hour
- Children's Discovery MuseumminorRegional partner serving children and families with play-based learning experiences in Augusta, Maine
- Colby College Center for Arts + HumanitiescoreCo-programs community events and exhibitions; sponsors Youth Arts Access Fund as monthly sponsor; supports artistic and cultural programming at Paul J. Schupf Art Center
- Elm City Community Music SchoolminorPlace-based music education hub in Waterville providing progressive skill development for all ages
- Colby Arts / Greene Block + StudiosminorDowntown arts space enhancing Waterville's identity as arts destination; partners on Youth Art Month exhibition and artist programming
- Alfond Youth & Community Center (AYCC)minorServes nearly 9,000 members from 50 Greater Waterville communities; merged Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA with childcare, after-school, fitness, and summer camp programs
- Borderlands CoffeeminorCoffee vendor located at Paul J. Schupf Art Center providing concessions alongside Maine Film Center offerings
- Maine International Film Festival (MIFF)core10-day film festival held July 10-19 annually, screening 112 films including indie premieres, classics, and international films; attracts filmmakers and enthusiasts worldwide; operates under Maine Film Center division
- City of WatervillecoreMunicipal partner providing funding support; co-sponsor of Waterville Rocks, Art in the Park, and Public Art Program; supports accessible arts programming for community
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Waterville Creates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Portland Stage Company: Maine-based professional nonprofit performing arts company producing mainstage plays and community programming — directly comparable as a Maine nonprofit theater organization with a similar community-engaged model.
- Flynn Center for the Performing Arts: Burlington, Vermont-based nonprofit performing arts center presenting touring music, dance, theater, and film in a multi-venue downtown facility. Closely comparable multi-discipline community arts nonprofit with a similar scale and rural-urban catchment.
- Coolidge Corner Theatre: Nonprofit independent cinema and cultural center in Brookline, Massachusetts operating year-round film programming, education programs, and special events — directly comparable to the Maine Film Center division.
- Brattle Theatre: Nonprofit art-house cinema in Cambridge, Massachusetts operated by a foundation presenting independent, classic, and repertory film — directly comparable to Maine Film Center's independent and repertory cinema programming.
Regional players
- The Colonial Theatre (Belfast, Maine): Restored historic nonprofit theater in mid-coast Maine presenting film, music, theater, and community events — a direct geographic and operational analogue to the Waterville Opera House.
- Portland Museum of Art: Maine's largest art museum presenting exhibitions, educational programming, and community events — comparable as a Maine-based visual arts nonprofit and a logical peer for the Ticonic Gallery + Studios division.
- Strand Theatre (Rockland, Maine): Nonprofit performing arts and film venue in mid-coast Maine presenting live music, theater, dance, and cinema — closely comparable to Waterville Opera House in scale, programming mix, and regional nonprofit model.
Broad incumbents
- MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art): Large nonprofit contemporary art museum and performing arts venue in North Adams, MA with multi-discipline programming — comparable in consolidated nonprofit model and tourism-driven rural cultural economy.
- Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival: National historic landmark nonprofit dance festival and school presenting performances, education, and community programming — comparable as a multi-program arts nonprofit dependent on donations, memberships, and ticketing.
- Hopkins Center for the Arts (Dartmouth): University-affiliated performing arts center presenting film, music, theater, and dance programming — comparable consolidated multi-discipline programming model with educational outreach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Waterville Creates social profiles
Digital presenceWaterville Creates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Waterville Creates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Waterville Creates subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Waterville Creates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Waterville Creates 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 Waterville Creates
What does Waterville Creates do?
Waterville Creates operates and unifies multiple arts institutions under one nonprofit umbrella, delivering ticketed live performances (theatre, music, comedy), independent and classic film screenings, the annual Maine International Film Festival, visual art exhibitions, ceramics studio access, and community arts education programs for the Central Maine region. Its divisions — Waterville Opera House, Maine Film Center, Ticonic Gallery + Studios, and Art of Clay Studio — share a consolidated box office, marketing, and administrative infrastructure housed at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center at 93 Main Street in Waterville.
Is Waterville Creates a public or private company?
Waterville Creates is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Waterville Creates founded?
Waterville Creates was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Waterville Creates based?
Waterville Creates is headquartered in Waterville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Waterville Creates make money?
Eight revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are memberships, individual Donations and Annual Fund, corporate Sponsorships, clay Studio Memberships and Classes, venue Rentals, concessions and merchandise.
Who are Waterville Creates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Portland Stage Company, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Coolidge Corner Theatre and Brattle Theatre. Regional players are The Colonial Theatre (Belfast, Maine), Portland Museum of Art and Strand Theatre (Rockland, Maine). Broad incumbents are MASS MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art), Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and Hopkins Center for the Arts (Dartmouth).
Does Waterville Creates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Waterville Creates.
What industry is Waterville Creates in?
Waterville Creates's product category is Performing Arts & Cultural Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAHAB, Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music), with a secondary code of THAHAAAG, Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums). Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7900.