Great Lakes Center for the Arts

What Great Lakes Center for the Arts does

Great Lakes Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts venue located at 800 Bay Harbor Drive in Petoskey, Michigan, that opened on July 7, 2018. The organization operates a 525-seat state-of-the-art theater designed by Fisher Dachs Associates and TowerPinkster, featuring advanced acoustics, a 45-foot cinema screen, and Dolby theatrical surround sound, complemented by five additional rentable event spaces (a 4,000 sq ft Community Engagement Room, an 800 sq ft Donor Lounge, lobby areas, a 700 sq ft Main Level Patio, and a 4,200 sq ft Rooftop Terrace overlooking Lake Michigan). It presents year-round ticketed programming spanning music, theater, dance, comedy, film, and intellectual dialogue, drawing internationally and nationally recognized artists (Chris Botti, Amy Grant, Take 6, The War and Treaty, Come From Away). Educational programs include the free Next Gen initiative, which has served more than 27,000 students and educators across five Northern Michigan counties since 2018–2019, and the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program for ages 4 through high school seniors. A 20+ person full-time staff is led by Executive Director Kassia Perpich and Artistic Director Matthew Kacergis, supported by 4 paid summer interns and an active volunteer program.

Name

Great Lakes Center for the Arts

Legal name

Great Lakes Center for the Arts

Website

https://greatlakescfa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Great Lakes Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a 525-seat performing arts venue in Petoskey, Michigan, presenting year-round music, theater, dance, comedy, and film programming, and delivering free arts education to 4,000+ Northern Michigan students annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue Services

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGABAM

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYMPAGALAB

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Event Venues & Venue Operations (Arenas, Theaters, Halls)

SECONDARYMPAGALAC

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Event Venues & Venue Operations (Arenas, Theaters, Halls)

SECONDARYBPAGAHAB

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Arts, Culture & Heritage Nonprofits

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live event programming
• Arts education programs
• Venue rental services
• Corporate event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Petoskey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales (Center Stage programming): Direct ticket sales for all Center Stage performances including music, theater, dance, comedy, film, and lectures. Single tickets, subscriptions, and group pricing available. Youth pricing ($35 under 35), senior/military discounts, and pay-what-you-can options offered. Chris Botti tickets start at $127; Amy Grant at $87; Barricade Boys at $50; Mozart's Don Giovanni at $33.
2. Venue rental and event hosting: The Center rents its six spaces (theater, Community Engagement Room, Donor Lounge, lobby spaces, Main Level Patio, Rooftop Terrace) for private events, corporate functions, weddings, and social events. Pricing guided by a downloadable Event Planning Guide and inquiry form. Additional revenue from catering/staging kitchen and portable bar services.
3. Annual giving and fundraising (Sustain the Arts for All): Annual fund appeals across giving circles: Founders Circle ($100,000+), Producers' Circle ($50,000–$99,999), Green Room Club ($25,000–$49,999), Directors' Society ($10,000–$24,999), Benefactor ($5,000–$9,999), Patron ($2,500–$4,999), Friend ($500–$2,499), Member (up to $499). Benefits include advertising, Donor Lounge access, and recognition.
4. Corporate Circle sponsorships: Annual corporate sponsorships at five tiers: Producers' Circle ($50,000+), Green Room Club ($25,000), Directors' Society ($10,000), Benefactor ($5,000), Patron ($2,500), Friend ($1,000). Includes ad placements, logo recognition, VIP access, Donor Lounge access, ticket discounts, and space rental discounts.
5. Annual Gala fundraiser: Annual fundraising gala (2026: A Night in Noir with David Foster and Katharine McPhee) at $450 per ticket, featuring a concert, afterparty with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. This flagship event benefits the Center's mission and offers premium donor engagement.
6. Educational program revenue and grants: Next Gen and Dorothy Gerber Strings Program are offered free to students and schools. Revenue is supplemented by grants (Michigan Arts and Culture Council, NEA, Kettering Family Foundation, Greenbrick Foundation, etc.) and donor-designated gifts supporting arts education.
7. Program advertising: Corporate Circle members receive complimentary or discounted advertising in the summer/fall season program (full-page, half-page ads). General program advertising opportunities available to external companies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Great Lakes Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit state-of-the-art performing arts venue in Bay Harbor, Petoskey, Michigan, that presents year-round live performing arts events (music, theater, dance, comedy, film, intellectual dialogue) in its 525-seat theater. It supplements ticketed programming with six rentable event spaces for private and corporate functions, free arts education programs (Next Gen and Dorothy Gerber Strings Program), and fundraising via annual appeals, corporate sponsorships, and an annual gala.

Product overview

The Great Lakes Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) state-of-the-art performing arts venue in Bay Harbor, Michigan, offering a unified portfolio of live event experiences and educational services. Its core offering is the Center Stage Theatre (a 525-seat venue with Dolby surround sound and a 45-foot cinema screen), supplemented by six rentable event spaces and a Box Office ticketing service. Educational products include the free Next Gen program and the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program. The Center also operates a Summer Internship in Arts Management, an Annual Gala fundraiser, Corporate Circle sponsorships, and season subscription packages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Center Stage Theatre (525-seat performing arts venue) Main 525-seat theater featuring state-of-the-art acoustics, a 45-foot cinema screen, and Dolby theatrical surround sound, hosting year-round world-class performing arts events including music, theater, dance, comedy, and film.
• Venue Rental (Six Spaces) Rental of six unique event spaces — Theater (525 seats), Community Engagement Room (4,000 sq ft), Donor Lounge (800 sq ft), Main/Upper-Level Lobby, Main Level Patio (700 sq ft), and Rooftop Terrace (4,200 sq ft) — for private events, weddings, corporate functions, and social gatherings.
• Box Office Ticketing Service Ticket purchasing and box office services for all Center Stage performances, with phone sales (231.439.2610, daily 9AM–5PM) and walk-up service one hour before events, supported by a Salesforce-powered online ticketing platform.
• Next Gen Education Program Free curriculum-based educational programming for pre-K through college students across five Northern Michigan counties, offering school matinees, complimentary tickets, master classes, meet-and-greets, busing reimbursement, and educational resources aligned with Michigan Academic Standards.
• Dorothy Gerber Strings Program Free strings music education program for students aged 4 through high school seniors in Northern Michigan, offering group lessons, private lessons, and a youth orchestra.
• Annual Gala (2026: A Night in Noir) Annual fundraising gala featuring live performances and an afterparty; the 2026 edition 'A Night in Noir' features David Foster and Katharine McPhee at $450/ticket.
• Corporate Circle Sponsorships Annual corporate sponsorship program with six tiers (Friend $1,000 through Producers' Circle $50,000+) providing marketing recognition, VIP access, Donor Lounge access, ticket discounts (10–20%), and venue rental discounts (15%).
• Season Subscriptions Season subscription packages providing priority access and discounts to Center Stage performances across the year-round programming calendar.
• Summer Internships in Arts Management Paid summer internships in arts management for college students, graduate students, and young professionals, offering hands-on experience in Production, Development, Marketing, and Venue Operations (four positions per summer).

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 27,000 students and educators served through Next Gen since 2018-2019 school year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra (GLCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLCO is a resident performing organization at the Center, presenting its 25th anniversary concert 'Lights. Camera. Music!' (July 16, 2026) featuring iconic film music. The Center serves as GLCO's primary performance venue for orchestral programming in the region.
• Bay View Music FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay View Music Festival presents Mozart's Don Giovanni (July 29–30, 2026) at the Center as part of their annual classical music programming. General admission $33; free for ages 18 and under. Long-standing regional summer music festival.
• Charlevoix Historical Society / Museum at Harsha HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresents The City on Three Lakes Book Launch & Benefit Event (Aug 1, 2026) at the Center. Proceeds support the curatorial and educational mission of the Charlevoix Historical Society's Museum at Harsha House. The Center provides venue and marketing support.
• C.S. Lewis FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerC.S. Lewis Festival presents Community Arts Night (Oct 2, 2026) at the Center, featuring student artwork, poetry readings, performances, and a live on-stage painting by Megan Genevieve. First 100 students receive a free copy of 'The Magician's Nephew'.
• Traverse City Dance ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresents its 15th anniversary summer tour (6-stop tour) at the Center's Rooftop Terrace (Aug 2, 2026), featuring seven professional dancers, a new work by resident choreographer Jennifer Lott, NYC tap artist Madison Hilligoss, and a premiere by Artistic Director Brent Whitney, with live music by Charlie Millard Band.
• McLean & Eakin BooksellersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for 'An Afternoon with Paula McLain' (July 19, 2026). Jessilynn Norcross, owner of McLean & Eakin Booksellers, conducts in-conversation interview with McLain. Booksellers sell books in the lobby before and after the event. Cross-promotional relationship.
• The Croft ResidencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPerformance sponsor for Traverse City Dance Project summer tour. The Croft Residency is a dance residency organization supporting professional dance development.
• Crooked Tree Arts Center School of BalletminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPerformance sponsor for Traverse City Dance Project summer tour. Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet is a regional arts education institution.
• Daniel & Pamella DeVos Foundation (Season Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason sponsor providing major annual support for Center Stage programming. Part of the DeVos family's broader arts philanthropy in Michigan.
• SIP Wine Shop (Season Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason sponsor and local Bay Harbor wine shop partner. Local business sponsor providing beverage/catering support for events.
• Harbor Sotheby's International Realty (Season Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeason sponsor and local realty partner. Supports Center Stage programming and events.
• Fox Motors (Transportation Partner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation Partner and Corporate Circle member. Local automotive group providing vehicle support for Center operations and events.
• Monarch Garden & Floral Design (Floral Partner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFloral Partner providing floral arrangements for Center events. Local florist and garden design business.
• Amy Art Gallery + Studio (Art Partner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt Partner and Corporate Circle Benefactor member. Local art gallery supporting the Center's visual arts presence.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GreatLakesCFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/greatlakescenterforthearts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-lakes-center-for-the-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Great Lakes Center for the Arts