Long Center for the Performing Arts

What Long Center for the Performing Arts does

The Long Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts venue and community gathering place located at 701 W. Riverside Drive in Austin, Texas, on the south shore of Town Lake with panoramic views of the downtown skyline. Founded as Austin's central cultural hub in 2008 and built using 95% recycled materials from the predecessor Palmer Municipal Auditorium (achieving LEED Gold certification), it operates three primary performance spaces: Dell Hall (a 2,442-seat main theatre with acoustics designed by Mark Holden of Jaffe Holden), the Rollins Studio Theatre (a black-box venue for intimate shows), and the H-E-B Stage (the world's first 3D-printed outdoor performance pavilion, built with Austin-based ICON using their Vulcan construction system and unveiled during SXSW 2023). The facility serves as the permanent home for three founding resident companies — Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, and Ballet Austin — and hosts a portfolio of programmed events including The Drop-In (a free summer concert series now part of the Levitt VIBE national network), Concert Club, Teresa Lozano Long Community Day, and the New Year's Eve Social Club.

The Long Center generates revenue through six primary streams: ticketed performances (Dell Hall and Rollins Theatre), recurring membership programs ranging from Friend ($120) through Headliner ($2,500) and the new Long Center Collective ($1,200+), corporate partnerships ($526K contributed in 2024 across H-E-B, Google, BSW Health, Baker Botts, Cirrus Logic, and others), venue rentals for private and corporate events, donations and foundation grants, and concessions/F&B. Beyond commercial operations, the organization administers community and educational programs including Long Reach for the Arts (K-12 programming reaching 4,000+ students across 18+ schools), Frameworks ($485K in subsidized rental discounts for local arts organizations), and Create Austin (a partnership with the City of Austin distributing $6.9M in cultural grants across 144 awards in 2025). The organization is led by President & CEO Cory Baker with a C-suite including CFO Kelly Corley, CRO Matt Ratliff, and COO Laleh Talakoub, supported by approximately 11-50 employees across programming, production, sales, marketing, and operations functions.

Name

Long Center for the Performing Arts

Legal name

Long Center for the Performing Arts

Website

https://thelongcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Long Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit venue in Austin, Texas operating a 2,442-seat main hall, a black-box studio theatre, and the world's first 3D-printed outdoor stage, serving general audiences, corporate partners, K-12 students, and three founding resident companies through ticketed programming, memberships, venue rentals, and community arts initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed performances in Dell Hall and Rollins Studio Theatre, including Long Center Presents events, concerts, and special programming.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership tiers (Friend $120, Fan $250, Superfan $500, Star $1,200, Headliner $2,500) providing benefits including presale access, discounts, and exclusive events.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Annual corporate partner sponsorships providing brand visibility, premium tickets, box seats, and engagement opportunities with audiences. In 2024, partners contributed $526K.
4. Venue Rentals: Rental of performance spaces (Dell Hall, Rollins Theatre, H-E-B Stage, Terrace) for private events, corporate functions, and third-party presentations.
5. Donations and Grants: Individual donations, foundation grants, endowment giving, and legacy gifts supporting operations and specific programs including Long Reach for the Arts.
6. Concessions and F&B: Food and beverage sales including cocktails, beer, wine, sodas, and snacks before shows and during intermission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Long Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit performing arts venue and community gathering place in Austin, Texas. It operates a multi-venue campus that includes the 2,442-seat Dell Hall, the Rollins Studio Theatre, the world's first 3D-printed H-E-B Stage, and the Long Center Terrace, hosting ticketed performances, free community concerts, private events, and arts education programs. Revenue comes from ticket sales, memberships, corporate partnerships, venue rentals, donations, and concessions.

Product overview

The Long Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit performing arts venue and community gathering place offering a portfolio of venues and programs. Its core venues include Dell Hall (2,442-seat main theatre with world-class acoustics), the Rollins Studio Theatre (black box theatre for intimate performances), the H-E-B Stage (3D-printed outdoor amphitheater), and the Long Center Terrace. Programming includes The Drop-In free concert series (Levitt VIBE Austin Music Series), Concert Club in Rollins Theatre, Teresa Lozano Long Community Day, and New Year's Eve Social Club. Membership programs range from Friend ($120) to Superfan ($500) tiers, with Long Center Collective offering premium experiences at $1,200+. Education and community programs include Long Reach for the Arts (serving K-12 students) and Frameworks (subsidized venue rentals for arts organizations). Create Austin administers $6.9M in City of Austin cultural grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Drop-In: Free outdoor concert series held every Thursday during summer, powered by KUTX 98.9, featuring local Austin artists.
• Concert Club
• Long Center Collective
• Teresa Lozano Long Community Day
• Long Reach for the Arts
• Frameworks
• Create Austin

Products and services

• Dell Hall The main performance venue at the Long Center, seating 2,442 people across three wrap-around levels including six private boxes. Features world-class acoustics designed by Mark Holden of Jaffe Holden, with concrete roof shielding, acoustic banners, and a custom orchestra shell. Used for concerts, opera, ballet, and touring productions.
• Rollins Studio Theatre A one-of-a-kind black box theatre space accommodating local and regional talent in intimate shows. Features customizable variable seating configurations and serves as the home of the Concert Club series.
• H-E-B Stage The world's first 3D-printed outdoor stage, created by Austin-based ICON using their Vulcan construction system. Located on the Hartman Concert Lawn with panoramic views of downtown Austin, featuring a cantilevered metal halo and multiple rigging points. Title sponsored by H-E-B.
• Long Center Terrace An outdoor community gathering space surrounded by the iconic Ring Beam and columns, accommodating up to 2,000 people. Features dramatic night lighting and serves as a venue for concerts, festivals, weddings, and celebrations.
• Venue Rentals Rental of performance spaces including Dell Hall (up to 2,442 seats), Rollins Studio Theatre (variable seating), H-E-B Stage, Long Center Terrace, Kodosky Donor Lounge, West Pincer Terrace, and AT&T Conference Rooms for events, performances, and gatherings.
• Membership Programs Annual membership tiers offering benefits including early ticket access, discounts, exclusive events, and Member Lounge access. Friend ($120), Fan ($250), and Superfan ($500) levels with progressive perks, plus Star ($1,200) and Headliner ($2,500) tiers.
• Long Center Collective A premium patron membership program for experience seekers at the $1,200+ annual level. Includes exclusive events, behind-the-scenes access, intimate performances, curated trips, and collector-only experiences.
• The Drop-In Concert Series A free outdoor concert series held every Thursday during summer on the H-E-B Stage. Part of the Levitt Family Foundation network, featuring 23+ bands and powered by KUTX 98.9.
• Concert Club A Texas-based music series held in the Rollins Studio Theatre featuring local and regional artists with food and wine pairing options like charcuterie and pretzel bite flights.
• Teresa Lozano Long Community Day An annual free block-party bash honoring the Long Center's co-founder, featuring community partners, activities, performances, food trucks, and family-friendly events with performances by Ballet Austin, Austin Opera, and other local organizations.
• New Year's Eve Social Club

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000+ Austinites attended free arts programming in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• H-E-BcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Title sponsor of the H-E-B Stage (3D-printed outdoor performance pavilion) and all recycling efforts. Partnership supports The Drop-In concert series, Teresa Lozano Long Community Day, and Long Reach for the Arts educational programming. Includes commitment to future sustainability initiatives.
• KUTX 98.9coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Radio partner powering The Drop-In, a Levitt VIBE Austin Music Series. KUTX provides programming support and helps create iconic summer of free music for Austinites.
• Levitt Family FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Part of Levitt Family Foundation network of free concerts. In 2027, supporting over 900 free concerts in 90+ towns and cities across the country, bringing joy to over a million people.
• ICONcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2023Austin-based construction technology company that 3D-printed the world's first performance pavilion using their Vulcan construction system. Unveiled during SXSW 2023.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld-renowned architecture firm that co-designed the 3D-printed pavilion with ICON, creating cosmic-inspired amphitheater design.
• City of AustincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Create Austin to administer $6.9M in cultural funding initiatives including grants to artists, musicians, educators, and organizers across Austin.
• Song ConfessionalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPodcast project in co-production with KUTX that collects anonymous stories and turns them into songs. Recording booth located in Long Center Rollins Lobby.
• Austin Symphony OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Resident Company and Austin's oldest performing arts group, providing classical, pops, and family concerts at Dell Hall.
• Ballet AustincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Resident Company performing classic and contemporary works year-round, including annual Nutcracker production.
• Austin OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Resident Company presenting accessible takes on classic operas, new works, and emerging artists.
• BSW HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate partner supporting Long Center programming and community events.
• GoogleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate partner providing technology and marketing support for arts accessibility.
• Luther King Capital ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual partner and supporter of Concert Club Texas-based programming series in Rollins Studio Theatre.
• Baker BottsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate partner supporting Long Center programming.
• Cirrus LogicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual corporate partner supporting arts and cultural programming.
• Chef Dominique CrennminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThree-Michelin-starred chef providing culinary experience for New Year's Eve Social Club. First female chef in the US to receive three Michelin Stars.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: Multi-venue performing arts campus hosting symphony, opera, ballet, and theater resident companies with membership tiers, corporate partnerships, and venue rentals—directly analogous business model to Long Center.
• Tobin Center for the Performing Arts: San Antonio multi-venue performing arts center with comparable mission, education programs, resident companies, and venue rental operations to Long Center; similar scale and Texas market positioning.
• Bass Performance Hall: Fort Worth landmark performing arts hall operated as a nonprofit presenting symphony, opera, ballet, and touring shows with comparable rental, membership, and corporate sponsorship structures.
• Hobby Center for the Performing Arts: Houston performing arts center operating Sarofim Hall and Zilkha Hall with similar programming, rental, and education programs. Closest scale and Texas regional peer to Long Center.
• Kennedy Center: America's national performing arts center operating multiple halls with similar programming, education, and rental models. Comparable scale of resident companies, corporate partnerships, and donor-funded operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/longcenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/TheLongCenterforthePerformingArts
• Facebookfacebook.com/longcenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/long-center-for-the-performing-arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/longcenter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Long Center for the Performing Arts