Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

What Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre does

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) is a 638-seat performing arts venue and cultural centre in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, operated as a cultural unit of Bathurst Regional Council. Opened on 6 March 1999, the facility comprises the proscenium-arch Ian Macintosh Theatre (387 stalls, 251 dress circle), the flexible 60-300 capacity BMEC Showroom, Rehearsal/Conference Rooms, the Wattle Foyer, and three licensed bars. BMEC presents a year-round program across three streams: BMEC Presents (curated artistic productions), BMEC Welcomes (touring productions hiring the venue), and Local Stages (regional artist development), supplemented by BMEC On-Screen cinema screenings, an Education Program for schools, and the Compareo inclusive arts program for people with disability.

BMEC's technology stack is non-proprietary: a WordPress-based website (bmec.com.au), the EntaWeb ticketing gateway (tickets.bmec.com.au), and standard email and social media marketing channels. There is no disclosed proprietary platform, app, or AI/ML capability. Core operational staff comprise approximately eight full-time roles (Venue Manager, Creative Producer, Business Services Coordinator, Operations Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator, Visitor Experience Coordinator, Box Office Coordinator, Venue Technician) supplemented by casual box office, visitor experience, and technical staff plus volunteer ushers.

BMEC's business model is hybrid: earned revenue from ticket sales ($20-$55 typical adult pricing with concession and member tiers), venue hire across all spaces, hospitality and bar services, gift vouchers (valid three years), and incremental sponsorships (charged only as tickets are sold) is supplemented by annual funding from Bathurst Regional Council and Create NSW. Membership tiers ($45/year Standard, $55/year Helping Hands) provide discounted tickets, waived booking fees, early access, free exchanges, and bar discounts. The venue hosts national touring productions (Echo Theatre, Dance Makers Collective, Carillon Theatrical Society, Dummies Corp, Circa, Australian Theatre For Young People, Queenie Van De Zandt), runs the Local Stages artist development program (cited as industry best practice by PACA and Australia Council), and was the inaugural winner of the Drover Award for Best Presenting Venue in 2008 and the first regional presenter to receive Australia Council Presenting Partners triennial funding in 2010.

Name

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

Legal name

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre

Website

https://bmec.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BMEC is a 638-seat performing arts venue in Bathurst, NSW, operated by Bathurst Regional Council, presenting live theatre, music, comedy, dance, film, and community events while supporting regional artist development through the Local Stages program and inclusive arts via Compareo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bathurst

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales across all performances and events. Tickets sold online, over phone, and in person. BMEC presents its own productions and welcomes touring productions where presenting partners set pricing.
2. Membership Program: Standard Membership at $45/year providing discounted tickets, no booking fees, early access, free exchanges, 10% bar discount, and access to private bar. Helping Hands Membership at $55/year with additional drink vouchers and donations supporting tickets for children.
3. Hospitality and Bar Services: Three licensed bars in Showroom, Wattle Foyer, and Lower Foyer. Bars open one hour before performances and during intervals. Revenue from beverages including wine, beer, soft drinks, and locally produced wines.
4. Venue Hire: Multi-purpose venue hire including Ian Macintosh Theatre (638 seats), BMEC Showroom (60-300 capacity), Rehearsal/Conference Rooms, and Wattle Foyer. Services include conferences, awards nights, balls, seminars, trade shows, and private events.
5. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers available in various denominations, valid for three years from purchase. Redeemable for any performance at BMEC Box Office.
6. Sponsorships: Incremental sponsorship model where businesses subsidize ticket costs, charged only as tickets are sold. Also traditional sponsorships and donations including Ben Gelin OAM's ongoing support for Local Stages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BMEC is a regional performing arts centre presenting a year-round program of live theatre, music, comedy, dance, circus, film screenings, and community events. It operates multiple integrated offerings: self-presented curated shows (BMEC Presents), hosted touring productions (BMEC Welcomes), live cinema (BMEC On-Screen), an Education Program for schools, the Local Stages artist development program (including Compareo for people with disability), venue hire for corporate and private events, licensed bar hospitality, gift vouchers, and an annual membership program.

Product overview

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) is a performing arts venue offering a diverse year-round program of live theatre, music, comedy, dance, circus, film, and community events. The venue operates multiple integrated products: BMEC Presents (curated artistic productions) and BMEC Welcomes (touring shows) form the core live entertainment offerings, complemented by BMEC On-Screen (cinema screenings of theatre productions), an Education Program (student-focused performances and workshops), and Local Stages (artist development including Compareo inclusive arts and Regional Songwriting Contest). Venue Hire provides access to The Ian Macintosh Theatre, BMEC Showroom, rehearsal rooms, and Wattle Foyer. The BMEC Membership program ($45-$55/year) offers ticketing discounts and bar benefits. Hospitality Services include three licensed bars and catering options. Gift Vouchers support gifting for events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Local Stages: A program that supports independent theatre-makers at all stages of their career across the Central West region, offering creative mentoring alongside technical and marketing support for diverse creatives. Established in 2006/2007.
• Compareo
• Bathurst Sea of Sound Festival
• Bathurst Writer's & Reader's Festival
• Catapult Festival
• LEAP

Products and services

• BMEC Presents Curated shows and events brought to the Bathurst region by BMEC, typically more artistic in nature, providing rich theatrical experiences and supporting arts education.
• BMEC Welcomes Touring productions from across Australia and beyond, welcoming external presenters and productions to the BMEC stage.
• BMEC Membership Annual membership program offering discounted tickets, no booking fees, early access to tickets, free exchanges on BMEC Presents events, 10% off at the BMEC Bar, and access to a private bar at BMEC Presents shows. Standard Membership is $45/year; Helping Hands Membership is $55/year with additional drink vouchers and donations supporting children's tickets.
• Local Stages Program championing independent theatre-makers at all stages of their career across the Central West region, supporting artists from creative development to tour-ready productions. Offers creative mentoring alongside technical and marketing support for diverse creatives.
• Compareo Inclusive arts program providing opportunities for people with disability to explore performance skills. A mixed-abilities performing arts program for young people living in the Central West with weekly group classes.
• Regional Songwriting Contest Annual competition for songwriters from across the Central West and surrounding regions to share original music on a professional stage, supported by professional musicians and technical production.
• Education Program Live performances, workshops, and educational experiences for students from Pre-School through to Stage 6, with heavily subsidised ticket prices for schools in the Bathurst Regional Council area and neighbouring LGAs.
• BMEC On-Screen Live screenings and cinema presentations of world-class theatre from renowned stages like London's West End and New York's Broadway, filmed and presented in high definition.
• Venue Hire Hire of BMEC's venues including The Ian Macintosh Theatre (638-seat proscenium arch theatre), The BMEC Showroom (flexible 60-300 seat venue), Rehearsal/Conference Rooms, and The Wattle Foyer for events, productions, conferences, and seminars.
• Hospitality Services Three fully licensed bars located in the Showroom, Wattle Foyer, and Lower Foyer, offering beverages including sparkling wine, beer, soft drinks, and locally produced wines. Also includes conference and events catering services.
• Gift Vouchers Gift vouchers available in a range of denominations, valid for up to three years from purchase, redeemable for any performance currently on sale through the BMEC Box Office.
• Strangeways Cabaret Performance Workshop A 2-day intensive cabaret workshop for Bathurst and Orange-based artists with disability or who are neuro-diverse, led by The Strangeways Ensemble, with opportunity to perform live on stage.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of Australia's largest regional theatres with 638 seats
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Parcan ProductionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Presenting partner for Woman 2026 charity concert. Professional entertainment company staging annual high-energy concert celebrating women's music.
• Raine & Horne BathurstcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting partner for Woman 2026 charity concert supporting Central West Women's Health Centre.
• Carillon Theatrical SocietycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Local theatre society presenting & Juliet musical at BMEC. Represents community involvement in major productions.
• Echo TheatrecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Professional theatre company with home at Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. Touring Bombshells production to BMEC with low carbon footprint touring model.
• Dance Makers CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Award-winning national dance company and only Creative Australia Four Year Funded dance company in NSW. Co-creating All In production with local dancers.
• Dummies CorpcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Australian circus-comedy leaders touring Trash Test Dummies. Company founded by Jamie Bretman and Jack Coleman, performing in 16 countries.
• Australian Theatre For Young PeoplecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026National youth theatre organization presenting Saplings production addressing youth justice themes.
• The Strangeways EnsemblecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Permanent company of neuro-diverse actors and musicians based at Merrigong Theatre Company, Wollongong. Touring The Strangeways Cabaret with local Compareo performers.
• Nicholas Clark ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Partnership for The Farmy Farm circus show bringing family entertainment to BMEC.
• Catherine McNamaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Local professional theatre performer and writer facilitating Compareo inclusive arts program for people with disability. Also created and directed ViV! production.
• Merrigong Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Home venue for The Strangeways Ensemble. Partnership enabling neuro-diverse theatre company to tour to regional venues.
• Pure Imagination Performing ArtsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Showgroup dancers from this studio performing in Woman 2026 charity concert.
• Arts OutWestcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional arts organization serving as auspicing organization and partner for productions including Highway of Lost Hearts and Fast Cars.
• Ben Gelin OAMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Ongoing supporter of Local Stages program. Solicitor and Notary Public providing long-term sponsorship enabling regional artist development.
• Performing Arts Connections (PAC) AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025National body whose Local Giants program (with Performing Lines and Regional Arts Australia) supported ViV! creative development.
• Performing LinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025National performing arts organization co-partnering Local Giants program supporting new work development.
• Regional Arts AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025National body co-partnering Local Giants program for new work development in regional areas.
• National Theatre LivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024BMEC On-Screen programming brings world-class theatre from London West End and global stages in stunning high definition to regional audiences.
• Bathurst Regional CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999Parent organization. BMEC is a cultural unit of Bathurst Regional Council. Provides annual funding alongside Create NSW for subsidized tickets.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre (The Q): Regional performing arts venue in Queanbeyan, NSW, hosting touring and local productions with similar venue-hire and presenting structure. Echo Theatre, a BMEC touring partner, is based here — confirming comparable programming and operational model.
• Wagga Wagga Civic Theatre: Regional Riverina performing arts venue operated by Wagga Wagga City Council, presenting touring and curated programming across multiple art forms. Closely comparable to BMEC in council-operated regional venue structure and audience demographic.
• Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC): Regional performing arts venue in Wollongong operated alongside Merrigong, hosting touring and curated programming. Comparable multi-room venue structure and council/community programming mix to BMEC.
• Merrigong Theatre Company: Regional presenting theatre company in Wollongong, NSW, operating a multi-venue facility with presenting, artist development, and touring programs. Directly comparable to BMEC in scale, regional focus, and programming mix — and a current strategic partner via The Strangeways Ensemble home venue.
• Orange Civic Theatre: Council-operated regional performing arts venue in Orange, NSW — geographically adjacent to BMEC in the Central West. Comparable scale, presenting model, and catchment characteristics make it a near-direct peer.
• Geelong Arts Centre: Major regional performing arts centre in Geelong, Victoria, presenting a broad year-round program of theatre, music, comedy, and dance with venue hire and education programs. Comparable regional presenting and artist development model at slightly larger scale.

Regional players

• Darwin Entertainment Centre: Northern Australia's largest regional entertainment venue, presenting touring shows, concerts, and conferences. Comparable multi-room regional venue structure with similar reliance on touring productions and venue hire, though serving a different geographic catchment.
• Canberra Theatre Centre: ACT's flagship performing arts venue, larger than BMEC but serving a broadly comparable regional/semi-metropolitan catchment with multi-venue presenting, venue hire, and education programs. Comparable business model at a slightly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Arts Centre Melbourne: Victoria's flagship multi-venue performing arts complex with theatres, galleries, and event spaces. Overlaps with BMEC's venue-hire and presenting functions at substantially larger scale and broader programming portfolio.
• Sydney Opera House: Australia's premier performing arts venue and the dominant national benchmark for presenting practice. Operates at much larger scale across many art forms, but its presenting standards and programming model shape audience expectations that BMEC's program must meet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre