What Mesa Arts Center does

Mesa Arts Center is a nonprofit multi-venue performing and visual arts complex headquartered at One East Main Street in downtown Mesa, Arizona, serving the Phoenix metropolitan area with a portfolio that spans Broadway touring productions, concerts, jazz, dance, comedy, classical music, contemporary visual art, and arts education. Operationally, the campus comprises 20+ venues including the Tom and Janet Ikeda Theater (Broadway), the Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater (classical), the Anita Cox-Farnsworth Studio Theater, the Nesbitt-Elliott Playhouse, art studios, and the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (MCA Museum). The center runs 100+ performances and events annually and sustains year-round programming through subscription series — Broadway (3- and 4-show packages from ~$149-$213), Classical Music Inside Out (from ~$158, under artistic direction of GRAMMY-winning cellist Zuill Bailey), and a flagship five-event National Geographic Live partnership (from ~$154). Resident nonprofit companies (Southwest Shakespeare Company, Ballet Etudes, East Valley Children's Theatre, Mesa Encore Theatre, Metropolitan Youth Symphony) anchor long-tenured programming relationships.

The business model is diversified across earned and contributed revenue streams: individual ticket sales (pay-as-you-go prices ranging from ~$16 for children's theater to $77+ for premium touring acts with VIP packages), annual subscription packages, tiered memberships (Basic through Ovation Society), art studio classes for adults, youth, and creative-aging programs, MCA Museum admissions and gift shop, facility rentals for private and corporate events, and a fundraising stack including donations, corporate sponsorships, and the affiliated Mesa Arts Center Foundation. Distribution runs through a directly owned box office accessible online, by phone, and in-person, with subscription/membership tiers providing presale access. The Mesa Arts Center Foundation functions as an affiliated fundraising entity. The center holds an IBCCES Certified Autism Center designation and supports assistive listening via the Listen Everywhere (ListenWIFI) app with Bluetooth hearing-aid integration, sensory kits, and sign language interpretation, reflecting a deliberate accessibility posture. Community engagement extends to Art Pass, MABEL (a mobile arts-based engagement lab), Literacy Through Drama, LIT Ink, Arts & Military programming, and One Street Over. Funding-side partners include the National Endowment for the Arts, Arizona Commission for the Arts, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Boeing, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Flinn Foundation, SRP, Steele Foundation, AARP Phoenix, and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Mesa Arts Center

Legal name

Mesa Arts Center

Website

https://mesaartscenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Mesa Arts Center is a nonprofit performing and visual arts complex in Mesa, Arizona, offering Broadway, concerts, classical music, contemporary art exhibitions, and arts education to the Phoenix metropolitan area through subscription series, ticket sales, memberships, museum operations, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Center

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Musical Groups and Artists (711130), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts center
• Live entertainment venues
• Arts education classes
• Broadway touring series
• Contemporary art museum

Headquarters

HQ city

Mesa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales - Individual Shows: Revenue from individual performance tickets across multiple venues and show categories including Broadway, concerts, jazz, classical, dance, theater, and comedy
2. Subscription Series: Season subscription packages for Broadway Series, Classical Music Inside Out, and National Geographic Live offering discounted multi-show packages
3. Art Studio Classes: Adult and youth art classes including ceramics, painting, drawing, and creative aging programs
4. Memberships: Tiered membership program (Basic, Supporter, Patron, Ovation Society) providing presale access and benefits
5. Donations & Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate support, and Mesa Arts Center Foundation contributions
6. Facility Rentals: Rental of theaters, studios, and event spaces to external groups and organizations
7. Gift Certificates: E-gift cards redeemable for performances, classes, and memberships
8. Museum Admissions & Shop: Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum admissions and museum gift shop merchandise

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Mesa Arts Center is a multi-venue nonprofit performing and visual arts complex presenting live Broadway touring productions, concerts, classical music, jazz, dance, comedy, theater, and family programming across more than 20 venue spaces including the Ikeda Theater, Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater, and Nesbitt-Elliott Playhouse. It also operates the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, art studios offering adult and youth classes, multi-show subscription series, facility rentals, and community engagement programs for the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Product overview

Mesa Arts Center is a multi-venue performing and visual arts complex offering a unified portfolio of live entertainment, arts education, and community engagement. The core offerings span four main areas: (1) Performances and Shows including Broadway productions, concerts, jazz, dance, comedy, and theater presented across multiple theaters; (2) Subscription Series including Broadway Subscription Series, Classical Music Inside Out, and National Geographic Live; (3) Art Studios providing adult and youth art classes; and (4) Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (MCA Museum). Additional offerings include membership programs, facility rentals, Southwest Shakespeare Company's Bard Card subscription, and community engagement programs such as MABEL and Art Pass. The center positions itself as an inclusive arts destination with extensive accessibility services including assistive listening, sign language interpretation, and sensory-friendly accommodations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum: Contemporary art museum featuring exhibitions, collections, and programs at Mesa Arts Center.

Products and services

• Performances and Shows Live entertainment including Broadway touring productions, concerts, jazz performances, dance shows, comedy, theater, and special events presented across multiple venues within the arts center for general audiences, families, and arts patrons.
• Broadway Subscription Series Multi-show subscription package (three- or four-show options) featuring touring Broadway productions for the 2026-27 season, including The Wiz, Mrs. Doubtfire, STOMP, and Waitress, with annual subscription pricing starting at $158.40.
• Classical Music Inside Out Subscription Series Classical music subscription series presented under the artistic direction of GRAMMY Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey, featuring award-winning musicians and ensembles performing at the Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater and First United Methodist Church of Mesa, with subscription pricing starting at $168.32.
• National Geographic Live Subscription Series Five-event live speaker subscription series featuring National Geographic photographers, filmmakers, and adventurers who share behind-the-scenes stories onstage, presented in partnership with National Geographic, with subscription pricing starting at $163.65.
• Art Studio Classes Adult and youth art education classes covering ceramics, painting, drawing, and creative aging programs, conducted in dedicated art studio facilities for adult learners and youth.
• Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (MCA Museum) Contemporary art museum featuring rotating exhibitions, collections, and programs, open Tuesday through Saturday with extended evening hours twice monthly, plus admissions and museum gift shop merchandise.
• Membership Programs Tiered membership program offering Ovation Society, Patron, Friend, Benefactor, Duo, Supporter, and Basic levels that provide presale ticket access, discounts, and exclusive benefits to arts patrons.
• Facility Rentals Rental of theaters, studios, and event spaces to external groups, organizations, and private event planners for private events, corporate functions, and community gatherings.
• Southwest Shakespeare Company Bard Card Annual subscription-membership card providing 5 premium tickets per card for Southwest Shakespeare Company performances at Mesa Arts Center and Taliesin West, with reserved seating available before public sale.
• Gift Certificates E-gift cards redeemable for performances, art classes, and memberships at Mesa Arts Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• Certified Autism Center designation by IBCCES demonstrating accessibility commitment
• +2 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

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Arizona Commission for the ArtscoreOthersGovernment arts funding agency providing operational support and grant funding to the arts center
• National Endowment for the ArtscoreOthersFederal arts funding agency providing grant support for programming and operations
• National GeographicflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for National Geographic Live speaker series featuring photographers, filmmakers, and adventurers performing live on stage. Multi-year series bringing acclaimed Nat Geo explorers to Mesa audiences.
• Gate 52minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner presenting Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland show
• Icon ConcertsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert promoter and presenter for Professor Brian Cox Emergence tour
• MagicSpace EntertainmentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEntertainment promoter presenting Alton Brown live performance
• Emporium PresentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConcert promoter partnering on multiple shows including Jesse Cook, Straight No Chaser, and The Rush Tribute Project
• Murray & Peter PresentminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTouring show producer presenting A Drag Queen Christmas
• Southwest Shakespeare CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResident theater company with Bard Card membership program, performing at Mesa Arts Center and Taliesin West
• Herberger Research CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch council supporting Theater for the Very Young programming
• Children's Museum of PhoenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting Theater for the Very Young production RED

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Broward Center for the Performing Arts: Fort Lauderdale-based multi-venue performing arts center hosting Broadway tours, concerts, and cultural programming. Directly comparable as a similarly scaled multi-theater venue with subscription packages, resident companies, and arts education in a comparable Sun Belt market.
• Overture Center for the Arts: Madison, WI-based multi-venue performing arts center presenting Broadway, classical, dance, and visual arts. Directly comparable as a similarly structured multi-theater arts campus with subscription series, resident companies, education programs, and a museum component.
• Celebrity Theatre: Long-running Phoenix-area theater-in-the-round venue presenting touring concerts and Broadway-style productions. Directly comparable as a Phoenix metro presenting venue competing for the same touring content and East Valley audience base.
• Tempe Center for the Arts: City-operated multi-venue performing arts center in neighboring Tempe, AZ. Directly comparable as an East Valley multi-disciplinary arts venue presenting Broadway tours, concerts, dance, and community programming to the same Phoenix metro audience.
• Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts: Multi-venue performing arts center in Kansas City, MO presenting ballet, opera, symphony, and Broadway tours. Directly comparable as a similarly designed multi-venue complex with subscription series, resident companies, and education programs in a mid-size metro market.
• Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts: Scottsdale-based performing arts venue presenting touring productions, concerts, and cultural programming in the Phoenix metro. Directly comparable regional peer with similar Broadway, classical, and contemporary programming mix targeting overlapping East Valley audiences.
• Arizona Broadway Theatre: Peoria, AZ-based professional Broadway-producing theater company presenting Broadway musicals and concerts. Directly comparable as an Arizona presenting organization producing and curating Broadway-style programming with subscription and single-ticket models.
• Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts: Multi-venue performing arts complex in Orlando, FL presenting Broadway, concerts, opera, and community programming. Directly comparable as a comprehensive arts campus with multiple theaters, subscription series, resident companies, and education programming in a Sun Belt metro.
• Chandler Center for the Arts: Multi-venue arts center in Chandler, AZ serving the southeast Phoenix metro. Directly comparable as a similarly scaled suburban arts venue presenting Broadway tours, concerts, and family programming to overlapping East Valley demographics.
• Gammage Auditorium: ASU's flagship performing arts venue in Tempe designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Directly comparable as a major Phoenix-area presenting venue hosting Broadway touring productions, classical music, and dance to overlapping audiences with comparable ticketing scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MesaArtsCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/mesaartscenteraz
• Instagraminstagram.com/mesaartscenter

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Mesa Arts Center