The Arts at Millersville University

What The Arts at Millersville University does

The Arts at Millersville University operates the Ware Center for the Arts, a 350-seat performing arts venue located at 42 N. Prince Street in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, as part of Millersville University's Office of Visual & Performing Arts. The organization presents a year-round programming slate across multiple series—including the Performing Arts Series featuring nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, the Family Fun Fest, the Lancaster Loves local music series launched in October 2025 in partnership with WITF Music, On Screen/In Person documentary screenings, We the People First Friday community performances, and rotating exhibitions in the Regitz Gallery. It also delivers educational programming through Arts Smarts summer camps ($125 per half-day session), free school shows for K-12 students, and curricular connections for Millersville University students and faculty.

The Ware Center operates from a purpose-built facility completed in 2008, designed by world-renowned architect Philip Johnson, featuring Steinman Hall with state-of-the-art acoustics engineered by Cyril M. Harris, the Owen Grand Salon, and a glass pyramid-topped Atrium. The venue supports multiple configurations including a 350-seat main performance hall and smaller flexible spaces used for intimate concerts, conferences, weddings, and community events. A secondary venue, the Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center on the Millersville campus, extends programming capacity for some school and family events.

The organization operates a diversified revenue model combining ticket sales ($15–$32 per adult ticket, $15–$25 per student), corporate sponsorships across four tiers (Platinum $25,000+ down to Event Sponsor $2,000), individual donations ($100+ recognition tiers, $2,500 seat naming, $5,000+ Luminary Donor wall), foundation and grant funding from at least seven named funders (Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts, High Foundation, Lancaster County Community Foundation, Feree Foundation, Tecumseh Milestone Foundation, City Limits Realty Foundation), and facility rentals for conferences, corporate events, and weddings. Customer segments span individual ticket-buyers across Lancaster County, K-12 schools and educators, families with children in grades K-5, local and regional visual artists, corporate partners, Millersville University students and faculty, and event organizers. Distribution combines in-person box office at two locations, phone sales, online ticketing via artsmu.com, email and social media marketing, and earned media distributed to over 35 outlets.

Name

The Arts at Millersville University

Legal name

Arts at Millersville University

Website

https://artsmu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Arts at Millersville University operates the Ware Center for the Arts, a 350-seat Philip Johnson–designed venue in downtown Lancaster, PA, presenting year-round performing arts, local music, family shows, documentary films, and gallery exhibitions for Lancaster County audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Center

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Multidisciplinary Arts Institutions (THAJADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Performing arts center
• Live entertainment venue
• Arts education programs
• Facility rental services
• Visual arts exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Revenue from sale of tickets to performing arts events, school shows, and special performances. Ticket prices range from $15–$32 for adults and $15–$25 for students depending on the event.
2. Corporate sponsorships: Corporate giving at multiple tiers: Platinum Partner $25,000+, Gold Partner $10,000, Silver Partner $5,000, Event Sponsor $2,000. Includes tickets, VIP access, naming rights, logo placement, and facility use.
3. Individual donations: Individual donors at $100+ are listed in Performing Arts Series programs. Luminary donors at $5,000+ recognized on lobby wall and in season brochure. Seat naming opportunity at $2,500.
4. Facility rental: Venue spaces (Steinman Hall, Owen Grand Salon, Atrium) rented for conferences, corporate events, lectures, community events, art exhibitions, and weddings.
5. Foundation and grant support: Funding from Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts, High Foundation, City Limits Realty Foundation, Lancaster County Community Foundation, Feree Foundation, and Tecumseh Milestone Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Arts at Millersville University operates the Ware Center for the Arts, a performing arts and event venue in downtown Lancaster, PA presenting year-round ticketed performing arts series (music, theater, dance, film), free community programming, art exhibitions, arts education workshops and summer camps, and facility rental services for conferences, corporate events, and weddings.

Product overview

The Ware Center for the Arts is Lancaster's premier visual and performing arts center operated by Millersville University's Office of Visual & Performing Arts. The center offers a portfolio of event series including the Performing Arts Series (national/international artists), Family Fun Fest (family entertainment), Lancaster Loves Series (local music), On Screen/In Person (documentary films), and We the People First Friday (community performances). Gallery offerings include the Regitz Gallery with monthly rotating exhibits by local/regional artists. Educational programs include Art Workshops, Arts Smarts summer camps for children grades K-5, and Free School Shows. The facility includes Steinman Hall (350-seat main venue with acoustics by Cyril M. Harris), Owen Grand Salon, and the glass pyramid Atrium. Additional services include facility rental for events and local music booking. The venue also partners with the Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center on campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Performing Arts Series Year-round ticketed series featuring nationally and internationally acclaimed performing artists from diverse genres and cultures, opening a doorway to the arts and enriching Lancaster's cultural landscape.
• Family Fun Fest Series High-quality, low-cost entertainment series for children and families, presenting diverse performance genres from across the nation and around the globe not found anywhere else in the region.
• Lancaster Loves Series Musical series showcasing the best in local music across multiple genres in the glass pyramid-topped Atrium venue in a lively cabaret setting, presented in partnership with WITF Music.
• On Screen/In Person Series Film series bringing award-winning documentary films and their directors to Lancaster, including panel discussions and post-screening Q&A sessions.
• We the People First Friday Community-centered performances and exhibits representing the great mosaic of Lancaster and beyond with diverse genres. Free and open to the public.
• Regitz Gallery Exhibitions Gallery space on the mezzanine level featuring monthly rotating exhibits by local and regional artists during the academic year. Free gallery space provided to accepted artists.
• Art Workshops Educational workshops bringing the joy and wonder of arts education to all ages.
• Arts Smarts Summer Camps Annual summer camps in Music, Dance, Theatre, and Visual Arts for rising grades K-2 and 3-5, conducted at the Ware Center in Lancaster, PA. $125 per half-day session, per week, per child, with full and partial scholarships available.
• Free School Shows FREE school shows for K-12 students in the area, part of youth and community outreach programming.
• Facility Use & Rental Concert and event venue rentals for conferences, corporate events, lectures, community events, art exhibitions, and weddings using the Steinman Hall (350 seats), Owen Grand Salon, and Atrium spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $140,000 raised at Joshua Bell benefit concert in October 2024 to support youth and community outreach programs, subsidized tickets, accessibility services, school shows, and master classes.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

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

• Foundation of the Lancaster ChamberflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Lead organizer of the Lancaster County Strategic Arts Initiative in partnership with the Ware Center. This collaborative effort is designed to understand, strengthen, and invest in Lancaster County's arts and culture sector.
• Fourth EconomycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 11 March 2026Nationally recognized community and economic development consulting firm engaged by the Foundation of the Lancaster Chamber and the Ware Center to conduct a countywide Economic & Community Impact Study of Lancaster County's arts and culture ecosystem.
• Lancaster Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders (LAAPI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026Community partner co-presenting the 'Our Journeys: A Traveling Exhibition' at the Ware Center, helping to honor Vietnamese refugee stories in the Lancaster community.
• Clark AssociatesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerClark Associates is the Platinum Partner of the Ware Center, providing the highest tier of corporate sponsorship. Their logo appears prominently in all materials including the annual brochure, programs, website, social media, and on digital kiosks at the venue.
• WITFcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWITF serves as Media Partner and co-presenter of the Lancaster Loves music series with the Ware Center. WITF provides on-air and digital co-marketing support, and is listed as a Silver-level sponsor.
• Holiday Inn (an IHG hotel)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Partner sponsor, providing lodging industry sponsorship and co-marketing support.
• The Imperial Event CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Partner sponsor, The Imperial Event Center is a Lancaster-based event venue partner.
• Lancaster County Community FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides local funding support as a foundation partner. Co-presented the Our Journeys exhibition with Vietnamese Boat People. Listed as a foundation and grant support partner.
• Pennsylvania Council on the ArtscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation and grant support partner providing state-level arts funding.
• Mid-Atlantic ArtscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner providing regional arts funding. Funded the Mid-Atlantic Tours program supporting the Paza Experience Native American Heritage Month event.
• High FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner providing grant support to the Ware Center.
• Vietnamese Boat PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presented the 'Our Journeys' traveling exhibition (Feb 2–28, 2026) with the Ware Center and Lancaster County Community Foundation. VBP is a nonprofit that documents stories of Vietnamese refugees through its award-winning podcast, educational workshops, and grassroots storytelling initiatives.
• GoodthreeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLancaster design agency commissioned to create the Ware Center's refreshed new brand name and logo for its 15th anniversary.
• Taste & ToastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCatering partner for the Ware Center's 15th anniversary celebration event on September 20, 2025.
• Feree FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner providing grant support to the Ware Center.
• Tecumseh Milestone FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner providing grant support to the Ware Center.
• City Limits Realty FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation partner providing grant support to the Ware Center.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@warecenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheWareCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/warecenter
• Xx.com/TheArtsatMU

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 The Arts at Millersville University