Lesher Center for the Arts

What Lesher Center for the Arts does

Lesher Center for the Arts is a multi-venue performing and visual arts center in downtown Walnut Creek, California, owned and operated by the City of Walnut Creek as a program of its Arts + Recreation Department since opening in October 1990. The Center operates five co-located spaces — Hofmann Theatre (785 seats), Margaret Lesher Theatre (297 seats), George & Sonja Vukasin Theatre (133 seats), Bedford Gallery (up to 250 capacity), and the Encore Room conference space (up to 24 seats) — and presents more than 900 productions and events annually, drawing over 350,000 patrons and reaching more than 65,000 East Bay students and educators through its Arts Access program since 2008. Resident programming includes Center Repertory Company (professional theatre), Bedford Gallery (contemporary visual arts), and curated series such as Headliners, Summer Sounds (free outdoor concerts), SFJAZZ @ The Lesher Center, Fiesta Cultural, and the Diwali Celebration.

The Center's programmatic infrastructure is supported by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner, the Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA), which manages fundraising, corporate sponsorships (Kaiser Permanente, PG&E, Lesher Foundation), and donor programs including the $1,000/year Women's Artistic Alliance. Facility technology comprises professional-grade theatrical infrastructure: state-of-the-art sound and lighting, an HVAC chiller and boiler, plasma air self-cleaning bi-polar ionizers, FM assistive listening devices, electronic ticketing with mobile and print-at-home options, and accessibility services including Braille signage, ASL interpretation, and wheelchair accommodation.

Revenue is generated through a diversified model spanning ticket sales (individual, subscription, and group), venue rentals (corporate events, trainings, presentations), food and beverage concessions, gift cards, and a donations/sponsorships layer. Pricing is structured across individual tickets (varying by show), group rates starting at $12-$50 for 10+ patrons, school matinees from $18, season subscriptions with 15% multi-show discounts, and the freemium Summer Sounds outdoor series. The Center sells tickets through its owned box office, online portal (purchase.lesherartscenter.org), a dedicated group sales department, and subscription channels, while leveraging community partnerships, email newsletter, social media, and printed season brochures for audience development. Customer segments span general public/families, K-12 schools (including Title 1), arts subscribers, corporate renters, and major donors.

Name

Lesher Center for the Arts

Legal name

Lesher Center for the Arts

Website

https://lesherartscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lesher Center for the Arts is a City of Walnut Creek-owned performing arts campus presenting 900+ events yearly across three theatres, a gallery, and a conference room, serving 350,000+ patrons and 65,000+ students annually through resident companies, curated Headliners, and community cultural programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts and Live Entertainment Venues

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live theatre productions
• Venue rental services
• Arts education programs
• Cultural event programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Walnut Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual show tickets, season subscriptions, and group sales with discounts for bulk purchases
2. Venue Rentals: Rental income from three theatres (Hofmann, Margaret Lesher, Vukasin), Bedford Gallery, and Encore Room for external events
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through Diablo Regional Arts Association, corporate sponsorships, paver sales, planned giving, and Women's Artistic Alliance membership ($1,000/year)
4. Food and Beverage: Full bar service open before shows and during intermission; catering services through approved caterers
5. Gift Cards: Gift cards available for purchase for special occasions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Lesher Center for the Arts is a multi-venue performing arts center that presents live theatre, music, dance, comedy, and visual arts exhibitions across three theatres (785, 297, and 133 seats), an art gallery, and a conference room. It produces curated season programming (Headliners Series, Summer Sounds, Fiesta Cultural, Diwali Celebration), supports resident professional companies (Center Repertory Company, Bedford Gallery), and offers venue rentals, group ticket sales, education programs, and accessibility services to the Contra Costa County community.

Product overview

The Lesher Center for the Arts is a multi-venue performing arts center in Walnut Creek, CA, operated by the City of Walnut Creek's Arts + Recreation Department. The center comprises five rental spaces: the Hofmann Theatre (up to 785 seats), Margaret Lesher Theatre (297 seats), George & Sonja Vukasin Theatre (133 seats), Bedford Gallery (up to 250 capacity), and the Encore Room conference space (up to 24 seats). The center presents its own programming including the Headliners Series, Summer Sounds outdoor concerts, Fiesta Cultural, and Diwali Celebration, while hosting resident companies Center Repertory Company and Bedford Gallery exhibitions. Partner programming includes SFJAZZ@The Lesher Center. Education initiatives include Young REP, School Matinees, Virtual Programs, and Support Arts Access. Additional services include group sales, gift cards, and accessibility services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bedford Gallery: Contemporary visual arts facility featuring rotating exhibitions and public art programs at the Lesher Center
• Center Repertory Company (Center REP)
• Lesher Center Presents
• Headliners Series
• Summer Sounds
• SFJAZZ @ The Lesher Center
• Diwali Celebration
• Fiesta Cultural
• Arts Access
• Young REP

Products and services

• Hofmann Theatre
• Margaret Lesher Theatre
• George & Sonja Vukasin Theatre
• Bedford Gallery
• Encore Room
• Headliners Series

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 900 productions and events per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1990DRAA is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner of the Lesher Center for the Arts. DRAA invests in outstanding arts experiences and creates avenues for everyone to enjoy the arts. They produce the Headliners Series, sponsor the complete Lesher Center Presents season, and provide educational outreach through Arts Access. Contact: (925) 295-1470 or [email protected].
• SFJAZZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFJAZZ partnered with Diablo Regional Arts Association and Lesher Center Presents Headliners series for its first-ever season of concert events in Contra Costa County. Curated by SFJAZZ, this line-up of internationally recognized jazz artists launched during the 2025-26 Season.
• City of Walnut Creek Arts + Recreation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lesher Center is owned and operated by the City of Walnut Creek and is a program of the City of Walnut Creek's Arts + Recreation Department.
• Kaiser PermanentemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerKaiser Permanente is a sponsor of Lesher Center programming including College Notes 2027 and the Quarantine Time Machine virtual education program. Commissioned the QTM program to help children reflect on their time in quarantine.
• PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of Fiesta Cultural, the celebration of Latin American arts and culture at the Lesher Center.
• Lesher FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual sponsor of Lesher Center programming and Fiesta Cultural celebration.
• MontesacrominorOthersDining partner of the Lesher Center located at 1686 Locust Street, Walnut Creek. Part of the Arts District dining options.
• JR CateringminorOthersExclusive caterer for all liquor served at the Center. Located in Concord, CA.
• Classic CateringminorOthersApproved caterer for Lesher Center events. Located in Pleasant Hill, CA.
• Simple Elegance CateringminorOthersApproved caterer for Lesher Center events. Located in Danville, CA.
• Sunrise Bistro and CateringminorOthersApproved caterer for Lesher Center events. Located in Walnut Creek, CA.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Berkeley Repertory Theatre: Professional theatre company operating in Berkeley, CA, presenting Tony Award-winning productions and serving Bay Area audiences. Directly comparable as an East Bay professional theatre presenting a mix of resident productions and visiting performers with subscription and group sales models.
• Shotgun Players: Berkeley-based professional theatre company producing classics and new works in an intimate venue setting. Comparable as a Bay Area professional theatre with subscription models and education programs, though smaller in scale.
• California Shakespeare Theater (Cal Shakes): Berkeley-based professional theatre company presenting Shakespeare and new works. Directly comparable as a Bay Area resident professional theatre company with educational programming and subscription ticketing.
• TheatreWorks Silicon Valley: Professional theatre company based in Palo Alto, CA, producing new works and musicals for Bay Area audiences. Comparable as a Bay Area professional theatre with subscription programming, education initiatives, and a similar mid-sized institutional footprint.
• Aurora Theatre Company: Berkeley-based professional theatre company presenting mainstage productions and new works. Comparable as an East Bay professional theatre with subscription programming and similar production scale to Center REP.
• SF Performances: San Francisco presenting organization that books internationally renowned performing artists across music, dance, and theater. Directly comparable as a performing arts presenter with subscription programming similar to Lesher's Headliners Series.

Regional players

• Fox Theatre Oakland: Historic Oakland performance venue presenting concerts, comedy, and cultural events. Comparable as a Bay Area performance venue operator with similar music and comedy programming, though focused on a single larger-capacity hall.
• Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts: City-owned multi-venue performing arts center in Mountain View, CA, presenting performances and community programming. Highly comparable structurally: municipally owned multi-venue arts center with similar educational outreach and rental operations in a different Bay Area submarket.
• Yoshi's Oakland: Oakland-based jazz club and restaurant presenting live music performances. Comparable as a Bay Area live music and dining venue, though more focused on a single musical genre and smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Center Theatre Group: Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, and Kirk Douglas Theatre. Comparable as a multi-venue performing arts nonprofit with resident companies, educational programs, and subscription ticketing, though operating at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LesherCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/leshercenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Lesher Center for the Arts