Factory C
USINE C is a Montreal non-profit performing arts centre founded in 1995 that presents contemporary theatre, dance, circus, and interdisciplinary works through two halls. It funds operations via ticket sales, venue rentals, donations, and Canadian public arts council grants, while running artist residencies and an international coproduction network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Factory C does
USINE C is a privately held, non-profit performing arts centre founded in 1995 in Montreal's Centre-Sud neighbourhood by Gilles Maheu, Danièle de Fontenay, and the Carbone 14 research-creation company. It operates as both a presenter and a venue-for-hire, with two principal performance halls — the Grande Salle (up to 470 seated, 600 standing) and the Petite Salle (96 seated) — plus four additional rentable spaces (Hall, Café, Jardin Ombragé, Studio du 4e) used for corporate events, weddings, and conferences. The venue's core programming is a curated annual season of 6-7 major productions at the intersection of contemporary theatre, dance, circus, and interdisciplinary performance, often coproduced with international partners across Canada, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Austria, and Italy. Beyond presenting, USINE C runs artist residency programs (Projets du 3e / Labos du 4ème, short residencies), parallel public activities (Les Bords de Scène discussions, RDV Art/Sciences/Politique, Radio Spirale collaboration), and a two-year Associate Artist program (2025-2027 cohort includes People Watching).
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: ticket sales (prices ranging from $10 to $80 depending on production and seating tier), venue rental to external event organizers, donations and an annual benefit evening (Soirée-bénéfice), and operational funding from three tiers of Canadian public arts councils (Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and Conseil des arts de Montréal). The organization has 51-100 employees and is led by General and Artistic Director Angela Konrad, who was appointed in September 2022. Its core technology is physical venue infrastructure (lighting, sound, two halls with bleacher configurations) plus a website at usine-c.com and ticketing through Tuxedo Billet; it does not operate a software product. Customer-facing channels include direct box office sales (online, phone, in-person), social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), email newsletter, and festival partnerships. The organization has no disclosed revenue figures, no external investors, and operates as a federally, provincially, and municipally funded cultural institution with diversified philanthropic and earned-revenue support.
Factory C firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Factory C
- Legal name
- USINE C
- Website
- https://usine-c.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- USINE C is a Montreal non-profit performing arts centre founded in 1995 that presents contemporary theatre, dance, circus, and interdisciplinary works through two halls. It funds operations via ticket sales, venue rentals, donations, and Canadian public arts council grants, while running artist residencies and an international coproduction network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Factory C industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performing Arts Venue
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Venue Facilities, Maintenance & Capital Projects (Engineering, Renovations) (MPAGALAL)
Keywords
Where Factory C is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Factory C business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales for performances across both main venues. Ticket prices range from approximately $30-$80 depending on production and seat category.
- Venue rental: Revenue from renting out venue spaces including Grande Salle, Petite Salle, Hall, Café, Garden, and repetition studio to external clients for artistic events, private events, and corporate functions.
- Donations and fundraising: Annual fundraising campaign and benefit evening (Soirée-bénéfice) generating donations from supporters. Donations enable avant-garde programming and support for artists and audiences.
- Government funding: Operational support from Canada Council for the Arts, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, and Conseil des arts de Montréal, which provide ongoing funding for cultural organizations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Theater performances (standard productions) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Theater performances - reduced categories |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Interdisciplinary/Performance works |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Circus and interdisciplinary performances |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Smaller venue performances (Salle 2) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dance performances |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Radio Spirale events |
| Other | Annual | Annual benefit evening |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Factory C product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Factory C (USINE C) is a Montreal-based performing arts centre that presents a curated annual season of contemporary theatre, dance, circus, and interdisciplinary productions across two main performance spaces (Grande Salle with 470 seats and Petite Salle with 96 seats). The organization also rents out six venue spaces (Grande Salle, Petite Salle, Hall, Café, Jardin Ombragé, Studio du 4e) for artistic performances, corporate functions, and private events, and runs artist residency programs (Labos du 4ème, short residencies) to support choreographers and creators in developing new work.
Product overview
USINE C is a national and international creation and dissemination centre founded in 1995 by Gilles Maheu, Danièle de Fontenay, and the Carbone 14 research-creation company. It operates as a single unified venue offering: (1) physical performance spaces for rental including the Grande Salle (470 seats), Petite Salle (96 seats), Hall, Café, Garden, and Studio du 4e; (2) its own curated annual season of pluridisciplinary performing arts programming across theatre, dance, circus, music, and interdisciplinary performance; (3) artist residency programs including Projets du 3e/Labos du 4ème; and (4) the Radio Spirale X USINE C collaborative radio/podcast series. The venue's core offering is its physical spaces and curated artistic programming, not a software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Salle 1 / Grande Salle The main performance hall of USINE C, configurable with or without seating gradins. Accommodates up to 470 seated, 600 for cocktail reception, or 280 for banquet seating without gradins. Features an iconic red brick wall and is suitable for ambitious artistic performances, benefit evenings, conferences, and banquets.
- Salle 2 / Petite Salle A versatile secondary hall ideal for intimate weddings, lounge spaces, performances, or board meetings. Accommodates up to 96 seated in gradins, 120 for cocktail reception, and can connect to the Garden for larger events.
- Hall The Hall of USINE C preserves the venue's industrial heritage and serves as an exceptional space for cocktail receptions, 5 à 7 events, or official speeches. Equipped with a sound system and televisions, it also features exhibitions by emerging artists.
- Jardin Ombragé A shaded garden at the foot of the former Raymond factory chimney, offering a unique green haven in the heart of Centre-Sud. Accessible via multiple entry points and suitable for outdoor receptions, cocktails, or open-air weddings, with a capacity of 230 for cocktail dinatoire.
- Café A convivial space particularly appreciated for birthdays, public readings, programming launches, or casual gatherings between conferences. Includes furniture, a sound system, and quality projection equipment, accommodating up to 85 for cocktail dinatoire or 50 for banquets.
- Le Studio du 4e
Quantifiable outcome
- Founded in 1995, over 30 years of continuous operation as Montreal's leading center for creation and dissemination of contemporary performing arts.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Factory C
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Factory C technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Factory C partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
46 partnerships are on record, tiered major, secondary and minor.
- National Arts Centre (NAC) / Centre national des Arts (CNA)majorCanada's national performing arts center in Ottawa. Coproduction partner for DOGMA by People Watching, with support through National Creation Fund. Part of Canada's national touring circuit.
- Festival TransAmériques (FTA)majorMontreal's premier international contemporary performing arts festival. Coproduction and copresentation partner for works including UNARMOURED by Clara Furey and Danes Vagabondes by Louise Lecavalier.
- Festival Quartiers DansesmajorMontreal dance festival copresenting Andrea Peña's REPLICA in 2026. Partnership supporting contemporary dance programming.
- tanzhaus nrw (Düsseldorf, Germany)majorLeading German contemporary dance and performing arts center. Coproduction partner for People Watching's DOGMA and Louise Lecavalier's Stations and Danes Vagabondes.
- Hellerau - European Centre for the Arts (Dresden, Germany)majorGerman European Center for the Arts coproduction partner for multiple works including Louise Lecavalier's Stations and Danes Vagabondes.
- Harbourfront Centre (Toronto)secondaryToronto's cultural center coproduction partner for Louise Lecavalier's Stations.
- Théâtre de la Ville de LongueuilsecondaryMontreal-area theater presenting Danes Vagabondes on February 26, 2026, extending reach beyond Montreal venue.
- Théâtre National de la Fédération Wallonie-BruxellesmajorMajor Belgian national theater coproduction partner for RUMEUR ET PETITS JOURS by Raoul Collectif.
- Théâtre de LiègemajorBelgian theater coproduction partner for Raoul Collectif's RUMEUR ET PETITS JOURS.
- Théâtre de NamurmajorBelgian theater coproduction partner for Raoul Collectif's RUMEUR ET PETITS JOURS.
- Manège.MonsmajorBelgian theater coproduction partner for Raoul Collectif's RUMEUR ET PETITS JOURS.
- Les Nuits de Fourvière (Lyon, France)majorMajor French festival coproduction partner for Jean-Christophe Meurisse and Les Chiens de Navarre's LA VIE EST UNE FÊTE.
- La Villette (Paris, France)majorParis cultural complex coproduction partner for LA VIE EST UNE FÊTE by Les Chiens de Navarre.
- MC2: Maison de la Culture de GrenoblemajorGrenoble cultural center coproduction partner for LA VIE EST UNE FÊTE.
- Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord (Paris)majorParis theater coproduction partner and supporter for Les Chiens de Navarre's LA VIE EST UNE FÊTE and Peste performance.
- Le Diamant (Quebec City)secondaryQuebec City theater presenting LA VIE EST UNE FÊTE from September 25-27, 2025, in partnership with National Arts Centre Ottawa touring circuit.
- Le Trident (Quebec City)majorQuebec City theater coproduction partner for Angela Konrad's HAMLET alongside USINE C and LA FABRIK.
- Hotel ModernmajorDutch theater company (Rotterdam) presenting KAMP. Founded 1997, known for puppetry, music, video projections, and performances examining war themes. Supported by Fonds Podiumkunsten and Municipality of Rotterdam.
- Düsseldorf Festival (Germany)majorGerman festival coproduction partner for People Watching's DOGMA.
- La Strada Graz (Austria)majorAustrian performing arts organization coproduction partner for People Watching's DOGMA.
- La Grainerie (France)secondaryFrench circus arts center supporting People Watching's DOGMA production.
- École nationale de cirque (Québec)secondaryNational Circus School in Montreal supporting People Watching's DOGMA.
- Les 7 Doigts (Montréal)secondaryMontreal circus company supporting People Watching's DOGMA production.
- Teatro Nuovo Napoli (Italy)majorNeapolitan theater coproduction partner for Andrea Peña's REPLICA. Work created between Naples, Sweden, Norway, and Montreal.
- Rüm För Dans (Sweden)majorSwedish dance organization coproduction partner for Andrea Peña's REPLICA.
- Hallands Konstmuseum (Sweden)majorSwedish art museum coproduction partner for Andrea Peña's REPLICA.
- Kungsbacka Theater (Sweden)majorSwedish theater coproduction partner for Andrea Peña's REPLICA.
- Baerum Kulturhus (Norway)majorNorwegian cultural center coproduction partner for Andrea Peña's REPLICA.
- Agora de la Danse (Québec)majorMontreal dance presenter coproduction partner for Andrea Peña's REPLICA.
- Circuit-Est centre chorégraphique (Québec)majorMontreal dance center coproduction partner for Andrea Peña's REPLICA.
- Atelier de Paris - CDCN (France)majorFrench contemporary dance center coproduction partner for Clara Furey's UNARMOURED.
- Centre Chorégraphique National d'Orléans (France)majorFrench national choreography center directed by Maud Le Pladec coproduction partner for Clara Furey's UNARMOURED.
- Charleroi-Danse (Belgium)majorBelgian dance organization coproduction partner for Clara Furey's UNARMOURED.
- ParbleuxmajorMontreal production office and delegate producer for Clara Furey's Bent Hollow Cie, with UNARMOURED developed in residence at USINE C.
- Consulat général de France à QuébecsecondaryFrench Consulate in Quebec supporting Édouard Louis's Qui a tué mon père at USINE C, alongside Air Canada.
- Air CanadasecondaryNational airline supporting Thomas Ostermeier and Édouard Louis's Qui a tué mon père at USINE C.
- Théâtre National des Arts du Canada / National Arts Centre (Ottawa)majorCanada's national arts center coproduction partner for Louise Lecavalier's Stations and Danes Vagabondes.
- Yves Sheriff (Projets du 3e)secondaryIndependent choreographer organizing the Projets du 3e residency program at USINE C since 2012, questioning traditional choreographic creation processes.
- Air CanadaminorMajor Canadian airline supporting international artist travel for performances at USINE C.
- Spirale MagazinesecondaryCultural magazine collaboration producing Radio Spirale X USINE C, a radio program recorded before live audiences exploring contemporary cultural themes, later distributed as podcasts.
- VOX - Centre de l'image contemporaineminorMontreal contemporary image center collaborated on Identités en mutation exhibition and Radio Spirale episode featuring artist SMITH.
- Centre Canadien d'ArchitectureminorMontreal architecture center hosting Projets du 3e in situ performance work and exhibitions.
- Musée RedpathminorMcGill University museum hosting Projets du 3e artistic activities.
- Festival Accès AsieminorMontreal Asian arts festival collaborating on Identités en mouvement roundtable at USINE C.
- Festival international de la littérature (FIL)majorMontreal international literature festival copresenting and producing Xénia Gould's JUSTE VIDE TON CŒUR in codiffusion with USINE C.
- La Centrale Galerie PowerhouseminorMontreal feminist gallery hosting cultural events, collaborated on Journees Sans Culture discussions on women's place in culture.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Factory C competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hellerau - European Centre for the Arts (Dresden): German European Center for the Arts and USINE C coproduction partner for Louise Lecavalier works; presents contemporary dance, performance, and music in a multi-space venue with international residency programming analogous to USINE C.
- Théâtre National de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles: Belgian national theater and USINE C coproduction partner (Raoul Collectif's RUMEUR ET PETITS JOURS); presents contemporary multidisciplinary performing arts at a comparable scale and serves as an international touring partner.
- tanzhaus nrw (Düsseldorf): Leading German contemporary dance and performing arts center and active coproduction partner with USINE C (e.g., People Watching's DOGMA); both venues present multidisciplinary international programming with comparable venue size and artist-residency models.
- Festival TransAmériques (FTA): Montreal's premier international contemporary performing arts festival and direct coproduction partner with USINE C; both present avant-garde theater, dance, and interdisciplinary work to overlapping Quebec audiences and share artist pipelines.
- La Villette (Paris): Paris cultural complex and USINE C coproduction partner for Les Chiens de Navarre's LA VIE EST UNE FÊTE; presents contemporary performing arts across multiple venues and serves as a comparable international partner in the coproduction network.
- Agora de la Danse: Montreal contemporary dance presenter and USINE C coproduction partner (e.g., Andrea Peña's REPLICA); focuses on dance specifically but competes for the same local audience and shares artist residencies.
- Harbourfront Centre (Toronto): Toronto's multidisciplinary cultural center and USINE C coproduction partner; presents international contemporary performing arts across multiple spaces and serves a comparable presenter-plus-venue model.
- National Arts Centre (Ottawa): Canada's national performing arts presenter and a coproduction partner with USINE C; operates multiple halls and the National Creation Fund, and presents international contemporary work on a similar scale to USINE C's Montreal operations.
Broad incumbents
- Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): Major US presenter of international contemporary performing arts across multiple venues; presents avant-garde theater, dance, and opera with similar programming philosophy to USINE C, though at significantly larger scale.
Regional players
- Théâtre de Quat'Sous: Montreal theater presenting contemporary and avant-garde work; competes for the same downtown Montreal audience base as USINE C and operates a similar single-venue presenter model with comparable capacity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Factory C social profiles
Digital presenceFactory C financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Factory C leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Factory C funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Factory C M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Factory C
What does Factory C do?
Factory C (USINE C) is a Montreal-based performing arts centre that presents a curated annual season of contemporary theatre, dance, circus, and interdisciplinary productions across two main performance spaces (Grande Salle with 470 seats and Petite Salle with 96 seats). The organization also rents out six venue spaces (Grande Salle, Petite Salle, Hall, Café, Jardin Ombragé, Studio du 4e) for artistic performances, corporate functions, and private events, and runs artist residency programs (Labos du 4ème, short residencies) to support choreographers and creators in developing new work.
Is Factory C a public or private company?
Factory C is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Factory C founded?
Factory C was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Factory C based?
Factory C is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Factory C make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Ticket sales are the primary driver. The others are venue rental, donations and fundraising and government funding.
Who are Factory C's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hellerau - European Centre for the Arts (Dresden), Théâtre National de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, tanzhaus nrw (Düsseldorf), Festival TransAmériques (FTA), La Villette (Paris), Agora de la Danse, Harbourfront Centre (Toronto) and National Arts Centre (Ottawa). Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is listed as a broad incumbent. Théâtre de Quat'Sous is listed as a regional player.
Does Factory C have an API?
No public API is recorded for Factory C.
What industry is Factory C in?
Factory C's product category is Performing Arts Venue. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of MPAGALAB, Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses). Its NAICS code is 71131.