What Solstice Arts Centre does

Solstice Arts Centre is a registered charity (RCN 20065775, CHY 17588) operating a multi-disciplinary regional arts venue in Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland, founded in 2006 in a building designed by Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects. It serves local, national, and international audiences across the north-east of Ireland with performing arts (a 320-seat theatre with 20 flying lines and professional lighting/audio), cinema (4K Sony projection, Dolby Surround, 10-metre screen), visual arts exhibitions (a third-floor gallery finished to professional standard with controllable natural light), educational workshops, and a ground-floor café. Programming includes touring theatre, ACCESS Cinema film selections, dance (Navan School of Ballet), musical theatre (St Mary's Musical Society), the annual Meath Film Festival, and the 20th-anniversary contemporary Irish exhibition 'The Future is Open' (2026).

The underlying operating platform combines the physical venue infrastructure with a small SaaS stack: TicketSolve for ticketing and box office, MailChimp for email/newsletter marketing, Global Payments (formerly Realex) for PCI-DSS compliant payment processing, Google Analytics for web analytics, Facebook for targeted advertising, and Sooner Than Later for direct mail brochures. Distribution is regional across Ireland, channelled through self-serve online booking, telephone box office (046 909 2300), walk-up sales, and venue hire to producing partners. Certifications include PCI-DSS and GDPR compliance.

Solstice's business model is a hybrid charitable model. Revenue streams are: (1) earned income from ticket sales (cinema €8/individual; theatre €17–€40+; workshops €10–€15; dance camps €35–€70; festival passes €10–€25; pantomime €23.50–€85), venue hire for events/conferences, and café operations; (2) public-sector grants from Arts Council of Ireland, Meath County Council, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Research Ireland (Discover Programme), Creative Ireland, Heritage Council, and Waterways Ireland. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Governance is via a Board of Directors chaired by Fiona Lawless (also CEO of Meath County Council), with Belinda Quirke serving as Artistic Director and Company Secretary. Customer segments include general arts audiences, schools and educational groups, families, professional artists, people with additional needs, and community groups.

Name

Solstice Arts Centre

Legal name

Solstice Arts Centre

Website

https://solsticeartscentre.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solstice Arts Centre is a registered charity operating a 320-seat theatre, 4K cinema, gallery, and café in Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland. It serves regional audiences with performing arts, film, visual arts exhibitions, workshops, and educational programmes, funded by ticket sales, venue hire, and public arts grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Cultural cinema programming
• Arts education programmes
• Community arts engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Navan

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from theatre performances, cinema screenings, and event tickets sold through box office and online booking system
2. Space Hire: Venue spaces available for hire including theatre, gallery, studio, and foyer for performances, exhibitions, workshops, conferences, and informal meetings
3. Café Operations: Solstice Café providing dining area open 9:00am – 4:00pm Monday – Saturday
4. Grants and Funding: Supported by Arts Council of Ireland, Meath County Council, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as a registered charity

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Solstice Arts Centre operates a multi-purpose regional arts venue comprising a 320-seat theatre, a 4K digital cinema, a professional gallery, and a studio. It programs and delivers performing arts productions, cultural cinema screenings, visual arts exhibitions, and educational/community engagement programmes for audiences in the north-east of Ireland. Complementary offerings include venue hire, a café, and artist development initiatives.

Product overview

Solstice Arts Centre is a regional arts centre of excellence in Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland, offering a multi-purpose venue with theatre (320-seat), cinema (4K digital), gallery, studio, and café facilities. The centre programmes diverse performing arts, cinema, and visual arts exhibitions featuring local, national and international artists. Its core offerings include the Theatre, Cinema, Gallery, Solstice Café, and Studio spaces, supplemented by programmes such as the Associated Artists Programme, Take Me to the River environmental engagement initiative, Learning & Participation Programme with gallery tours, and the annual Meath Film Festival. The venue supports professional artists through commissioned and produced new work, and engages communities through educational workshops and creative activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Performances
• Cinema Screenings
• Visual Arts Gallery Exhibitions
• Venue Hire
• Solstice Café
• Learning & Participation Programme
• Associated Artists Programme
• Take Me to the River Programme
• Meath Film Festival
• The Future is Open Exhibition
• Regular Classes & Workshops
• Group Gallery Tours

Quantifiable outcome

• 20th anniversary exhibition The Future is Open celebrating continued commitment to showcasing contemporary Irish artists

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TicketSolvecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides ticketing service at the Box Office and online booking platform. TicketSolve is described as powerful ticketing and box office software.
• MailChimpcoreTechnology or IntegrationEmail service provider for newsletter and marketing communications. Provides email marketing, ads, landing pages, and CRM tools.
• Global PaymentscoreTechnology or IntegrationHandles all online transactions securely. Previously called Realex. Provides payment technology and software solutions.
• Sooner Than LaterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDirect mail solutions provider that posts brochures to customers on behalf of Solstice Arts Centre.
• Boyne Rivers TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit organisation to protect, enhance and restore the water bodies of the Boyne catchment through community-led projects. Key partner in Take Me to the River programme, focusing on Floodplain Woodlands Project.
• Swift Cultural CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating partner on Take Me to the River programme and joint public engagement initiatives. Swift is a cultural centre in Trim, Co. Meath.
• Cineál: Research + DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural practice collaborating on Take Me to the River project. Facilitates experimental forms of mapping to understand ecology between communities and environments.
• School of Looking (Anne Cleary & Denis Connolly)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtists who created Eco Showboat expeditions and developed Catchments Festival as part of Take Me to the River. Leading citizen science and artistic engagement programmes.
• Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks on behalf of Ireland's local authorities to protect and restore water quality through catchment science and community engagement.
• National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body supporting Take Me to the River programme with expertise in conservation and biodiversity.
• Inland Fisheries IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency with statutory responsibility for protection and management of Ireland's waterways. Contributes educational and outreach activities to Take Me to the River.
• National Biodiversity Data CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for citizen science recording, collecting biodiversity data from programme participants including butterfly sightings and aquatic organisms.
• UCD Earth InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution contributing scientific expertise to river and ecological research within programmes.
• Down Syndrome Louth MeathminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organisation participating in CATCHMENTS 2025 programme with integrated involvement in Fun with Nature art programme.
• Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational body whose adult learners participate in Take Me to the River engagement programmes.
• Grafton ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning architectural practice led by Shelley McNamara that designed the Solstice Arts Centre building.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lime Tree Theatre: Limerick-based 510-seat presenting venue with mixed performing arts and cinema programming. Comparable as a multi-purpose regional arts venue with public funding backing.
• Draíocht Arts Centre: Multi-purpose regional arts centre in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, combining a 320-seat theatre, gallery, and artist studios. Directly comparable as a publicly funded Irish regional arts venue offering theatre, cinema, exhibitions, and learning programmes to a defined catchment area.
• An Grianán Theatre: Letterkenny-based regional theatre and arts centre in Co. Donegal producing and presenting performing arts. Directly comparable as an Irish regional arts venue reliant on Arts Council and local authority funding.
• Mermaid Arts Centre: Bray, Co. Wicklow-based regional arts centre offering theatre, cinema, gallery, and workshops. Comparable multi-purpose Irish regional arts venue reliant on Arts Council funding.
• Pavilion Theatre: Dún Laoghaire-based presenting arts venue with theatre and cinema programming serving a similar suburban/regional Irish catchment. Comparable as a venue operator running mixed performing arts and film programming with public/council backing.
• Riverbank Arts Centre: Newbridge, Co. Kildare-based multi-purpose arts centre with theatre, gallery, and studio. Closely comparable to Solstice as an Irish regional arts centre of similar scale and programming mix.
• Glór: Ennis, Co. Clare-based performing arts and conference venue combining a 485-seat theatre with MICE hire. Comparable as an Irish multi-purpose arts venue with public funding support.
• Siamsa Tíre: Tralee, Co. Kerry-based national folk theatre and arts centre. Comparable as an Irish publicly-funded regional arts venue offering performing arts and cultural programming.

Regional players

• The Model: Sligo-based contemporary arts centre and Niland Collection gallery with associated performance programming. Comparable as an Irish regional multi-disciplinary arts venue, with a stronger contemporary art focus.

Emerging players

• VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art: Carlow-based combined contemporary art gallery and performing arts space. Comparable as an Irish regional centre blending visual arts programming with performance, though with a stronger gallery orientation than Solstice.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/solsticearts
• Facebookfacebook.com/solsticearts
• Instagraminstagram.com/solsticearts

Compliance2 records

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 Solstice Arts Centre