Brockville Arts Centre

What Brockville Arts Centre does

The Brockville Arts Centre is a municipally operated heritage theatre located at 235 King Street West in Brockville, Ontario, owned and run by the City of Brockville. The venue traces its building to 1858, has functioned as a theatre continuously through several name changes (Opera House, New Theatre, The Regent, Civic Auditorium) since 1880, and took its current name in 1990. After a $2 million Project ENCORE! restoration in 2009 and reopening from a COVID-19 closure in August 2021, it currently operates a 710-seat main auditorium (478 orchestra, 232 balcony) plus a 122-person licensed lobby/arts gallery and full back-of-house production facilities including rehearsal space, set construction storage, and dressing rooms.

The core product is a fully equipped mid-size performance venue featuring a Meyer Sound self-powered audio system, a DiGiCo SD8 72-channel digital mixing console, an ETC 72-channel lighting rig with Colortran dimming, digital film projection (supplemented by 35mm and 16mm capability), and a Steinway 9-foot D Concert Grand piano. The third-largest stage in Canada as of 1911 (38-foot proscenium, 60-foot grid, 25 counterweight fly lines) gives it rare staging flexibility for a heritage venue. Front-of-house operations run on Theatre Manager box-office software for ticketing and buyer data, with online sales delivered through the Showpass platform.

The business model combines event-driven ticketing and facility rentals. Revenue streams include commercial facility rental ($1,500 or 12% of gross ticket sales, whichever is greater), non-profit rental ($750 or 12% of gross), rehearsal and lobby-only rentals, a $9,000/day dance competition rate, box-office fees (3.5% of gross ticket sales plus printing and credit-card recovery), licensed lobby bar concessions, technical production staff charges ($40-$50/hour), equipment rentals, and merchandise sales commissions. Programming serves four overlapping customer segments: general public patrons attending live theatre, concerts, comedy, ballet, and film; touring entertainment promoters and production companies; local non-profit theatre organizations; and private event organizers hosting corporate functions, weddings, and receptions. Distribution is regional, with ticket sales through in-house box office, phone, walk-up, and Showpass online channels, plus a secondary role as ticketing agent for offsite regional events.

Name

Brockville Arts Centre

Legal name

Brockville Arts Centre

Website

https://brockvilleartscentre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1858

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Brockville Arts Centre is a municipally operated 710-seat heritage theatre in Brockville, Ontario (operating since 1858), owned by the City of Brockville. It generates revenue through facility rentals, ticketing, licensed bar concessions, and production services for touring entertainment promoters, local non-profit theatre groups, and private event organizers across Eastern Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• Live theatre venue
• Performing arts centre
• Facility rental services
• Concert and film events
• Box office ticketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Brockville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Facility Rental: The venue generates primary revenue by renting its facilities to commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, and private individuals for performances, rehearsals, and events. Rental rates vary by client type (commercial vs. non-profit), performance count, and duration. Commercial rentals are $1,500 or 12% of gross sales; non-profit rentals are $750 or 12% of gross sales. Rehearsal space available at $800 for up to 8 hours.
2. Ticket Sales and Box Office Services: The venue acts as the exclusive ticketing agent for all events, earning box office fees including 3.5% of gross ticket sales, $0.15 per ticket printing fee, and 4.0% credit card fee recovery. Event set-up and promotional blast fees also apply.
3. Licensed Lobby Bar and Concessions: Licensed lobby bar (LLBO) serves beverages to patrons before shows and during intermissions. The lobby holds 122 people and is suitable for receptions and cocktail events.
4. Production Services: Technical production services including lead technicians, sound technicians, lighting technicians at $50/hour commercial or $40/hour non-profit rates. Additional charges for loaders, deck hands, spot operators, and fly tower operators at $27.50/hour.
5. Merchandise Sales Commission: Merchandise table rental at $50 per table (max 3) or 15% of gross sales, whichever is greater. BAC staff are not available to assist with merchandise sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Brockville Arts Centre operates a 710-seat heritage theatre in downtown Brockville, Ontario, hosting live theatre, music concerts, comedy, dance, ballet, and film screenings. It functions as both a self-presenting venue and a rental facility for touring productions, community groups, and private events. Revenue is generated through facility rentals, exclusive box office ticketing services, a licensed lobby bar, technical production services, and merchandise commissions.

Product overview

The Brockville Arts Centre operates as a heritage theatre venue offering a comprehensive portfolio of live entertainment and event services. The core offerings include the Main Auditorium (710-seat venue) and Licensed Lobby/Arts Gallery for events, supplemented by Box Office Services and Production Services. The venue hosts live theatre performances, music concerts, and film/movie screenings featuring both touring productions and local artists. Additional offerings include Theatre Rental for external organizers, Event Production Equipment rentals, Gift Cards through Showpass, and the See-It-Tuesday discount program for movie screenings. The venue serves as both an event presenter and a rental facility for promoters and community organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theatre Rental (Main Auditorium and Lobby) Facility rental of the 710-seat main auditorium (478 orchestra, 232 balcony) and 122-seat licensed lobby/arts gallery for performances, rehearsals, set construction, and private events. Commercial rental rate is $1,500 or 12% of gross sales; non-profit rate is $750 or 12% of gross; rehearsal space $800 for up to 8 hours; lobby-only $400 for 8 hours; dance competition rate $9,000 per day. For touring productions, commercial promoters, non-profit organizations, and private event organizers.
• Production Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Seating capacity of 710 patrons with professional production capabilities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ShowpasscoreTechnology or IntegrationShowpass provides the online ticketing platform powering the Brockville Arts Centre's website store, gift cards, and account management. Patrons can purchase tickets, manage accounts, and buy gift cards through the Showpass platform integrated into the BAC website.
• Pat Webster EstateminorOthersThe estate of Pat Webster donated a new digital film projector in 2016 to replace obsolete reel-to-reel film projectors, enabling the venue to continue offering movie screenings.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts: Brantford, Ontario performing arts centre operated as a municipal venue with a similar 1,000+ seat capacity and mixed-use programming (concerts, theatre, rentals). Comparable mid-sized Ontario PAC business model.
• The Grand Theatre: Municipal heritage theatre in Kingston, Ontario (~85 km from Brockville) operating a similarly-sized multi-purpose venue hosting live theatre, music, and community events. Comparable city-tier heritage venue with municipal ownership and touring production programming.
• FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre: St. Catharines, Ontario performing arts centre with a multi-venue configuration hosting touring productions, film, and community programming. Comparable municipal PAC with similar rental and ticketing model.
• The Capitol Theatre: Restored 1930s heritage theatre in Port Hope, Ontario operating as a multi-use venue for live performance, film, and community events. Comparable heritage venue operating model and similar geographic scale.
• Market Hall Performing Arts Centre: Peterborough, Ontario municipal performing arts centre hosting touring productions, comedy, music, and community programming. Comparable mid-sized Ontario PAC with municipal ownership.
• The Regent Theatre: Heritage theatre in Picton, Ontario (Prince Edward County) hosting live music, theatre, and film in a restored early-20th century venue. Shares BAC's heritage theatre positioning and small-market tourism-corridor catchment.
• Empire Theatre: Belleville, Ontario heritage theatre (~120 km from Brockville) hosting live performances, concerts, and community events. Directly comparable mid-sized Ontario municipal heritage venue with similar programming mix and rental model.
• Burlington Performing Arts Centre: Burlington, Ontario municipal PAC hosting concerts, theatre, dance, and film. Directly comparable in scale, mandate, and operating model to BAC as a mid-sized civic venue.

Regional players

• Tweed & Company Theatre: Regional professional theatre company in Eastern Ontario that rents BAC for productions such as Million Dollar Quartet. Comparable as a touring producer in the same Eastern Ontario market that uses BAC as a venue, providing perspective on the customer side of BAC's rental business.

Broad incumbents

• Cineplex Entertainment: Canada's largest movie exhibitor and live entertainment venue operator. Overlaps with BAC's film screening business and broader venue operation, but at vastly greater scale and as a commercial (rather than municipal) operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@brockvilleartscentre
• Facebookfacebook.com/brockvilleartscentre
• Instagraminstagram.com/brockvilleartscentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brockville-arts-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Brockville Arts Centre