Louisiana Art & Science Museum

What Louisiana Art & Science Museum does

The Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum founded in 1960 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, operating from a 1925 historic Illinois Central Railroad passenger station on the National Register of Historic Places. It serves approximately 45,000 visitors annually — over half of whom are Pre-K through 12th grade school program participants — and combines rotating art exhibitions, permanent galleries (Ancient Egypt, Solar System, Universe, and a 4,000+ item permanent collection), hands-on STEAM exhibits in The STEAM Station, and the flagship Irene W. Pennington Planetarium (60-foot dome, 4K fulldome digital projection, 15,000-watt 5.1 surround sound). The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (since 1972), KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Certified (first in Baton Rouge), and a Blue Star Museums participant.

LASM operates seven revenue streams: general admissions ($16 adults, $13 children/seniors, free for members and select community programs), 9-tier memberships from $25 (Student) to $1,100 (Advocate) with reciprocal access to 1,000+ ASTC/NARM/SERM institutions worldwide, school-group reservations, birthday party packages ($460–$580), facility rentals (starting at $1,500 for after-hours events), an on-site museum store, and corporate/foundation sponsorships ranging $1,000–$25,000. Distribution is direct via walk-in, online ticketing (Blackbaud), school-group bookings, and event reservations; marketing leverages the website, email newsletters, social media, earned media, and partner co-marketing with sponsors including BASF, Entergy, and Union Pacific Railroad. Recurring programs — Free First Sunday, Sensory Second Sunday, BASF Kids' Lab, Family Hour Stargazing, Studio Saturdays, and Healthy Aging at LASM — drive community engagement.

Name

Louisiana Art & Science Museum

Legal name

Louisiana Art & Science Museum

Website

https://lasm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit museum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, combining art exhibitions, hands-on STEAM exhibits, and a 4K 60-foot-dome planetarium to serve 45,000 annual visitors including 22,000+ Pre-K–12 school program participants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Museum and Cultural Institution Services

NAICS

Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA)

Keywords

• Museum exhibitions
• Planetarium shows
• STEAM education
• Cultural programs
• Interactive exhibits

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. General Admission: Revenue from ticket sales for museum admission, with pricing at $16 for adults, $13 for children (3-12) and seniors (65+), free for members
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership program with levels from $25 (Student) to $1,100 (Advocate), providing free admission, store discounts, and exclusive access
3. School Group Programs: Revenue from field trip reservations for Pre-K through 12th grade educational experiences including hands-on classes, gallery tours, and planetarium shows
4. Birthday Party Packages: Classic birthday parties starting at $460-$480 and Deluxe Planetarium parties at $560-$580 for private themed celebrations
5. Facility Rentals: Event venue rentals including the Bert S. Turner Family Atrium, planetarium private shows, classrooms, auditorium, and wedding receptions starting at $1,500 for after-hours events
6. Donations and Corporate Sponsorships: 501(c)(3) non-profit funded by charitable donations and corporate sponsorships ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 with marketing benefits
7. Museum Store: Retail sales of jewelry, books, gifts inspired by exhibitions, space-themed merchandise, dinosaur items, art supplies, science kits, and train sets

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LASM operates a regional art and science museum featuring permanent and rotating art and science exhibitions, anchored by the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium with 4K fulldome projection and surround sound. The museum delivers hands-on STEAM learning through The STEAM Station gallery and structured school group, public, and membership programs, supplemented by birthday party packages, facility rentals, a retail Museum Store, and a rotating calendar of public events such as Rock the Dome laser shows, BASF's Kids' Lab, Free First Sunday, Sensory Second Sunday, and Healthy Aging workshops.

Product overview

The Louisiana Art & Science Museum (LASM) operates as a unified museum experience combining art galleries and science exhibitions, centered around the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium as its flagship attraction. The museum's core offerings include: general museum admission providing access to permanent and changing exhibitions (Ancient Egypt Gallery, Solar System Gallery, Universe Gallery, Planet Tower, and rotating art exhibitions); the Planetarium with its 4K fulldome projection system offering fulldome films, original productions (Navigating the Cosmos), and the Rock the Dome laser series; and hands-on STEAM education through The STEAM Station gallery and public programs including Family Hour Stargazing, BASF's Kids' Lab, Read & Create, and Studio Saturdays. Additional revenue streams include membership tiers, birthday party packages, school group programs, facility rentals, and The Museum Store. Accessibility programs include Sensory Second Sunday, Free First Sunday, and Blue Star Museums free admission. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and serves approximately 45,000 visitors annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Irene W. Pennington Planetarium 60-foot domed theater featuring 4K fulldome digital projection and a 5.1, 15,000-watt digital surround sound system, offering immersive sky shows, fulldome films, and laser light presentations to museum visitors.
• Planetarium Shows and Fulldome Films Immersive audiovisual presentations including original productions like Navigating the Cosmos and purchased fulldome films such as Apollo 11: First Steps Edition, Dream Big: Engineering Our World, and Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon. Included with general admission.
• Rock the Dome Laser Series Monthly laser light shows set to music featuring bands such as Queen, Beatles, U2, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, and Taylor Swift, held in the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium.
• Museum Exhibitions Changing and permanent exhibitions showcasing art and science, including Ancient Egypt Gallery, Solar System Gallery, Universe Gallery, and rotating exhibitions featuring regional, national, and international artists.
• Museum Admission and Tickets General museum admission providing access to all galleries and unlimited planetarium shows. Adults $16, children (3-12) and seniors (65+) $13, with various free admission programs available.
• Membership Programs Year-long membership tiers including Student ($25), Single ($50), Couple ($100), Family ($175), Household ($200), Supporter ($300), Ambassador ($500), and Advocate ($1,100) with free admission, store discounts, and reciprocal museum access.
• STEAM Station Hands-On Gallery Interactive science education space featuring the Rube Goldberg Ball Wall (524,288 possible paths), Video Microscopes, Interactive Periodic Table, The Everbright light/color exhibit, and Curiosity Cabinets for hands-on STEAM learning.
• Public Programs Educational programming including Family Hour Stargazing (Saturdays), Read & Create story time (first Saturday), Studio Saturdays artist workshops (third Saturday), and Art After Hours evening programming.
• BASF's Kids' Lab Hands-on chemistry workshops for children ages 6-12 held every 2nd and 4th weekend. Each participant receives a branded tote bag with lab apron and safety glasses. Sponsored by BASF and included with general admission.
• School Group Programs (Educator Experiences) Pre-K-12 educational field trip programs including Hands-On Classes, Gallery Guided Tours, Planetarium Shows, and Summer Programs, aligned with STEAM curriculum standards.
• Birthday Party Packages Classic ($460 members/$480 non-members) and Deluxe Planetarium ($560 members/$580 non-members) birthday party experiences with themed party rooms, museum exploration time, and planetarium options.
• Facility Rentals Event venue rentals including Bert S. Turner Family Atrium for cocktail parties, planetarium for private shows, classrooms for meetings, auditorium for corporate events, and spaces for wedding receptions. Base pricing starts at $1,500 for after-hours events.
• The Museum Store Retail gift shop offering curated merchandise including jewelry, books, space-themed gifts, dinosaur merchandise, train sets, science kits, art supplies, and handcrafted items; open during museum hours with free gift wrapping.
• Free First Sunday Monthly free admission program on the first Sunday of each month from 1-5 PM, with $5 planetarium show add-on available.
• Sensory Second Sunday Sensory-inclusive museum hours every second Sunday from 3-5 PM featuring dimmed lights, low-volume music, designated quiet areas, fidget toys, noise-reducing headphones, and captioned planetarium shows.
• Healthy Aging at LASM Free art and wellness program for senior adults sponsored by the Institute of Museum & Library Services, including gentle movement activities, hands-on art-making, and planetarium shows.
• Blue Star Museums Program Free year-round admission for veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families, sponsored by Special Risk Insurance dba VFIS of Miss/Lou.
• Virtual Museum Tours Online virtual tours and digital experiences available at virtual-lasm.org, including narrated tours for visitors with vision impairments.
• NASA Astro Camp Hands-on space exploration, science, and technology summer camp for students entering grades 5-8 (ages 10-14). $325 for Non-Members, $300 for LASM Members; $75 nonrefundable deposit due at booking; held July 8-10, 2026.
• Annual Gala Annual fundraising event supporting LASM's educational mission, featuring a silent auction, raffle, food stations, entertainment, and immersive decor; serves as a primary community and donor engagement function.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45,000 annual visitors served, with over 22,000 students through school programs annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BASFcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBASF sponsors the Kids' Lab program - hands-on chemistry workshops for children ages 6-12 held every 2nd and 4th weekend of the month. Each participant receives a branded tote bag with lab apron and safety glasses. The program is included with general admission and free for members.
• EntergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEntergy sponsors the Louisiana Art & Science Museum's annual exhibition program, providing generous support for changing exhibitions and cultural programming.
• LSU Honors CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Crossroads & Connections exhibition to include oral histories and student outreach as part of the programming for the railway heritage exhibition.
• T. Harry Williams Center for Oral HistoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with LSU's oral history center for the Crossroads & Connections exhibition to document and share community stories about the depot and railway heritage.
• The Links, IncorporatedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the Crossroads & Connections exhibition as part of community outreach and engagement for the railway heritage project.
• LSU Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the Going Places: Transportation Toys of the Past exhibition, combining collections from both institutions for the exhibition.
• LSU Textile & Costume MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreserves and displays the San Carlin fashion archive for the Louisiana Couture: The Legacy of San Carlin exhibition, documenting Louisiana's fashion history.
• Greater Baton Rouge Model Railroaders ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided model train collections for the Going Places: Transportation Toys of the Past and Shelf Queens: Model Train Masterpieces exhibitions, preserving railroading traditions.
• Union Pacific RailroadminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors various museum programs including Into America's Wild planetarium show and Studio Saturdays, supporting educational programming.
• Special Risk Insurance dba VFIS of Miss/LoucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors the Blue Star Museums program providing free admission year-round to veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families. Enabled 2,838 free admissions in 2023.
• Jones (Corporate Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of LASM's annual Gala event.
• Jones WalkerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of LASM's annual Gala event.
• Ochsner HealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of LASM's annual Gala event.
• Association of Science & Technology Centers (ASTC) Passport ProgramcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal membership program providing Family-level members and above free or reduced admission to more than 1,000 science centers and museums worldwide.
• North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal membership program providing Family-level members and above free or reduced admission to participating art and culture museums across North America.
• Southeastern Reciprocal Museums Conference (SERM)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReciprocal membership program providing Family-level members and above free or reduced admission to museums in the southeastern United States.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Lafayette Science Museum: Lafayette, Louisiana museum combining planetarium, science exhibits, and historic house programming. Closely comparable scale and mission to LASM as a Louisiana-based combined art/science institution with a working planetarium.
• Mississippi Museum of Art: Jackson, Mississippi art museum with permanent collection, changing exhibitions, and educational programming. Comparable as a regional Southeastern art museum sharing similar audience demographics and AAM accreditation standards, though without LASM's science/planetarium component.
• Sci-Port Discovery Center: Shreveport, Louisiana science center with planetarium and hands-on STEM exhibits. Directly comparable as an in-state regional science museum competing for similar school groups and family visitors in Louisiana, though with a more science-only focus versus LASM's art-science dual identity.
• Children's Museum of Acadiana: Lafayette, Louisiana children's museum focused on hands-on STEAM learning for Pre-K-8 audiences. Comparable as an in-state Louisiana peer competing for school field trips and family visits, though oriented to younger children rather than LASM's broader all-ages scope.

Direct peers

• Adventure Science Center: Nashville, Tennessee science center featuring a Sudekum Planetarium and hands-on exhibits. Directly comparable as a mid-sized science/technology museum with planetarium, school group programming, and similar revenue mix of admissions, memberships, and birthday parties.
• Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science: Evansville, Indiana museum combining art, history, and science exhibits with a planetarium. Closely analogous to LASM as a community museum that intentionally bridges art and science disciplines under one institution with a working planetarium.
• Highlands Museum & Discovery Center: Ashland, Kentucky combined art and science museum with planetarium programming and community education mission. Comparable as a small-to-mid-sized community museum intentionally bridging art and science with a working planetarium.
• MOST (Museum of Science and Technology): Syracuse, New York science and technology museum with planetarium and hands-on exhibits. Comparable mid-sized regional science center serving school groups and families, with similar STEAM education mission and pricing tier structure.
• Discovery Museum: Bridgeport, Connecticut science museum with planetarium, hands-on exhibits, and Pre-K-12 educational programs. Comparable as a regional science/STEAM-focused museum serving similar school field-trip and family audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania science center with Buhl Planetarium, hands-on exhibits, and extensive school programming. Comparable in mission but materially larger in scale, operating as an established multi-experience venue with broader offerings than LASM's single-site footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/louisiana-art-&-science-museum-lasm-

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Louisiana Art & Science Museum