The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center

What The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center does

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center (Plaza MAC) is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) community-supported independent cinema and cultural center located at 20 Terry Street in Patchogue, New York, founded in 2010. It operates a single-screen art house cinema equipped with a state-of-the-art digital cinema projection system and surround sound, screening quality mainstream, independent, foreign, and documentary films, as well as live broadcasts of plays, operas, and performances from world stages such as the National Theatre and West End. Beyond screenings, the center runs an extensive portfolio of curated film series (The Cineaste, Exhibition on Screen, Performing Arts in Cinema, EnviroDocs, The Artistic Process, Animated Films Series), an education program spanning animation, film editing, screenwriting, documentary, and media literacy (delivered partly through Eastern Suffolk BOCES), a concession and wine bar operation (Blue Velvet Lounge), and venue rentals for private events.

The organization serves over 20,000 patrons annually and is staffed by approximately 11 employees. Its revenue model is a hybrid of consumer transactions (single ticket sales at $10 regular / $5 children under 12 / $6 members; gift certificates), recurring membership subscriptions ($65 Individual, $115 Dual, $165 Family), concessions and craft beer sales (including a partnership with Blue Point Brewing Company), corporate sponsorships of named film series, on-screen advertising, venue rentals, and philanthropy (individual donations, foundation grants, and government support). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through a physical box office, with digital marketing via the website, Constant Contact email newsletters, and social media. The center sits within the Art House Convergence, an international consortium of over 500 independent cinema delegates, and maintains strategic partnerships with St. Joseph's College (academic co-curation), Patchogue Arts Council, Long Island Arts Council at Freeport, Eastern Suffolk BOCES, and honorary trustee Isabella Rossellini.

Plaza MAC depends on a community-supported funding model with no shareholders; since 2010 the founder is reported to have raised more than $1.8 million cumulatively through grants, sponsorships, and community partnerships. The current executive structure includes a Director of Operations (Kelly Ann-Bohn), Board leadership (President James McPeak, Vice President & Treasurer Dr. Joseph Graskemper), and a Founder/Executive Director Emeritus (Catherine Oberg). The center's marketing relies heavily on local community partnerships, grassroots email/social media outreach, and PR in local Patchogue press, with no app, public API, or notable digital product surface.

Name

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center

Legal name

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center

Website

https://plazamac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit single-screen art house cinema and cultural center in Patchogue, NY, screening independent, foreign, and documentary films alongside curated series, education programs, and live performing arts broadcasts for over 20,000 patrons annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Art House Cinema

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG), Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools) (MPADAKAI), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Independent cinema operations
• Art house film screenings
• Media literacy education
• Film series programming
• Community arts center

Headquarters

HQ city

Patchogue

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. Ticket Sales: Revenue from film screenings, performing arts broadcasts, and special events. Single-screen cinema with first-run movies and art house films.
2. Memberships: Annual membership tiers (Individual $65, Dual $115, Family $165) providing reduced admission, free birthday tickets, and complimentary tickets. 50% of ticket sales go to distribution companies.
3. Concessions and Blue Velvet Lounge: Wine bar offering white wine, rose, red wine, sparkling, draft beer, bottled beer, and cocktails. Craft beer from Blue Point Brewing Company.
4. Donations and Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by individual donors, foundations, corporations, and government grants. Annual fundraising campaigns and corporate sponsorships.
5. On-Screen Advertising: On-screen advertising opportunities reaching community audience. Space limited, contracts range from one month to one year.
6. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorships of film series (Envirodocs, impACT, Plaza at MAMA, Making Memories at the Movies, Exhibition on Screen) connecting businesses to dedicated audiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center operates a single-screen art house cinema in Patchogue, New York, screening mainstream, independent, foreign, and documentary films alongside live broadcasts of operas, plays, and ballets from world stages. The organization complements its film programming with curated series (The Cineaste, Exhibition on Screen, EnviroDocs, The Artistic Process, Performing Arts in Cinema, Animated Films Series), a robust K-12 media literacy and film education program delivered via BOCES partnerships, and venue-based amenities including the Blue Velvet Lounge wine bar and private event rentals. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it sustains operations through ticket sales, memberships, donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) community-supported independent cinema and cultural center offering a unified portfolio of film programming and educational services. The core offering consists of film screenings featuring mainstream, independent, and foreign films, augmented by curated film series (The Cineaste, Exhibition on Screen, Performing Arts in Cinema, EnviroDocs, The Artistic Process, Animated Films Series) and special events. Education programs include animation classes, film editing workshops, documentary classes, media literacy, screenwriting, and field trips for K-12 students. Amenities include venue rentals, the Blue Velvet Lounge food service, and membership/gift certificate programs. The center serves over 20,000 patrons annually and is part of the Art House Convergence consortium of over 500 independent cinemas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Film Screenings Core screening of quality mainstream, independent, foreign, documentary films, plus operas and plays captured live from world stages, serving over 20,000 patrons annually.
• Education Programs Comprehensive K-12 and adult educational offerings including Animation Classes, Exploring Film Genres, Intro to Acting Workshop, Film Editing Workshop, Documentary Classes, Media Literacy, Narrative, Screenwriting, News Literacy, and Field Trips, partnered with Eastern Suffolk BOCES for in-school delivery.
• The Cineaste Series Curated film series featuring critically acclaimed independent and American classic films with faculty-led post-screening discussions, in partnership with St. Joseph's College's Chief Curator Dr. Peter Mascuch.
• Exhibition on Screen Series presenting works from top international museums and galleries, offering cinematic immersion into world art with insights from leading historians and critics (e.g., Canaletto, Vermeer, Monet).
• Performing Arts in Cinema Live broadcast screenings of plays, operas, and performances captured from world stages including the National Theatre and West End (e.g., Titanic the Musical, Hamlet, Othello).
• EnviroDocs Documentary film series focused on environmental topics including climate change, conservation, and sustainability (e.g., Fantastic Fungi, Chasing Ice, Before the Flood, Seed: The Untold Story).
• The Artistic Process Documentary series in partnership with Patchogue Arts Council offering behind-the-scenes looks at famous artists and their creative processes (e.g., Anselm Kiefer, Marina Abramovic, Andy Goldsworthy).
• Animated Films Series Film series featuring acclaimed animated films suitable for all ages (e.g., The Secret of Kells, My Neighbor Totoro, The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales, A Cat in Paris).
• Comedy Short Film Contest Annual competition showcasing short comedy films as part of the cinema's special events programming.
• Venue Rentals & Private Events Rental of the cinema space for private events and film screenings, including support staff and technical labor; available on select days during off-peak season (primarily Tuesdays/Wednesdays).
• Blue Velvet Lounge On-site concession stand offering fine wine, craft beer (including Blue Point Brewing Company draft), cocktails, and food; serves patrons before and during screenings.
• Memberships Annual membership program offering three tiers (Individual $65, Dual $115, Family $165) that provide reduced admission ($6 per ticket vs. $10 regular), free birthday tickets, and discounts on special events.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates available online and at the box office in predefined increments of $10, $20, $50, $100, or any custom amount, redeemable for cinema admission.
• Access to the Arts Card Program Partnership with Long Island Arts Council at Freeport providing $5 cinema entry for teens ages 13-19 holding the Access to the Arts card.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 20,000 patrons annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Art House ConvergencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017International consortium of art house cinemas by 2017 consisting of over 500 delegates. Plaza MAC is part of this network dedicated to increasing quantity and quality of independent cinemas in North America. Robert Redford conceived the idea at Sundance Film Festival in 2008.
• St. Joseph's CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty collaboration on The Cineaste film series with post-screening discussions led by Chief Curator Dr. Peter Mascuch, Associate Professor of English and American Studies. Partnership includes the English Department and Cinema Studies Program.
• Eastern Suffolk BOCEScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for in-school media literacy educational programs. BOCES facilitates registration and scheduling for field trips and classroom programs including film-based lessons and facilitator-led sessions.
• Long Island Arts Council at FreeportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccess to the Arts program providing $5 movie entry for teens ages 13-19. Plaza MAC is a proud supporter of this card program.
• Patchogue Arts CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on The Artistic Process Documentary Series, a summer film series offering $5 documentaries about famous artists and the creative process.
• Isabella RosselliniminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHonorary Trustee and community supporter who was inspired by Plaza's founding efforts. Has collaborated on special screenings and fundraising initiatives.
• Blue Point Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides seasonal draft beer for the Blue Velvet Lounge concessions, offering local craft beer to cinema patrons.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SVA Theatre: A nonprofit art house cinema in NYC tied to the School of Visual Arts with curated independent and documentary programming; highly comparable nonprofit cinema with parallel educational positioning.
• IFC Center: An independent art house cinema in Greenwich Village, NYC specialized in independent, foreign, and documentary exhibition with curated retrospectives; comparable in mission and content focus though operated commercially.
• Coolidge Corner Theatre: A nonprofit independent cinema in Brookline, MA with curated repertory programming, educational film programs, and a membership/donor-supported model; structurally and operationally identical to Plaza MAC.
• Loft Cinema: A nonprofit art house cinema in Tucson, AZ with curated independent, foreign, and documentary programming plus educational programming; directly comparable nonprofit independent cinema model.
• Jacob Burns Film Center: A nonprofit art house cinema and education center in Pleasantville, NY; directly comparable to Plaza MAC in mission (independent/foreign/documentary exhibition paired with media literacy education), scale (single-region nonprofit), and programming approach.
• Film Forum: Iconic nonprofit art house cinema in NYC with curated independent, foreign, and repertory programming; a directly comparable nonprofit single-purpose exhibitor with similar programming and educational outreach.
• The Brattle Theatre: A nonprofit repertory and art house cinema in Cambridge, MA programming independent, foreign, and classic films with a curated film series approach similar to Plaza MAC's Cineaste and Exhibition on Screen.
• Athena Cinema: A nonprofit art house cinema in Athens, OH operated by Ohio University with educational programming and curated film series; mirrors Plaza MAC's nonprofit, education-anchored exhibition model.

Broad incumbents

• Metrograph: A premium art house cinema and restaurant in NYC's Lower East Side with curated repertory and new release programming; comparable in mission but operates commercially at a larger scale.
• Angelika Film Center: A multi-location commercial art house cinema chain (NYC, VA, TX) showing independent and foreign films; relevant as a broader incumbent in the same art house exhibition category though commercial in operation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/suffolk-county-film-commission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 The Plaza Cinema & Media Arts Center