Williams Center for the Arts

What Williams Center for the Arts does

Williams Center for the Arts is a community performing arts venue located at 317 8th Avenue S.E. in Oelwein, Iowa, operating a state-of-the-art auditorium with a sound/light booth, multi-functional lobby, dressing rooms, and storage. The center opened in Fall 2003 as part of a broader community project that included a wellness center, physical therapy suite, childhood center, and high school classrooms, established through seed funding from Churchill (Church) and Marval Williams, prominent community members and bankers in Oelwein from the 1950s-1990s. The Williams Center continues to receive grants from the Northeast Iowa Charitable Foundation through the Williams' foundation to fund auditorium upgrades.

The venue operates on a seasonal event-driven model, with a 7-show annual program that combines tribute acts (George Strait, Huey Lewis & The News, Michael Jackson), touring ensembles (Dallas Brass, Christmas with the Celts, Chicago Tap Theatre), and variety shows (The 3 Impersonators). Revenue is generated through single-event tickets priced at $45 and season ticket bundles priced at $225 covering all seven shows with reserved seating, with enrolled students admitted free. Tickets are distributed through three channels: walk-up sales at Financial Visions in Oelwein, an on-site box office opening one hour before performances, and online purchases via the tix.com platform integrated into the venue's website.

The Williams Center serves the general public in Oelwein and Fayette County, Iowa, and is used by the Oelwein Community School, civic groups, and state and national organizations for events, performances, and community forums, including hosting the Governor of Iowa. It has hosted the Governor of Iowa and functions as a cultural anchor for a rural northeast Iowa market. The center operates with approximately 6 staff members under co-directors Linda Murphy and Sandie Graf. Marketing relies on the company website, community referrals through the Oelwein Chamber & Area Development and Visit Fayette County Iowa, and partnerships with local accommodations (Cornerstone Inn & Suites, Super 8 Oelwein) to drive visitor attendance.

Name

Williams Center for the Arts

Legal name

Williams Center for the Arts

Website

https://williamscenterforthearts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Williams Center for the Arts is a community performing arts venue in Oelwein, Iowa, operating a state-of-the-art auditorium with a 7-show seasonal program of tribute acts, touring ensembles, and cultural performances serving the local public, schools, and civic organizations in Fayette County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Performance Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Concerts & Music Festivals (THAJAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Music Festival Organizers & Promoters (MPAGAAAB)

Keywords

• Live performance venue
• Performing arts center
• Concert tickets
• Community arts programming
• Auditorium events

Headquarters

HQ city

Oelwein

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

Revenue model

1. Single-Event Ticket Sales: Individual tickets sold for single performances at $45.00 per show. Students enrolled are admitted free of charge. This represents the primary revenue stream for the venue.
2. Season Ticket Sales: Season tickets sold at $225.00 for all seven shows in the 2026-2027 season, guaranteeing a reserved seat at all events. This provides advance revenue and customer commitment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Williams Center for the Arts is a community performing arts venue in Oelwein, Iowa that hosts a seasonal lineup of live performances including tribute acts, musical concerts, dance performances, and cultural programming. It sells single-event tickets at $45 per show and season tickets at $225 covering all seven shows, distributing tickets through online sales, walk-up sales at a local partner, and an on-site box office.

Product overview

Williams Center for the Arts is a performing arts venue in Oelwein, Iowa that offers single-event performance tickets ($45 per show) and season ticket packages ($225 for all seven shows). The venue features a state-of-the-art auditorium, multi-functional lobby, sound/light booth, dressing rooms, and hosts a variety of live performances including musical tributes, theatrical acts, dance performances, and concerts. The center is used by the Oelwein Community School, civic groups, and arts-related organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single-Event Performance Tickets Individual admission tickets for live performances, concerts, tribute acts, and shows held at the Williams Center auditorium. Priced at $45.00 per show; free for enrolled students. Sold via website, walk-up at Financial Visions, and the box office.
• Season Tickets Reserved-seat season package granting one ticket to each of the seven shows in the 2026-2027 season for $225.00. Includes George Strait Tribute, Huey Lewis and the News Tribute, The 3 Impersonators, Christmas with the Celts, Chicago Tap Theatre, Dallas Brass, and Michael Jackson Tribute.
• Auditorium and Facility Rental Rental of the Williams Center's state-of-the-art auditorium, multi-functional lobby, sound/light booth, spacious work area, dressing rooms, and multi-level storage for school, civic, state, national, and arts-related group events.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Financial VisionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWalk-up ticket sales partner located at 24 S. Frederick, Oelwein (in the former Tindell Shoe store next to the Grand Movie Theater). Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 am - 3:00 pm for ticket purchases.
• Oelwein Chamber & Area DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal chamber organization at 6 South Frederick (Phone: (319) 283-1105) that promotes events and provides visitor information for the Oelwein area.
• Visit Fayette County IowaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism organization at 101 N. Vine Street, West Union, Iowa (Phone: (563) 265-5248) that promotes attractions including the Williams Center for visitors to Fayette County.
• Cornerstone Inn & SuitesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended accommodation partner at 421 Rock Island Road, Oelwein (Phone: (319) 238-8194) for visitors traveling to see performances.
• Super 8 OelweinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended accommodation at 210 Southeast 10th Street, Oelwein (Phone: (319) 283-2888) for visitors attending performances.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Englert Theatre: Independent nonprofit performing arts venue in Iowa City, Iowa hosting concerts, film, and live performances. Highly comparable as a community-rooted Iowa presenting organization with a similar single-venue operating model.
• Paramount Theatre: Historic performing arts venue in Cedar Rapids, Iowa presenting concerts, comedy, and theatrical productions. Comparable as an Iowa-based ticketed live entertainment presenter with a touring-act-driven season model.
• Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center: Regional performing arts center at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls - the closest major PAC to Oelwein. Comparable in hosting touring concerts, family programming, and educational performances for a similar northeast Iowa audience.
• Des Moines Performing Arts: Nonprofit presenting organization in Des Moines curating Broadway tours, concerts, and family programming. Comparable as a Midwest presenting organization purchasing touring content and selling season subscriptions.
• Hoyt Sherman Place: Historic Des Moines mansion and performing arts venue presenting concerts, tribute acts, and cultural programming. Closely comparable in operating a single auditorium with seasonal touring entertainment and civic programming.

Broad incumbents

• Hancher Auditorium: University of Iowa's major performing arts center in Iowa City offering a much broader and higher-budget programming slate. Comparable in Iowa performing arts space but operates at substantially greater scale and institutional backing.
• Overture Center for the Arts: Large multi-venue performing arts complex in Madison, Wisconsin. Comparable as a Midwest presenting organization but operates at city-scale with multiple halls, broader programming, and larger infrastructure.

Others

• AEG Presents: Global live entertainment promoter and venue operator. Relevant as the upstream supplier of the touring tribute and concert content that Williams Center books into its season.
• Live Nation Entertainment: Largest global live entertainment company and ticketing platform owner. Relevant as the dominant promoter and touring-content gatekeeper that controls the supply of acts available to community venues like Williams Center.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/williams-center-for-the-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Williams Center for the Arts