Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

What Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts does

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a 130,000-square-foot, four-venue destination in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: the UPMC Science Center (interactive STEAM exhibits), the Select Medical Digital Cinema (large-format documentary theater), the Sunoco Performance Theater (a nearly 700-seat Broadway-style venue), and the PNC Innovation Zone (technology and purposeful gaming). Founded in 1999, the organization delivers hands-on science education, live performing arts, and digital cinema to families, K-12 school groups, scout troops, and live-entertainment audiences across Central Pennsylvania, supported by a mobile outreach program (Whitaker on Wheels) and accessibility-focused offerings such as Sensory Saturdays.

The underlying "technology" is experiential rather than software-centric: rotating permanent and traveling exhibits (including the Backstage Studio, Carnival of Health, STEM Design Studios, and upcoming Under The Canopy rainforest exhibit from Little Ray's Nature Center) integrate robotics (LEGO Education SPIKE, Ozobots, Spheros) and 3D-printing tools (3Doodler). Online ticketing runs on the Agile Ticketing platform. The center has no proprietary software, mobile app, or AI/ML assets disclosed.

Revenue is generated through six streams: admission tickets and field-trip fees (one-time), memberships and recurring donations (subscription), corporate sponsorships and naming rights (UPMC, PNC, Sunoco, Select Medical, Capital Blue Cross), facility rentals and birthday parties, foundation grants (Stabler, Alexander Grass), and the annual Art of Science benefit. GTM is direct-to-consumer via the physical venue, supplemented by regional media partnerships (Fox43, ABC27, WITF, PennLive), email, social media, and direct school outreach. Customer segments are diversified across consumer families, K-12 schools (including Title I scholarship recipients), youth organizations, and corporate partners.

Name

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

Legal name

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts

Website

https://whitakercenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is a Harrisburg, PA-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a four-venue STEAM destination (science center, digital cinema, performance theater, innovation zone) serving families, K-12 schools, and live-entertainment audiences across Central Pennsylvania since 1999.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Science Museum and Performing Arts Center

NAICS

Museums (712110), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

Keywords

• STEAM education programs
• Science center exhibits
• Interactive museum experiences
• Youth STEM workshops
• Live performance theater

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Revenue generated from ticket sales to the UPMC Science Center, Select Medical Digital Cinema, and Sunoco Performance Theater. Individual and group pricing available.
2. Memberships: Annual and monthly membership programs offering unlimited visits, exclusive member events, discounts on shows and films, and priority access to new exhibits. Most memberships pay for themselves in just two visits.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable contributions from individuals and corporations including cash gifts, pledges, recurring donations, and planned giving. The Art of Science annual benefit is a major fundraising event.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship packages for films, performances, exhibits, and educational programs. Includes naming rights for venues (UPMC Science Center, Select Medical Digital Cinema, PNC Innovation Zone, Sunoco Performance Theater).
5. Educational Programs: Fees for field trips, STEM workshops, summer camps, scout programs, and the Whitaker on Wheels mobile outreach program.
6. Facility Rentals: Revenue from hosting private events, birthday parties, and corporate functions in center venues.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts operates a 130,000 square foot destination venue in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, comprising four integrated facilities: the UPMC Science Center (interactive STEAM exhibits), Select Medical Digital Cinema (giant-screen documentary films), Sunoco Performance Theater (700-seat live performance venue), and PNC Innovation Zone (purposeful gaming and technology experiences). The center sells admission tickets, annual memberships, fee-based educational programs (camps, workshops, field trips, scout programs), and facility rentals, while supporting operations through corporate sponsorships and charitable donations.

Product overview

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts is a science museum and performing arts center composed of four main venues: the UPMC Science Center (permanent and traveling science exhibits), Select Medical Digital Cinema (giant-screen documentary films), Sunoco Performance Theater (live concerts and shows), and PNC Innovation Zone (technology and gaming experiences). The center offers extensive educational programming including camps, workshops, field trips, and outreach programs for children and families focused on STEAM education. The venue hosts special events, birthday parties, and offers membership packages for unlimited access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UPMC Science Center: The science center featuring interactive exhibits about science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Formerly known as Harsco Science Center.
• PNC Innovation Zone
• Sunoco Performance Theater
• Select Medical Digital Cinema Theater

Products and services

• UPMC Science Center Interactive science center featuring permanent and traveling exhibits covering Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, including Backstage Studio, Carnival of Health (2,200+ sq ft), STEM Design Studios, KidsPlace, and Forces of Nature, designed for families, school groups, and visitors of all ages.
• Select Medical Digital Cinema Large-format cinema arts theater (formerly IMAX) presenting educational documentary films on nature, science, space, and exploration on the largest screen in Central Pennsylvania, available to general visitors, school groups, and members.
• Sunoco Performance Theater Broadway-designed performance theater seating nearly 700 guests, hosting live concerts, performing arts, theatrical shows, and family entertainment featuring local, regional, and national/international talent.
• PNC Innovation Zone Technology-focused zone providing educational programming and purposeful gaming experiences for children and adults, including the first-of-its-kind Purposeful Gaming Studio, with spaces available for businesses and organizations to create, meet, and connect.
• Summer Camps Science and arts day camps for children during summer break with scholarships available, providing hands-on STEAM learning experiences on-site at Whitaker Center.
• Annual Memberships Subscription membership program offering unlimited visits to the Science Center and Digital Cinema, exclusive member events, discounts on shows and films, priority access to new exhibits, and member-exclusive experiences such as Sloth Encounters.
• School Field Trips Curriculum-aligned, hands-on science adventures for grades K-12 including Science Center visits, Digital Cinema films, and PNC Innovation Zone experiences, with STEM scholarship pricing available for Title I schools.
• Whitaker on Wheels (WOW) Mobile STEM programming that brings science experiences directly to classrooms and community spaces throughout Central Pennsylvania, including mobile field trips and drop-in events for schools and community organizations.
• Surgery Live! Educational program in which students watch live surgery streamed directly into the Science Center, providing real-world STEM experiences through medical procedures for school audiences.
• Girls in STEAM Workshops for girls in grades 3-8 connecting STEAM activities to real-world applications through design, programming, coding, engineering, and related disciplines, with discounted Science Center tickets offered.
• Girls Who Code Sisterhood of STEM program teaching computer science concepts including programming, problem-solving, and planning to participants.
• Tech Explorers Two-hour workshops for students in grades 3-8 exploring technology topics including code secrets, PC assembly, Minecraft game design, and AI ethics, held in the PNC Innovation Zone.
• Lab Explorers Immersive STEAM experience for students in grades 3-8 through hands-on challenges involving constructing prototypes, analyzing data, and solving problems.
• LEGO Spike Robotics Robotics workshops using LEGO Education SPIKE for students to build and program robots, introducing robotics concepts through hands-on exploration and creative problem-solving.
• Scout Sundays at Whitaker Hands-on Scout Workshops for Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Cub Scouts designed to help participants earn badges while exploring science, technology, engineering, and related topics through robotics, coding, and engineering challenges.
• Little Learners Weekly Wednesday morning program for children ages 3-5 focusing on science process skills through experiments, reading, exploration, singing, and creation activities.
• Tiny Tots Weekly program for toddlers (ages 2 and under) encouraging early science exploration through song, movement, art, and sensory explorations in a developmentally appropriate environment.
• Junior Labsters Monthly Saturday program for grades K-2 where young learners and their grown-ups team up for STEAM challenges through hands-on art and science activities.
• Sensory Saturdays Program with adjusted exhibit lights and sound effects, additional hands-on activities, and quiet spaces to provide a safe, welcoming environment for visitors with sensory needs.
• Birthday Parties Private party packages available in the Science Center for children of all ages, providing a venue-based birthday experience.
• Sloth Encounters Member-exclusive guided 30-minute encounters with sloths designed for small groups (up to 6 per group), providing an up-close experience with support from the Whitaker Center Animal Care Team.
• STEM Scholarships Financial support program helping Title I schools bring students to the Science Center, Digital Cinema, and signature programs at reduced rates, including discounted field trips and Surgery Live! access.
• Live Concerts and Theatrical Shows Ticketed live entertainment events at the Sunoco Performance Theater featuring concerts, theatrical performances, comedy shows, and family entertainment with tiered pricing by seating location.

Quantifiable outcome

• Most memberships pay for themselves in just two visits
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• UPMCflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerUPMC serves as the naming sponsor of the UPMC Science Center (formerly Harsco Science Center). This flagship partnership supports science center exhibits and programming, positioning UPMC as a community health partner while providing Whitaker Center with significant corporate backing.
• Select MedicalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSelect Medical is the naming sponsor of the Select Medical Digital Cinema (formerly IMAX Theater). The partnership brings educational documentaries to life on the largest screen in Central PA.
• PNCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPNC serves as the naming sponsor of the PNC Innovation Zone, featuring purposeful gaming, technology experiences, and the first-of-its-kind Purposeful Gaming Studio. Opened in 2022.
• SunococoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSunoco is the naming sponsor of the Sunoco Performance Theater, the 700-seat Broadway-designed venue hosting live shows and concerts.
• Capital Blue CrosscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCapital Blue Cross sponsors the Carnival of Health exhibit gallery and serves as a Celebration Sponsor at the Art of Science annual benefit.
• Penn National InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPenn National Insurance sponsors the Little Learners program for children ages 3-5.
• Little Ray's Nature CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLittle Ray's Nature Center produces the Under The Canopy traveling exhibit featuring rainforest animals and live plants, running June 13 - August 31, 2026.
• Hilton HarrisburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected to Whitaker Center via internal bridge on Arcade Level, providing convenience for overnight guests attending events.
• Strawberry SquareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccessible directly from Whitaker Center via enclosed walking bridge on Arcade Level, offering shopping and dining for visitors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh-based science center combining interactive STEM exhibits, a large-format theater, and educational programming for schools and families. Closest multi-venue science-center operating model to Whitaker Center within Pennsylvania.
• The Franklin Institute: Pennsylvania-based science museum and educational institution operating permanent and traveling exhibits plus an IMAX-style theater. Most directly comparable science-museum peer in the same state, with a similar mix of exhibit-based education, IMAX cinema, and school programming.
• Liberty Science Center: Jersey City nonprofit science center with interactive exhibits, large-format theater, and K-12 STEM programs. Comparable regional destination with similar mix of education, theater, and corporate sponsorship model.
• COSI (Center of Science and Industry): Columbus, Ohio science museum and IMAX theater with extensive K-12 field trip, camp, and outreach programming. Closely mirrors Whitaker Center's mix of STEAM education, IMAX-style cinema, and traveling exhibits.
• Maryland Science Center: Baltimore nonprofit science center with permanent and traveling exhibits, an IMAX theater, and K-12 educational programming. Operates a comparable destination model combining hands-on science exhibits with a large-format cinema.

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based nonprofit combining permanent and traveling science exhibits, IMAX theaters, and learning programs. Larger and more established destination-science-center model analogous to Whitaker Center's positioning.

Regional players

• Hershey Theatre: Central Pennsylvania performing arts venue hosting concerts, comedy, and Broadway-style shows within Harrisburg-area drive time. Overlaps with Whitaker's Performance Theater for live entertainment audiences.
• Da Vinci Science Center: Lancaster, PA science center with hands-on STEM exhibits and K-12 programming. Overlaps with Whitaker's catchment area in south-central Pennsylvania but at smaller scale.

Emerging players

• Adventure Aquarium: New Jersey-based aquarium offering animal encounters and educational programming similar to Whitaker's Sloth Encounters and live animal exhibits. Comparable family-facing educational attraction model.
• Children's Museum of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh nonprofit children's museum focused on hands-on learning, maker spaces, and family programming. Shares Whitaker's STEAM and interactive-exhibit approach but targets younger children more exclusively.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WhitakerCenterHbg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/whitaker-center-for-science-and-the-arts
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitakercenter
• Xx.com/whitakercenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles27 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 Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts