Usine à Gaz

What Usine à Gaz does

Usine à Gaz is a Swiss non-profit cultural association (Association Usine à Gaz) operating a multi-disciplinary performing arts venue in Nyon, Canton Vaud. Founded in 1994 and inaugurated in February 1995 after a citizen movement saved the 1864 industrial gas factory from demolition, the venue celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025. It serves a broad public audience spanning children aged 4 through adults aged 104, with programming in concerts, theater, dance, circus, and family/youth productions running from September to June each season. The facility comprises two performance halls — Salle 1 (a historic concert hall with 450 standing or 150-170 seated capacity) and Salle 2 (a new 207-seat modular theater with a 14m × 15m stage delivered in 2021) — plus a 92m² studio/rehearsal space, two foyers, two bars, and an 8-person artist apartment. The 2021 expansion quadrupled the venue's surface area and is operated with a small core staff (1-10 FTE) supported by 50+ active volunteers and an elected association committee.

The venue monetizes programming through five revenue streams: ticket sales (CHF 20-35 normal, CHF 15-25 reduced, CHF 15 for under-26) via its own box office, the Smeetz online platform, Petzi.ch, and Migros Change points of sale; annual memberships and subscriptions (CHF 75-150 active/supporting, plus Pass UàG Illimité at CHF 300, Pass 10 Entrées, Pass Famille, and the CHF 100 ABÔ youth cross-venue pass covering three regional theaters); venue rental of all spaces for corporate events, AGMs, and team-building; corporate sponsorship via the tiered Club Partenaires (CHF 1,000-2,000+); and on-site bar/catering. Public funding from Ville de Nyon, Région de Nyon, Canton de Vaud (DFJC), Loterie Romande, and Interreg/FEDER (via the ACT transborder project) underpins the operating model.

The venue is deeply embedded in a regional and transborder cultural ecosystem. It co-leads the Côte à Côte network with Casino Théâtre de Rolle and Théâtre de Grand-Champ, and participates in the ACT cooperative with five French and Swiss partner theaters (Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse, Scène Nationale du Jura, Théâtre Am Stram Gram, Château Rouge). Additional partnerships span La Bâtie – Festival de Genève, Antigel, RESO – Réseau Danse Suisse, FCMA, JazzContreBand, Transhelvetiq, and Les Hivernales. Marketing is conducted through newsletter, Instagram, TikTok, local press (RTS, Le Temps, La Côte, Nyon Région Télévision), and partner distribution networks. Technology stack is limited to standard venue infrastructure (lighting, sound, IT) with Smeetz as the primary ticketing platform; no AI, app, or proprietary software product exists.

Name

Usine à Gaz

Legal name

Association Usine à Gaz

Website

https://usineagaz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Usine à Gaz is a Swiss non-profit cultural association operating a multi-disciplinary performing arts venue in Nyon, Switzerland, with two performance halls offering concerts, theater, dance, circus, and family programming for a broad regional audience across the Lake Geneva corridor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live music concerts
• Theater performances
• Cultural event hosting
• Arts association management

Headquarters

HQ city

Nyon

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales across all performances. Multiple pricing tiers: Normal (TN), Reduced (TR) for students/AVS/AI/job seekers, and Special (TS) for under-26 and cultural professionals.
2. Membership and Subscriptions: Annual membership fees (CHF 75 regular, CHF 40 reduced). Season subscriptions: Pass UàG Illimité (CHF 300/200), Pass 10 Entrées (CHF 260/190), Family Pass 10 Entrées (CHF 130), and ABÔ cross-venue subscription for 18-30 year olds (CHF 100).
3. Venue Rental: Spaces available for rental including Salle 0 (50 people), Salle 1 (200 standing/160 seated), Salle 2 (207 seats), Foyer 1 (80), Foyer 2 (250), Bar 2, Studio (92m2, 100 pers.), and apartment (4 rooms, 8 pers.) for private or professional events.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Club Partenaires program with two tiers: CHF 1,000+ (15 invitations + branding) and CHF 2,000+ (30 invitations + premium benefits). Custom corporate event packages available.
5. Bar and Catering: On-site bar and catering service during performances. Homemade food offerings including savory tarts (CHF 6), soup (CHF 5), cheese plates (CHF 11), and desserts (CHF 5).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Usine à Gaz is a non-profit cultural association that operates a performing arts venue in Nyon, Switzerland, founded in 1994. It hosts a year-round program of concerts, theater, dance, circus, and family shows across two performance halls — Salle 1 (450 standing / 170 seated) and Salle 2 (207 seated) — and supplements programming with venue rental, corporate partnerships, bar/catering services, and member subscriptions.

Product overview

Usine à Gaz is a multi-disciplinary cultural venue in Nyon, Switzerland, operating as a single unified venue rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. It offers a broad portfolio of live performing arts programming (concerts, theater, dance, circus, and children's performances) from September to June, managed through several distinct physical spaces — primarily Salle 1 (historic concert hall, 450 standing/150–170 seated), Salle 2 (new performance hall, 207 seats, modulable to 153), and a Studio (92m² rehearsal/representation space). Complementary offerings include on-site bar and restaurant services in the Foyer, venue rental across all spaces including an artist apartment, and subscription/gift-voucher products (Pass UÀG Illimité, Pass 10 Entrées, Pass Famille, L'ABÔ). The venue does not offer a software or digital product; all offerings are live, in-person cultural events and associated hospitality/rental services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Concert Programming Year-round live music concerts (rock, jazz, world, classical, etc.) programmed and presented by Usine à Gaz at its Nyon venue for general audiences.
• Theater & Dance Performances Scheduled seasons of theater and contemporary dance productions staged at the venue for adult and family audiences.
• Circus Performances Contemporary circus shows presented at the venue as part of its performing arts season.
• Family Shows Family-oriented performances scheduled for younger audiences and parents during the venue's seasonal program.
• Venue Rental (Salle 1 & Salle 2) Rental of the two performance halls — Salle 1 (450 standing / 170 seated) and Salle 2 (207 seated) — to external event organizers, producers, and companies for their own events.
• Bar & Catering Services On-site bar and catering offered to venue visitors during performances and private events.
• Membership / Subscription Program Membership or subscription scheme offered to supporters of the association, typically providing benefits such as priority booking or reduced ticket prices in exchange for an annual fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiplied venue surface by 4x following 2021 renovation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ville de NyoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2026Primary public authority partner and property owner. Manages and animates the venue through association model. Supports with annual funding and infrastructure.
• Canton de VaudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCantonal government support through DFJC and Office fédéral de la Culture. Part of Côte à Côte transformation project support.
• Loterie RomandecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor season supporter providing lottery funding for cultural programming and productions.
• Service Culturel Migros GenèvemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter of selected productions (e.g., Justices with Clément Papachristou). Supports cultural programming and accessibility.
• La Bâtie – Festival de GenèvemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation of productions including Trilogie J.C., Céline & Pedro by Juliette Navis. Cross-promotion of pluridisciplinary discoveries.
• RESO – Réseau Danse SuissemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational dance network strengthening positioning of dance as artistic discipline. Coproduction fund for Swiss works and touring support.
• AntigelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival partner for decentralizing culture to Geneva municipalities. Co-presenter of Pour Britney by Sarah Calcine.
• Les HivernalesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic festival bringing together 200+ volunteers over 4 days in winter. Promotes musical discovery with social and environmental approach.
• JazzContreBandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-border jazz festival circulating artists between France and Switzerland along the border.
• FCMA – Fondation Romande pour la Chanson et les Musiques ActuellesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation supporting and promoting current music in Romandy and internationally through various artist development programs.
• TranshelvetiqminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative bridging Romandy and German-speaking Switzerland through artist residencies and linguistic-artistic exchanges.
• Casino Théâtre de RollecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Côte à Côte network (3 theaters). Joint ABÔ subscription for 18-30 year olds and Culture Trip excursions. Supported by Canton de Vaud DFJC.
• Théâtre de Grand-Champ (Gland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Côte à Côte network. Joint ABÔ subscription and Culture Trip program for cross-venue cultural access.
• Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-BressemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of ACT (Art en Coopérative Transfrontalière) project. Transborder cooperation with 4 French and 2 Swiss partner theaters. Includes 10 artist teams in production cooperative.
• Scène Nationale du Jura (Lons-le-Saunier/Dole)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ACT transborder initiative with nomade agoras and production cooperative. Jointly develops cross-border artistic cooperation.
• Théâtre Am Stram Gram (Geneva)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational center for childhood and youth creation. Partner in ACT transborder cooperative producing 10 artist teams.
• Château Rouge (Annemasse)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScene conventionnée in Annemasse. ACT partner for nomade agoras addressing societal themes and production cooperative.
• Région de NyoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional authority providing support and funding for cultural programming in the Nyon area.
• Net-LémanminorOthersLocal sponsor supporting season programming.
• Fondation Philanthropique Famille SandozminorOthersSeason supporter providing philanthropic funding for cultural activities.
• SmeetzmajorTechnology or IntegrationPrimary ticketing and event management platform for online ticket sales, subscriptions, and gift vouchers.
• Petzi.chminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional ticketing reseller and point of sale for performances.
• MobilisminorOthersPublic transport mobility partner for audience access to venue.
• Les Transports Publics Nyonnais (TPN)minorOthersLocal bus service partner, Bus 811 stops at Usine à Gaz.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Comédie de Genève: Larger established performing arts venue in Geneva with broader programming portfolio and resources. Competes for similar regional audiences in the Lake Geneva corridor but at significantly larger scale.
• Théâtre de Vidy-Lausanne: Major Lausanne-based theater and performing arts venue presenting contemporary creation. Comparable in mission but operates at significantly larger scale and geographic catchment.

Direct peers

• Théâtre de Grand-Champ: Third member of the Côte à Côte network alongside Usine à Gaz and Casino Théâtre de Rolle. Presents theater and performing arts programming in nearby Gland with similar subscription cross-purchasing structure.
• Château Rouge: Scène conventionnée in Annemasse and ACT transborder partner. Comparable multi-disciplinary performing arts presenter and venue operator across the France-Switzerland border.
• Casino Théâtre de Rolle: Direct partner in the Côte à Côte network with Usine à Gaz, jointly running the ABÔ youth subscription. Comparable multi-disciplinary performing arts venue in the Vaud/Lake Geneva region of similar scale.
• Théâtre Am Stram Gram: Geneva-based international center for childhood and youth creation and ACT transborder partner. Comparable presenting venue with focus on young audiences and contemporary creation.
• Scène Nationale de Bourg-en-Bresse: ACT transborder cooperative partner venue presenting performing arts in the broader transborder region. Similar presenter/operator model with public subsidy dependence.

Regional players

• Le Reflet (Vevey): Performing arts venue in nearby Vevey serving Lake Geneva region audiences. Comparable multi-disciplinary presenting model with similar capacity scale.
• L'Octogone (Pully): Theater venue in Pully near Lausanne presenting theater, dance, and music. Similar size, scope, and regional audience to Usine à Gaz within the broader Vaud cultural ecosystem.

Others

• La Bâtie – Festival de Genève: Geneva-based multidisciplinary festival that co-presents productions with Usine à Gaz. Not a venue peer but a programming partner enabling artist and audience flow between organizations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/usineagaz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Usine à Gaz