Live at LICA, Lancaster University

What Live at LICA, Lancaster University does

Live at LICA (Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts) is the contemporary arts programme of Lancaster University, formed through the merger of the Nuffield Theatre, the Lancaster International Concert Series, and the Peter Scott Gallery. It operates one of the largest professional studio theatres in Europe (the Nuffield Theatre, 220 seats, 25-metre stage width) alongside an MLA-accredited museum and gallery (Peter Scott Gallery) housing the most significant collection of Royal Lancastrian ceramics in Britain, plus Japanese, Chinese, antiquities, and twentieth-century British art. The organization presents up to 30 visiting professional shows per year from UK and international contemporary theatre, dance, and live art companies, and runs rotating exhibitions, a term-time classical concert series, artist development programmes (residencies, micro-bursaries, summer schools), and educational workshops for university students, schools, and the general public across Lancashire and the wider North West.

The underlying technology footprint is conventional for a regional arts venue: a public website (liveatlica.org) integrated with the Patronbase online ticketing platform, standard social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr), email/newsletter marketing through the Patronbase mailing list, and in-venue theatre technology (lighting, sound, projection). The organization generates revenue from two principal streams: transactional ticket sales (with tiered pricing including student, Under 26 Supporters, group, and Pic n Mix multi-event bundle discounts) and recurring public funding, principally Arts Council England Regularly Funded Organisation grants, Lancaster University institutional support, and project-specific grants from bodies such as Museum Development North West, Nesta, and Arts Council England. The go-to-market model is event-driven, relying on programmed performances and exhibitions to attract attendees through a mix of digital channels, university communications, and a network of regional arts partnerships.

The customer base is broad and horizontally segmented: general public and arts audiences, Lancaster University students, schools and educational groups, and emerging/professional artists. There is no disclosed revenue, headcount is small (approximately nine named staff), and the organization is wholly owned by Lancaster University with no external investors. Strategic positioning is reinforced by Arts Council England RFO status, museum accreditation, and a dense partnership ecosystem spanning the North West, supporting both curatorial standing and funding eligibility.

Name

Live at LICA, Lancaster University

Legal name

Live at LICA

Website

https://liveatlica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Live at LICA is Lancaster University's contemporary arts programme, operating the Nuffield Theatre, Peter Scott Gallery, and Lancaster International Concert Series to present professional theatre, dance, exhibitions, and artist development for the campus, Lancaster city, and the wider Lancashire region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venues

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Museums (71211), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGALAB

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Event Venues & Venue Operations (Arenas, Theaters, Halls)

SECONDARYMPAGABAM

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

SECONDARYMPAGALAC

Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Event Venues & Venue Operations (Arenas, Theaters, Halls)

SECONDARYMPAGABAI

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Theater, Broadway & Performing Arts

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Contemporary art gallery
• Live theatre programming
• Classical concert series
• Artist development programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue is generated through the sale of tickets for performances, concerts, and exhibitions at the Nuffield Theatre, Peter Scott Gallery, and Great Hall. Ticketing is managed through the Patronbase platform with various pricing tiers including standard, concession, and student rates.
2. Public Funding and Grants: Live at LICA receives core funding from Arts Council England and Lancaster University. Additional project-specific funding is secured from organisations such as Museum Development North West, Nesta, and Arts Council England for specific initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Live at LICA operates a multi-venue contemporary arts programme through the Nuffield Theatre (professional black-box studio venue for theatre, dance, and live art), the Peter Scott Gallery (accredited museum housing significant permanent art collections), and the Lancaster International Concert Series (classical music performances). The organisation sells tickets for performances and exhibitions, and delivers artist development, community engagement, and educational programmes to students and the public.

Product overview

Live at LICA (Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts) is a unified arts organization that operates multiple cultural venues and programmes. The core offerings include the Nuffield Theatre (professional black-box studio venue), Peter Scott Gallery (accredited museum and exhibition space), Lancaster International Concert Series (classical music performances), and the LICA Building/Great Hall (additional venues). Together, these provide contemporary arts events, performances, exhibitions, and educational programmes for students and the public across Lancaster University campus and Lancashire region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nuffield Theatre: One of the largest professional studio theatres in Europe, presenting experimental theatre, contemporary dance and live art.
• Peter Scott Gallery
• Lancaster International Concerts Series

Products and services

• Nuffield Theatre Lancaster's professional black-box studio theatre, one of the largest in Europe, presenting and commissioning experimental theatre, contemporary dance and live art. Features up to 220 seats and an adaptable 25-metre stage width.
• Peter Scott Gallery Accredited museum presenting temporary exhibitions and housing Lancaster University's international art collection including the most significant collection of Royal Lancastrian ceramics in Britain, alongside Japanese, Chinese, antiquities, and twentieth-century British and European art.
• Lancaster International Concert Series Classical music programme presented during Autumn and Spring terms in the Great Hall, featuring professional concert performances.
• LICA Building Performance studios and creative spaces utilised for workshops, summer schools, and student activities as part of Live at LICA's contemporary arts programme.
• Great Hall Historic concert hall used for the Lancaster International Concert Series classical music programme and major events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Presents up to 30 visiting professional shows annually from UK and international companies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arts Council EnglandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts Council England provides regular funding to Live at LICA as a Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO). The organisation is also supported through specific project grants for initiatives such as the symposium 'Getting It Out There' and various artist development programmes.
• Lancaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive at LICA is part of Lancaster University and receives institutional support, funding, and infrastructure from the university. The university provides venue spaces (Great Hall complex) and administrative infrastructure.
• Lancaster Arts PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive at LICA is part of the Lancaster Arts Partnership, a collaboration of arts venues working together to bring arts programming to the region.
• Public Catalogue Foundation (PCF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeter Scott Gallery is a Founder Partner in the Your Art Partnership with PCF and BBC, working to make the gallery's art collection accessible online and showcase art to UK audiences.
• Museum Development North West (MDNW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive at LICA partnered with MDNW on a sustainability project testing image licencing as an income generator for the Peter Scott Gallery collection, producing a toolkit for other museums.
• Turn Partnership (hÅb, Contact Manchester, Dance Initiative Greater Manchester)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurn is a co-production and legacy project between hÅb, Contact Theatre Manchester, Dance Initiative Greater Manchester, and Live at LICA - an open submission dance platform for North West dancers and dance-makers.
• hÅb (Manchester)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-producer of the 'Getting It Out There' symposium exploring the future of touring for contemporary theatre and Live Art, with Live Art UK as associated partner.
• Interactions Programme Partners (Yorkshire Dance, The Bluecoat, Theatre in the Mill, Point Blank, Hope Street, hÅb)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLive at LICA is a partner in the Interactions artist development programme exploring socially engaged performance practice, alongside Yorkshire Dance (Leeds), The Bluecoat (Liverpool), Theatre in the Mill (Bradford), Point Blank (Sheffield), Hope Street (Liverpool), and hÅb (Manchester).
• Live Art Development Agency (LADA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIY is a Live Art Development Agency initiative. Live at LICA has been a North West partner for DIY professional development projects since 2007, hosting projects such as DIY 11 (2014) and DIY 12 (2015).
• The Dukes (Lancaster)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal arts partner venue in Lancaster. Live at LICA co-promotes events and collaborates on programming such as the 'Horizontal Collaboration' production at The Dukes.
• LitFest (Lancaster)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLancaster literature festival partner. Collaborated on the Museum of Water literature competition.
• Ludus DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance development organisation partnered with Live at LICA for Dance Cuts 2013, a public showcase of new dance works alongside professional workshops and panel discussions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/liveatlica
• Facebookfacebook.com/liveatlica
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/live-at-lica-lancaster-university

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Live at LICA, Lancaster University