alys stephens performing arts center

What alys stephens performing arts center does

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, legally the UAB Center for the Arts, is a non-profit performing arts venue operated as a division of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Division of Student Affairs. Founded in 1996 and preparing to mark its 30th anniversary in 2026, the center serves as Birmingham's primary presenting house for touring music, dance, comedy, and family programming, alongside on-site visual arts and arts education offerings. The facility is anchored by the 1,330-seat Jemison Concert Hall and a recital hall, with supporting spaces including the AEIVA gallery and ArtPlay education studios.

Its programmatic structure comprises four arms: ASC (Alabama Symphony Collaborations), AEIVA (visual arts exhibitions and programming), ArtPlay (arts education for children, families, and schools), and AIM/Artist in Motion (corporate and organizational wellness programming). It operates formal co-presentation and resident partnerships with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Opera Birmingham, Red Mountain Theatre, and Desert Island Supply School, and integrates with UAB Arts in Medicine and healthcare sponsors such as VIVA Health. The center runs on the Tessitura ticketing and CRM platform for ticketing, memberships, and donor management.

The business model combines consumer ticketing (priced $15–$199 depending on presentation), membership subscriptions, private venue rentals (weddings, corporate events, galas), individual and corporate donations/fundraising, sponsorships, and facility services revenue, with an implicit operating subsidy from UAB. The audience is diversified across the general Birmingham consumer market, the UAB student/staff community, K-12 education participants, healthcare and corporate clients served through AIM, and arts patrons engaged with resident partner organizations.

Name

alys stephens performing arts center

Legal name

UAB Center for the Arts

Website

https://alysstephens.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center is UAB's non-profit presenting venue in Birmingham, Alabama, operating four programmatic arms (ASC performances, AEIVA visual arts, ArtPlay education, AIM corporate wellness) to serve general audiences, the UAB community, and partner arts organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Concert Halls & Music Venue Operations (Symphony Halls, Recital Venues) (MPAGALAC), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Event Operations & Venue Services (Box Office, FOH/BOH, Concessions) (MPAIAFAL), Theater & Performing Arts Ticketing (HSACALAC), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live entertainment events
• Arts education programming
• Venue rental services
• Community arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to performances, concerts, exhibitions, and events across the Alys Stephens Center, AEIVA, and partner venues.
2. Venue Rentals: The center serves as a state-of-the-art venue for live music, dance, theater, comedy and family entertainment. Dozens of community arts organizations host events and performances at the center each season. Circle Club members and corporate sponsors can host private events in lobbies and entertainment spaces.
3. Memberships: Arts membership program offering exclusive benefits including members-only events, pre-show receptions, priority access, special ticket discounts, and invitations to events like AIM After Hours and ArtPlay After Hours.
4. Donations and Fundraising: The 2026 VIVA Health Gala and other fundraising events support year-round programs for the Birmingham community. Net proceeds from events directly support programming.
5. Facility Services: UAB employees receive $15 off up to two tickets to select performances. Additional revenue from facility-related services and fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center hosts ticketed live performances across music, dance, theater, comedy, and family entertainment within multiple halls, including Jemison Concert Hall, Morris K. Sirote Theatre, and Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall. It operates as part of the UAB Center for the Arts, which also encompasses the AEIVA visual arts institute, ArtPlay community arts education, and UAB Arts in Medicine (AIM). The center sells tickets directly to the public, rents its venues to community arts organizations and corporate/private clients, and runs an annual arts membership program with exclusive events and benefits.

Product overview

UAB Center for the Arts is a multi-venue performing arts complex that operates as a unified platform comprising four distinct organizations: the Alys Stephens Center (ASC) as the main performance venue, the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA) for visual exhibitions, ArtPlay Community Art Education for educational programming, and UAB Arts in Medicine (AIM) for arts in healthcare. The center offers ticketing services through Tessitura, venue rentals, and manages multiple performance spaces including Jemison Concert Hall, Morris K. Sirote Theatre, and Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall. Programming spans orchestral performances, Broadway shows, visual art exhibitions, community education classes, and arts wellness initiatives serving the Birmingham campus and broader community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AEIVA (Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts): Visual arts institute presenting exhibitions and programs
• ArtPlay
• AIM (Arts in Medicine)
• Vocabby

Products and services

• UAB Alys Stephens Center (ASC) The primary performing arts venue hosting live music, dance, theater, comedy, and family entertainment performances across multiple halls including Jemison Concert Hall and Morris K. Sirote Theatre, with ticketing sold directly to individual consumers and the public.
• Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA)

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alabama Symphony Orchestra (ASO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASO is a primary presenting partner, performing regularly at the Alys Stephens Center. The partnership includes Masterworks Series, Coffee Concerts, SuperPops!, and seasonal programming featuring the orchestra in Jemison Hall.
• UAB Department of Music (DOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOM is a key presenting partner, with student ensembles and faculty performances showcased at the center. Programs include Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Piano Series.
• UAB Department of Art and Art History (DAAH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on exhibitions, educational programming, and student opportunities at AEIVA and through ArtPlay.
• UAB Department of Theatre (DOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOT partners on theatrical productions and student development opportunities, including symposiums like ArtPlay NextGen.
• Opera BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlabama's largest professional opera company, presenting productions at the center. The company has entertained audiences for over 65 years and produces world-class operatic performances.
• Birmingham ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience Night at AEIVA partnership bringing together science and art in an engaging series exploring themes from Erin Jane Nelson's exhibition with hands-on activities.
• McWane Science CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of Vocabby's World, a free community vocabulary program for pre-K learners that began in 2016, using arts and science integration through the adventures of Vocabby.
• The Kirklin ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partnership where UAB Arts in Medicine presents Young Concert Artists performances in The Kirklin Clinic Atrium, bringing extraordinary emerging artists into healthcare settings.
• Young Concert ArtistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYCA on Tour program brings internationally acclaimed emerging artists (like Hanzhi Wang and Anthony Trionfo) to perform at the center and in healthcare settings.
• Helen (catering)minorOthersAward-winning catering team providing dinner service for gala events at AEIVA galleries.
• Children's of Alabama HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner where UAB Arts in Medicine art therapist Valerie Hanks serves pediatric patients and families through art therapy services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech: University-affiliated performing arts center at Virginia Tech featuring multiple venues, presenting programming across music, theater, and dance with educational integration. Closely mirrors the ASC's university-anchored, multi-disciplinary presenting model and student engagement strategy.
• Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (University of Maryland): University of Maryland's multi-venue presenting center hosting music, dance, and theater with strong academic partnerships. Comparable as a public-university performing arts presenter with similar venue mix and educational mission.
• Blumenthal Performing Arts (Charlotte, NC): Regional multi-venue performing arts center operating Belk Theater, Booth Playhouse, and McGlohon Theatre in Charlotte. Directly comparable in scale, presenting model, and Southeast US regional positioning to ASC.
• Tennessee Performing Arts Center (Nashville): State-supported multi-venue performing arts center in Nashville presenting Broadway, music, dance, and family programming. Comparable in scale, venue diversity, and state-affiliated governance structure.
• Woodruff Arts Center (Atlanta): Multi-organization arts campus in Atlanta combining a symphony orchestra, museum, and performing arts venues under one umbrella. Directly comparable to UAB Center for the Arts' multi-organization (ASC/AEIVA/ArtPlay/AIM) structure.
• Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Costa Mesa, CA): Regional presenting center featuring Segerstrom Hall, Samueli Theater, and Argyros Plaza with Broadway, music, and dance programming. Comparable in venue mix, presenting breadth, and institutional sponsorship model.
• New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC): One of the largest performing arts centers in the US, operated as a non-profit presenting music, dance, theater, and family programming with extensive community education. Comparable in presenting model, non-profit status, and educational outreach focus.
• Meany Center for the Performing Arts (University of Washington): University of Washington's presenting venue for world-class dance, music, and theater. Comparable as a public-university-affiliated presenter with similar academic programming integration and presenting (rather than producing) model.

Broad incumbents

• Kennedy Center (Washington, DC): National Performing Arts Center with multiple venues presenting music, theater, dance, and opera on a much larger scale. Comparable as a multi-venue, multi-discipline presenting organization with educational programming, though operating at far greater scale and scope than ASC.

Others

• Tessitura Network: Industry consortium and ticketing/CRM software provider serving performing arts centers including ASC (which uses Tessitura-powered my.alysstephens.org). Adjacent technology ecosystem partner relevant to ASC's ticketing operations rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uabarts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@uabcenterforthearts
• Facebookfacebook.com/ASCbham
• Instagraminstagram.com/ascbham

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 alys stephens performing arts center