How to Start Up a Performing Arts Center

Your performing arts center could help aspiring performers live their dream.

Learning how to start up a performing arts center is the first step in making your creative dreams come true. Many have aspirations to have their niche in artistic world, and launching your own creative destination is one way to accomplish this.

While it takes a lot of time, money and determination, you can start up a performing arts center in your city by following these instructions and by networking with those in your region already involved in such an endeavor.

Starting a performing arts center can be a lot of work, but is also a very rewarding process. From renting a room at a local community center to building a huge theater in the center of a major city, dreams can be realized on all levels. For this article in particular, we will focus on building a mid-sized performing arts center, which should provide classes and performance opportunities for both children and adults in a variety of creative genres.

Things You'll Need

• Business plan Team of visionaries Grant money or some other source of income Ideal location Available building space Advertising Instructors Creative team

Instructions

Getting Started With a Performing Arts Center

1. 

   Come up with a business plan. You may want to gather a small team to help you develop this, as you will not want to overlook any details. Your business plan should include the goal of the performing arts center you wish to start, what you hope to offer, how you intend to accomplish these things and a solid financial plan.

2. 

   Find a facility. Once you find one, you will want a bookkeeper to handle all money matters, a secretary or some other individual to handle phone calls and written correspondence, and a small team of people who share your vision and will contribute positive ideas whenever you meet as a group to begin development.

3. 

   Decide what to offer at your location. Would you like to be exclusively a dance academy with performances geared toward the community, or do you dream of being a multifaceted location where visual artists, musicians and actors all come together in one large celebration of the arts?

4. 

   Review legalities. Prepare any release forms instructors and students will need to sign, and do a final inspection to make sure your performing arts center is up to health and safety code standards in your city.

5. 

   Start advertising. Distribute fliers, order press releases or hold a grand opening event to get your performing arts center noticed in your local community.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to approach private businesses and organizations, asking them to be sponsors for your venue's events. Mandating parent volunteer hours can help events to run more smoothly. As your student population grows, word of mouth referrals may continue to further your client base, allowing you to add new classes.

• Opening a performing arts center carries a distinct financial risk. There is always a fair bit of liability involved with teaching students, especially minors. You may have a high turnover of students when first starting out, as everyone gets into their groove of teaching and learning.

Resources

• Performing Arts Schools Website