About The Lensic

Mission Statement

The nonprofit Lensic Performing Arts Center enriches lives by bringing diverse art and people together in the historic Lensic Theater, a cornerstone of downtown Santa Fe since 1931. The Lensic presents and supports local and national artists and serves as a center for education, community and youth events through its accessible and affordable programming.

Vision

It's all at The Lensic - arts, outreach, a sense of community - and its historic environment offers a magical experience, now and for future generations. We will fulfill our mission as a 21st century model for a performing arts center and contribute to maintaining Santa Fe's international presence as UNESCO's first U.S. designated "World Creative City."

History

The Lensic is a performing arts center located in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. It opened in 1931 as a movie and vaudeville theater, operating for 69 years before closing in 2000. The non-profit Lensic Performing Arts Center re-opened in April 2001, following an ambitious renovation funded by a capital campaign that raised $9 million. The twelve-month renovation restored the theater’s period architectural splendor and substantially increased its technical capabilities. The Lensic is now a world-class, state-of-the-art, 821-seat performance venue and has quickly emerged as one of New Mexico’s ‘treasures.’ It is a fine example of the power of community collaboration and commitment and serves as a vibrant cultural catalyst for Santa Fe and beyond, along with being a significant resource for New Mexico.