About the Lensic
Santa Fe's Nonprofit Performing Arts Center
The Lensic Performing Arts Center is Santa Fe’s year-round home for the performing arts. Our mission is to enrich 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, national, and international artists and serves as a center for education, community events, and youth events through its accessible and affordable programming. The Lensic is New Mexico’s largest performing arts education provider, reaching 14,500 students annually. The Lensic also programs events throughout New Mexico as Lensic 360, including 50+ free events with the annual Santa Fe Summer Scene program.
The Lensic’s reach spread far and wide in 2025—see the Impact Report here!
2025 Impact Report
In 2025, the Lensic engaged 283,593 people through 416 events at the Lensic and throughout the region, and our education programs reached 14,500 students. Plus, over 80,000 people enjoyed free, family-friendly programs in Santa Fe through Lensic 360. We hope you’ll take a moment to read the report and see all that was made possible thanks to your support.
Read the report here.
Our Story
Santa Feans have been gathering at the Lensic since 1931, when it opened its doors as the city’s grandest movie palace and vaudeville stage. Built by local merchant Nathan Salmon and his son-in-law, E. John Greer, the “Spanish-Moorish” style theater was officially dedicated to the people of Santa Fe. After decades as a movie house, the Lensic closed briefly in the late 1990s for a multi-million-dollar renovation project, led by visionaries Nancy and Bill Zeckendorf and supported by the Santa Fe community. With its original beauty restored and state-of-the-art production capabilities added, the theater relaunched in April 2001 as the nonprofit Lensic Performing Arts Center. Today, it’s as magnificent as ever.
Who We Are
Behind the Scenes
Rent the Lensic
Technical specifications, rates, how to inquire, and other rental information.
Work at the Lensic
The Lensic offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits plan including health, vision, and dental insurance, a 401(k) program, and more.
Backstage and Technical Specs
Learn more about the Lensic’s technical capabilities and specifications.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
Diversity is part of the core fabric of the Lensic and history of our region. We serve as a center for the community that brings together people from diverse backgrounds, which includes our leadership, staff, performers, and members of our audiences. We embrace and celebrate this diversity while seeking to create an inclusive environment where all people are free to engage and enjoy a wide variety of performing arts.
Financials
The Lensic is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations to the Lensic are tax-deductible and fund the preservation of our historic building, maintenance of our state-of-the-art stage, and the growing performance, education, and community programs we offer for all.
In 2025, the Lensic received its tenth consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest charity assessment organization. Four stars (the highest possible rating) indicate that the Lensic follows best practices and executes our mission in a financially efficient way. Click here to visit our page and full evaluation on CharityNavigator.org.
Form 990s
2024 Lensic 990
2023 Lensic 990
2022 Lensic 990