The Centre has acted as a bridge between the University and the wider community, a place for creative exchange between artists, audiences, and academia. We offer creative and cultural opportunities for the people of Lincoln and further afield, empowering communities to flourish by maximising participation in the cultural life of our city.

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre’s £5.9m construction was funded by University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire County Council, City of Lincoln Council, Lincolnshire Enterprise, East Midlands Development Agency, The European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England.

Construction was completed in December 2007 and opened on 20 January 2008.

Since 2008, the building has been home to the Lincoln School of Creative Arts and has seen a multitude of artists, genres, experiences, and students walk through its doors. Growing and building upon itself to become a hub for students, staff and community members alike throughout its time.

In 2022, the organisation underwent a major review, which resulted in the Future Arts Centre project. A public project seeking to co-create a vision for the organisation that was fit for a post-pandemic world. Over 260 people took part, either in workshops online, in person or through our Future Arts Centre questionnaire. This project continue to be an active research project, which has informed and shaped our business plan 2023-26.

In 2023 Lincoln Performing Arts Centre relaunched as Lincoln Arts Centre, a multi-disciplinary public arts centre with a focus on contemporary practice in the visual and performing arts that prioritises talent development, innovation and research. In the same year Lincoln Arts Centre joined Arts Council England’s National Portfolio and now commissions and produces shows with professional companies and provides learning opportunities through various participation programmes, as well as hosting presented work, community hires and work fresh from University of Lincoln.