Firehouse Center for the Arts

Firehouse Center for the Arts

Firehouse Center for the Arts | Intimate Performance Venue & Gallery | Newburyport, MA

About Us

The Firehouse Center for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit performing arts venue in Newburyport, Massachusetts, established in 1991 in a historic building that has served the North Shore community for over 200 years. Originally a Lyceum serving as a focal point of cultural and intellectual thought, then later a firehouse protecting city residents, the building was reinvigorated as a cultural hub celebrating artistic expression and passion in the performing arts. We deliver Boston-quality performances within an intimate 191-seat venue, creating unexpectedly big experiences at accessible prices. Our mission is to enrich and entertain all segments of the Greater Newburyport region by providing high-quality visual and performing arts experiences that are integral to community health and well-being.

Our Programming

We present over 170 diverse performances each season, welcoming 25,000+ patrons annually to experience world-class entertainment in an intimate, historic setting that enhances every performance.

Core Offerings

• Professional Theatrical Productions
• Classical, Jazz, Folk, World & Pop Music Concerts
• Stand-Up Comedy Shows
• Visual Arts Gallery Exhibitions

Specialty Services/Features

Our unique combination of historic intimacy, professional quality, and community accessibility creates transformative experiences that connect audiences to powerful stories and exceptional artistry.

Key Features

• Historic Intimate Venue: 191-seat theater housed in 200-year-old building creates an unexpectedly powerful connection between performers and audiences
• Boston-Quality at Small-Town Prices: Professional productions featuring talent from summer stock repertory theaters and New York theatre scene
• Accessibility Commitment: Card to Culture program participant offering 50% discounts for EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders
• Year-Round Programming: Over 170 performances annually across multiple genres and styles

Theatre & Performance

We collaborate with leading theatrical programs and partners to bring top-tier actors, directors, and designers together, creating world-class productions on an iconic stage that holds 200 years of stories.

Performance Highlights

• Professional Theater: Collaborations with regional summer stock companies and New York theatre professionals
• Diverse Musical Acts: Regional and national talent spanning classical, jazz, folk, world, and pop genres featuring both emerging and legendary artists
• Top Comedy Acts: Outstanding stand-up comedy from performers touring locally and nationally
• Intimate Experience: The shared, collective feeling of live performance in close proximity creates powerful, memorable connections

Visual Arts & Education

We serve as both an art gallery and incubator for the performing arts, showcasing regional artists and cultivating artistic experiences through education programs serving the community.

Additional Programs

• Monthly Art Exhibitions: Year-round rotating gallery featuring top regional artists with opening receptions to meet creators
• Arts Education: Programming serving 5,000 community members ages 3-17 and 55+, rooted in the belief that talent exists at every age and background
• Community Impact: Fostering creativity, self-expression, and lifelong passions through accessible arts education
• Artist Development: Supporting and showcasing emerging and established artists across multiple disciplines

Contact

Location

1 Market Square Newburyport, MA 01950

Information

• Box Office: (978) 462-7336
• Email: emma@firehouse.org
• Website: www.firehouse.org
• Instagram: @firehousecenter
• Facebook: @FirehouseCenterForTheArts
• Member benefits and discount programs available

The fiery heart of the North Shore – Come and catch fire at the Firehouse.

Delivering genuine, uplifting experiences that transform audiences and provide an essential sense of community and connectedness. When we pick up on a potent feeling in a space, we catch fire—we feel alive, inspired, moved, and in touch with our humanity.