City Begins Business Planning Study for Civic Center Spaces

CITY OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE:             January 16, 2026

CONTACT:     Meredith Dawson, Communications Specialist – 406-455-8496

CITY BEGINS BUSINESS PLANNING STUDY FOR CIVIC CENTER SPACES

Great Falls, Montana – The City of Great Falls has engaged TheatreDNA and Assembly Arts to conduct a facility assessment and strategic business operations review of the Civic Center’s cultural event spaces. These facilities include the Mansfield Theater, the Convention Center, the Gibson Room, and other supporting spaces. The goals of the study are to refocus the mission and operations of these venues within the Civic Center, so they can serve the community to their highest and best purpose.

“This study represents an important opportunity for the City to better understand how the event spaces in our historic Civic Center can continue to serve the evolving needs of the community. We look forward to the study’s findings and to using those insights to strengthen the management, operations, and long-term sustainability of our event spaces."

The complexity of managing the live event venues within the Civic Center has evolved over the past several decades, causing City leadership to commission a study to evaluate and recalibrate the Center’s future. The study team has already begun engaging the Great Falls community through stakeholder interviews with the Downtown Great Falls Association, Great Falls Montana Tourism Board, local arts and civic leaders, and other community organizations, along with venue tours and in-person community outreach at the Christmas Stroll and the Scheels Aim High Big Sky Aquatic and Recreation Center.

The next opportunity for community feedback will be through a short digital survey, which will focus on the residents’ experience with events held at the Civic Center as well as their entertainment and cultural preferences. The survey is online now for residents to complete and will close on Sunday, February 1st.

The results of this study will aid city leadership in their decision-making for future investments in the Civic Center and related arts and culture partnerships, meetings and tourism, events, and facility improvements. For more information about the study, residents are encouraged to contact the City of Great Falls at 406-455-8496.

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About The Project Team

The strategic business planning study is led by TheatreDNA and Assembly Arts and conducted in partnership with the City of Great Falls.

TheatreDNA is a Los Angeles-based theater consulting firm that informs and empowers owners and architects through every step of the venue planning, design, and construction process so they have the expertise to create superb performance venues. TheatreDNA principals and staff have contributed to the feasibility, design, and equipping of over 350 performing arts facilities from small studio theaters to large performing arts centers throughout the world.

Assembly Arts is a research and consulting firm that specializes in market studies, strategic business planning, and creative placemaking. Assembly Arts brings together arts institutions, cities, universities and the community to identify shared values and build community resources that enable artistic expression, municipal growth, social equity and human belonging.