Project Information

Bid Title

Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC) Business Plan

Issuing Agency

City of Lawrenceville

Location

Georgia

Published Date

Mar 12, 2026

Closing Date

Mar 20, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RP004-26

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Number:	RP004-26
Bid Title:	Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC) Business Plan
Category:	Professional Services Bid Opportunities
Status:	Open

Description: The City of Lawrenceville is soliciting competitive proposals from qualified firms for the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC) Business Plan. Proposals can be returned in a sealed envelope marked on the outside with the Request for Proposal number and Company Name or submitted by email to For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. . Proposals will be received until 2:00 P.M. local time on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 70 S. Clayton Street, Main Level, Room M46A Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046. Any proposal received after this date and time will not be accepted. Proposals will be publicly opened and only names of submitting firms will be read at 2:00 P.M. Proposals are legal and binding upon the bidder when submitted. The City of Lawrenceville is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms with demonstrated expertise in arts and culture organizations, performing arts centers, and municipal or civic facilities to develop a comprehensive Business and Operations Plan for the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC). The LAC is a $35 million, multi-use arts facility featuring performance venues, exhibition space, and flexible community and rental spaces. Aurora Theatre currently serves as the anchor tenant, while the facility also supports City-led programming, partnerships, and private rentals. As the Aurora Theatre naming agreement approaches its expiration in 2028, the City seeks a forward-looking plan that balances financial sustainability, community access, and a strategic, clearly defined partnership model. The resulting Business and Operations Plan will serve as a foundational planning document to inform the City's FY 2027 budget development and longer-term policy and investment decisions. Publication Date/Time: 3/12/2026 12:00 AM Publication Information: See Invitation Attachment Closing Date/Time: 3/20/2026 2:00 PM Submittal Information: See Invitation Attached Related Documents: RP004-26 Inv

Attachment Preview

March 12, 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

RP004-26

The City of Lawrenceville is soliciting competitive proposals from qualified firms for the

Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC) Business Plan.

Proposals can be returned in a sealed envelope marked on the outside with the Request for Proposal

number and Company Name or submitted by email to purchasing@lawrencevillega.org . Proposals

will be received until 2:00 P.M. local time on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 70 S. Clayton Street, Main

Level, Room M46A Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046. Any proposal received after this date and time

will not be accepted. Proposals will be publicly opened and only names of submitting firms will be

read at 2:00 P.M. Proposals are legal and binding upon the bidder when submitted.

Questions regarding proposals should be directed to Kenneth Morris, Purchasing Director, at

purchasing@lawrencevillega.org or by calling 678-407-6420, no later than 3:00 P.M. on March 16,

2026.

Successful firm will be required to meet insurance requirements. The Insurance Company should be

authorized to do business in Georgia by the Georgia Insurance Department and must have an A.M.

Best rating of A-5 or higher.

The written proposal documents supersede any verbal or written prior communications between the

parties.

Selection criteria is outlined in the request for proposal documents. The City of Lawrenceville reserves

the right to reject any or all proposals to waive technicalities, and to make an award deemed in its best

interest.

We look forward to your proposal and appreciate your interest in the City of Lawrenceville.

Kenneth Morris

Purchasing Director

RP004-26

Page 2

Specifications for Business and Operations Plan – Lawrenceville Arts Center

Project Overview

The City of Lawrenceville is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms with demonstrated

expertise in arts and culture organizations, performing arts centers, and municipal or civic facilities to

develop a comprehensive Business and Operations Plan for the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC).

The LAC is a $35 million, multi-use arts facility featuring performance venues, exhibition space, and

flexible community and rental spaces. Aurora Theatre currently serves as the anchor tenant, while the

facility also supports City-led programming, partnerships, and private rentals. As the Aurora Theatre

naming agreement approaches its expiration in 2028, the City seeks a forward-looking plan that balances

financial sustainability, community access, and a strategic, clearly defined partnership model.

The resulting Business and Operations Plan will serve as a foundational planning document to inform the

City’s FY 2027 budget development and longer-term policy and investment decisions.

Scope of Work

1. Organizational and Operational Assessment

- Review existing LAC operations, including staffing structure, roles and responsibilities,

governance, facility scheduling and utilization, ticketing systems, concessions, technical services,

front-of-house operations, and rental practices.

- Identify operational strengths, inefficiencies, gaps, and risks.

- Evaluate alignment between City objectives, Aurora Theatre operations, and community use of

the facility.

- Facility Utilization Analysis

• The consultant shall conduct a quantitative analysis of facility utilization across all

primary performance, exhibition, and rental spaces within the Lawrenceville Arts

Center.

• The analysis shall include, at minimum:

• Review of three (3) years of event scheduling and utilization data.

• Analysis of prime-time evening utilization, weekend utilization, and

daytime utilization.

• Identification of dark days and underutilized time periods across all

major venues.

• Evaluation of event type mix, including Aurora Theatre performances,

City programming, rentals, and community uses.

• Analysis of attendance levels, ticket pricing patterns, and revenue

performance by event type where data is available.

• The consultant should evaluate how current facility utilization compares to industry

benchmarks for similar performing arts centers.

• The consultant shall provide findings that identify operational opportunities to

increase utilization, diversify programming, and optimize revenue generation within

the facility.

• Deliverables shall include a summary of utilization patterns and recommended

strategies to improve facility use and scheduling efficiency.

2. Governance and Partnership Framework

- Assess the current governance and management structure of the LAC.

- Define recommended governance models and operational roles for the City, Aurora Theatre, and

any affiliated foundation or support entity.

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Page 3

- The consultant should evaluate alternative governance and operating structures and provide

recommendations regarding roles, responsibilities, and financial implications for each model.

- Establish long-term partnership expectations and options as Aurora Theatre’s naming and

partnership agreement approaches expiration in 2028.

3. Financial and Market Analysis

- Conduct benchmarking of a minimum of five to six comparable performing arts or cultural

facilities (regional and national) of similar scale, scope, and municipal context.

- Provide demographic and market analysis for 20, 40, and 60 minute drive-time radius, including

population trends, disposable income, and leisure spending patterns.

Develop three financial scenarios (conservative, moderate, and aggressive) projecting earned and

contributed revenues, with assumptions clearly stated.

- Align expense projections with staffing levels, programming models, marketing efforts, and

facility maintenance and capital needs.

- The consultant shall develop a financial model projecting operating performance for the

Lawrenceville Arts Center under the proposed financial scenarios.

• The model shall include, at minimum:

• Projected earned revenue from ticketing, rentals, concessions, and

ancillary sources.

• Projected contributed revenue including sponsorships, donations, and

grants where applicable.

• Staffing and operational cost assumptions associated with each

scenario.

• Estimated annual operating surplus or deficit under each scenario.

• The analysis shall clearly identify the projected level of municipal operating

support required under each scenario and identify operational or programming

changes that could increase financial sustainability.

• The financial analysis shall be structured to inform future City budget planning

and policy decisions related to the facility.

4. Brand, Communications, and Market Alignment

- Review and incorporate findings from the City’s completed Branding and Communications Study

conducted by the Communications and Marketing Department.

- Evaluate how existing brand positioning, messaging, and audience insights inform LAC

programming, pricing, access, and marketing strategies.

- Assess alignment between the LAC, Aurora Theatre, and City brand identities.

- Identify opportunities where operational or programming decisions can better leverage

established brand insights and market research.

5. Revenue Development and Sustainability

- Assess current revenue streams, including sponsorships, naming rights, rentals, ticketing,

concessions, and contributed revenue.

- Identify opportunities to expand and diversify earned and contributed revenues.

- Recommend a comprehensive fundraising framework for a City-affiliated or partner foundation,

including donor cultivation strategies, staffing considerations, governance support, and policies.

- Propose market-appropriate messaging, donor recognition strategies, and giving levels tailored to

the Lawrenceville market.

-

6. Stakeholder Engagement

- The consultant shall conduct targeted stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the

Business and Operations Plan for the Lawrenceville Arts Center.

- Engagement activities should focus on gathering operational, financial, and partnership insights

necessary to support the analysis required in this project. The engagement process should be

RP004-26

Page 4

efficient and structured to support the development of actionable recommendations.

- The consultant shall develop an engagement plan early in the project and coordinate all

engagement activities with the City’s designated project manager.

- At a minimum, stakeholder engagement shall include the following:

o Operational Stakeholders: The consultant shall conduct interviews or small group

discussions with key operational stakeholders involved in the current use and

management of the Lawrenceville Arts Center. These stakeholders may include:

 Aurora Theatre leadership and operational staff

 City staff responsible for facility operations and programming

 Technical and front-of-house operations staff

 Individuals responsible for scheduling, rentals, and event management

 These discussions should focus on understanding current operating practices,

facility utilization, scheduling constraints, and operational challenges.

o Arts and Cultural Partners: The consultant may engage local or regional arts

organizations and cultural partners to identify opportunities for collaboration, expanded

programming, and potential facility use.

 Engagement with these organizations should focus on understanding current or

potential use of the facility and identifying opportunities to support broader

cultural participation.

o Sponsors, Donors, and Community Partners: Where appropriate, the consultant may

conduct a limited number of discussions with philanthropic partners, sponsors, or

community leaders familiar with arts and cultural programming in the Lawrenceville

area to inform revenue development and partnership strategies.

o Engagement Deliverable

 The consultant shall summarize stakeholder input and identify key themes,

opportunities, and concerns raised through the engagement process.

 These findings shall be incorporated into the operational assessment, financial

modeling, and final recommendations included in the Business and Operations

Plan.

 The consultant is not expected to conduct a large-scale public engagement

process, as the City has previously completed a branding and communications

study that included broader community input.

- All deliverables must inform the FY 2028 budget process.

Proposal Requirements

Section 1 – Relevant Experience

Provide examples of the firm’s experience with performing arts centers, cultural

facilities, or comparable municipal projects.

Include up to five (5) relevant projects completed within the past ten years. For each

project provide:

• Client name and location

• Project description and scope

• Year completed

• Role of the firm and proposed team members

• Client contact information for reference

RP004-26

Page 5

Only projects that are directly relevant to the scope of this solicitation should be included.

Section 2 – Project Methodology and Approach

Provide a clear description of the methodology that will be used to complete the scope of

work.

The response should describe how the consultant will:

• Conduct the operational and facility utilization assessment

• Perform market and financial analysis

• Develop financial scenarios and sustainability modeling

• Evaluate governance and partnership structures

• Incorporate findings from the City’s branding and communications study

• Develop actionable recommendations and implementation strategies

Proposals should demonstrate a thoughtful and structured approach to completing the

work described in the Scope of Work.

Section 3 – Project Team and Qualifications

Identify the proposed project team and describe the role and responsibilities of each team

member.

Include relevant experience demonstrating each team member’s qualifications to perform

the work described in this solicitation.

Resumes for key personnel may be included as an appendix.

This section will be evaluated based on the qualifications, experience, and availability of

the proposed team.

Section 4 – Work Plan, Timeline, and Project Management

Provide a detailed work plan describing the major tasks required to complete the project.

The work plan should include:

• Project phases and key activities

• Project timeline and milestones

• Schedule for draft and final deliverables

• Approach to stakeholder engagement

• Approach to coordination with City staff

Proposals should demonstrate the firm’s ability to complete the project within the

required timeline and provide effective project management.

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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