Tulsa Performing Arts Center

The Tulsa Performing Arts Center (TPAC), located in the historic downtown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a significant cultural institution that serves as a hub for the performing arts in the region. Designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the renowned architect behind the former World Trade Center towers, the TPAC opened to the public on March 19, 1977, with an inaugural concert featuring the Tulsa Philharmonic and the legendary jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. Constructed by the City of Tulsa and financially supported by its citizens, the TPAC occupies half a city block and boasts a complex that includes four theaters, a studio space, and a spacious reception hall. Over the years, it has hosted a variety of events, including Broadway tours, performances by nationally recognized artists, local talent showcases, and city functions. For the first four decades, the TPAC was under the ownership and operation of the City of Tulsa. However, in 2019, a significant organizational shift occurred when the management of the TPAC was transferred to the Tulsa Performing Arts Trust. This transition marked a new chapter for the center, with the Trust implementing new goals and expanding the vision for the center's future. As a nonprofit entity, the TPAC is dedicated to ensuring that the arts are accessible to all. It is committed to providing enriching performing arts experiences that foster resilience, empathy, inclusivity, and innovation within the community. To support this mission, the TPAC engages in various programs both within its facilities and throughout the community. Initiatives such as Orbit Arts collaborate with regional organizations to enhance arts education, while Any Given Child offers every kindergartener in Tulsa Public Schools a free theatrical performance. Other community-oriented programs include Arts in the Air, a free outdoor music festival; the Brown Bag It series, offering free lunchtime entertainment; the TATEs, celebrating local theater excellence; and the Discovery Awards, giving talented students the opportunity to work with industry professionals in New York City. The TPAC's commitment to elevating the arts is encapsulated in its mission statement: "To facilitate and deliver performing arts experiences that entertain, inspire, and empower our community." Its vision is to be the pre-eminent performing arts destination for the region, a testament to its ongoing efforts to promote and support the arts in Tulsa and beyond.