This holiday season, help bring the historic Smith Baker Center back to life as a vibrant home for performance, learning, and community in downtown Lowell.

As a Founding Friend, you will power pre-construction work and early community programs, which will help restore this iconic landmark into Lowell Center for the Arts. By giving now, you will not only ensure the renaissance of this building, but also your exclusive founding recognition as part of its future!

Four Giving Tiers Available!

All Founding Friends recognition reflects gifts made by 11:59pm on December 31!

Mitten
($1-$249)
Name on the Founding Friends online honor roll
Early access to announcements & pre-sale for the first public concert/open house
Quarterly “Behind the Build” email with photos and updates

Scarf
($250-$499)
All benefits of ‘Mitten’ tier, plus:
Engraved brick on the LCA Founders Walkway
Any text of your choice, subject to review – limit 3 lines, 14-16 characters per line, including spaces

Cap
($500-$999)
All benefits of ‘Scarf’ tier, plus:
Invitation for two to a hard hat preview tour with the LCA team
Priority pre-sale window for opening month events

Snowman
($1,000+)
All benefits of ‘Cap’ tier, plus:
Seat recognition in LCA auditorium with an engraved nameplate

Don't miss this exclusive offer before the giving tiers double on January 1st!

All founding-year recognitions reflect gifts made by 11:59 PM on Dec 31. Tiers double on Jan 1.
Seat nameplates are recognition items only and do not reserve or assign seat usage. Recognition term 10 years.
Founders Walkway brick text subject to character limits and formatting for legibility.

Learn More About The Project:

The Smith Baker Center has stood at the heart of downtown Lowell for over one hundred and forty years as a symbol of community, culture, and civic life. Now, we have the opportunity to bring it back to life.

Through the vision and leadership of Allies in Music Education, Inc. & The Smith Baker Preservation Corporation, the Smith Baker Center will be transformed into the Lowell Center for the Arts (LCA); a vibrant, inclusive space where creativity and community come together. LCA will be a home for music, community, education, entrepreneurship, and cultural celebration. With performance spaces, rehearsal rooms, co-working offices, a commercial kitchen, and accessible arts programming, this historic building will once again serve the people of Lowell, this time as a thriving arts and community hub.

But we can’t do it without you.

We’re building a movement to save this iconic space and reimagine what the arts can mean for the future of our city. Your donation helps us preserve a historic landmark and ensure that every member of our community has access to creativity, connection, and opportunity.

Join us in making this vision a reality. Give today, and be part of Lowell’s next great chapter.

Our Mission:

To Preserve Lowell's Past, Enhance Lowell's Present, and Build Lowell's Future!

Our Vision:

Economic Growth and Community Revitalization

A strong arts sector drives economic growth, attracts tourism, and creates jobs. By revitalizing the Smith Baker Center, LCA will bring increased foot traffic to local businesses, support local artists, and contribute to the city’s economy through performances, classes, and community events.

Expanding Access to Arts Education

LCA will provide accessible, high-quality arts education programs for children, teens, and adults, ensuring that creativity and artistic expression remain an integral part of Lowell’s community. Scholarships, after-school programs, and professional development opportunities will make the arts available to everyone, regardless of financial background.

Creating a Cultural Destination

LCA will establish itself as a premier venue for music, theater, and visual arts, drawing audiences and artists from across the region. It will be a place where cultural traditions are celebrated, where new artistic voices are nurtured, and where the entire community can come together.

A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration

LCA isn’t just for artists, it’s a space where creativity, entrepreneurship, and community come together. In addition to performance and education spaces, LCA will offer co-working spaces and a shared-use commercial kitchen designed to support local food entrepreneurs and small businesses, as well as a full-service cafe, bar, and lounge. These resources will provide an affordable, dynamic environment where creatives, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs can collaborate, grow, and thrive in an inclusive economic engine that fosters innovation and supports the next generation of Lowell’s visionaries.

Become a Founding Friend of the Lowell Center for the Arts

By Smith Baker Preservation Corporation

Become a Founding Friend of the Lowell Center for the Arts

Help us reach our $1M goal before the end of the year!

Team Members