LAC Lugano consolidates its growth

The 2024/25 financial year of LAC Lugano, the modern artistic and cultural centre in Ticino, an impressive and innovative architectural project that celebrated its tenth anniversary last September, ended in balance. The budget estimates for 2025/26 should confirm the same trend, with transformation projects contributing to the achievement of economic equilibrium. "The closing of the financial year shows a balanced result, which represents a strategic objective achieved thanks to careful cost management and work aimed at developing own revenues", explained Executive Director Gregory Birth during a press conference held in December 2025. "LAC is a cultural institution that has been increasing its audience numbers for three consecutive years, bucking the main international trends, and doing so with a balanced income statement despite public funding that has remained unchanged for over ten years, the real value of which has been progressively eroded by inflation and structural cost increases and is set to decline further from the 2026/27 season onwards 27 due to cuts in funding from the City".
  During the past season, LAC generated CHF 9,632,690 in revenue, which is 5% higher than budgeted and 10% higher than the previous year. The main contributors were: ticket and advance sales (CHF 3,155,890), fundraising (CHF 1,489,000), car park (CHF 1,238,000), and venue hire and services for events and conferences (CHF 1,197,600). The integration of LuganoMusica led to a net increase of approximately CHF 640,000 in revenue, with LAC+ members also having a positive impact on ticket sales outside of season tickets (CHF 153,000).
The strategies implemented by management focus on the constant development of own revenues, which generates self-financing, the pursuit of cost efficiency and responsible and disciplined management of resources. 
In terms of attendance, the 2024/25 year closed with 81,272 spectators for the
artistic season and 42,641 for cultural mediation activities, for a total of 123,913 attendees, consolidating the growth recorded in recent years. 
‘The city of Lugano should be proud of LAC. The audience figures are the result of a strategy that has focused on several factors: a high-level artistic offering, an open mindset, targeted communication and marketing actions, a virtuous management model, customer loyalty and a new audience of young people", comments Roberto Badaracco, Deputy Mayor of Lugano and President of LAC, who anticipates another ambitious challenge. ‘We want to create a new theatre with a capacity of around 400 seats where the Agorà, our open-air space, currently stands, the small amphitheatre that connects the second level of the Hall to the park. We are looking for private investors".
The theatre and dance programme, conceived by Performing Arts Director Carmelo Rifici, attracted a total of 67,397 visitors, with an average occupancy rate of 82% and 61 sold-out performances, a result that consolidates the increase seen in previous seasons. The 1,607 LAC+ members, who are examples of loyalty, contribute significantly to the high attendance figures. They attend both the shows included in their membership and those excluded, for which they benefit from a reduction, generating 17,500 admissions.
The overall growth in audience numbers is part of a framework of structural economic sustainability: LAC has a self-financing rate of over 50%, a figure that clearly sets it apart in the Swiss and international landscape, where public funding for cultural institutions averages around 80%. ‘The planned cuts in public funding are putting us under pressure, but we are working to absorb them while protecting our offering to the public and continuing to create value for the community. We are also considering new projects such as solar panels on the roof,’ admits the management.
Creative director Andrea Amarante, in his first role as general manager, talks about key concepts: openness, responsibility, curiosity and courage.
And, it is worth adding, democracy. The LAC offers events ‘for all budgets’. There are several free and packed shows, often held in the large, bright hall of the building. A fine example of conviviality and civility with a tangible and positive economic impact on the entire area. Deluxu.it Magazine Copyright