PACA

Rise with PACA: Lifting the Arts, Lifting Erie

At the Performing Artists Collective Alliance (PACA), we believe that art doesn’t just entertain, it uplifts, connects, and drives lasting change. Since our founding, PACA has served as a home for Erie’s creative spirit, offering a vibrant, inclusive space where artists and audiences come together to share stories, express ideas, and build community.

Located in a Nationally Registered Historic Building at 1505 State Street, PACA is more than just a venue; it’s a living, breathing ecosystem. With 70,000 square feet of shared space and over 50 resident artists, we are a cultural anchor for Erie, preserving the city’s rich history while shaping its creative future. Our studios and stages host a wide range of disciplines from theater, music, and dance to visual arts and writing. This diversity fuels collaboration, nurtures emerging talent, and strengthens Erie’s cultural fabric.

Now, with our Rise with PACA capital campaign, we’re taking bold steps to ensure this impact continues for generations to come. We are embarking on two transformational projects that will expand access, opportunity, and creative potential:

• Elevator Renovation – Making PACA fully accessible, so that everyone, regardless of mobility, can participate in and enjoy the arts.




• 5th Floor Build-Out – Creating new performance venues, studios, and cultural programming spaces to meet growing community demand and further fuel artistic innovation.

Your support now is more powerful than ever. Thanks to the generosity of Tom Hagen, every dollar you donate will be matched 1:1 up to $500,000 in 2025. That means your gift goes twice as far in helping us grow, modernize, and open our doors even wider.

When you give to PACA, you’re supporting:

🎭 A Thriving Theatre Season
From musicals and youth productions to comedies, dramas, and original works, PACA’s performances bring people together and spark conversation.

🎨 Affordable Creative Space
We offer accessible studios and rehearsal areas so local artists, teachers, and creatives can develop and share their work without financial barriers.

🏛 Historic Preservation
We are committed to honoring and restoring our historic downtown home, keeping this space alive as a beacon for the arts.

🤝 Inclusive, Sustainable Community Growth
Through diverse programming and strategic partnerships, PACA creates opportunities for artists and businesses alike supporting Erie’s economy while enriching lives.

Art is not a luxury, it’s a vital part of a thriving city. It attracts visitors, fuels innovation, boosts local business, and enhances quality of life. PACA is proud to play a role in that ecosystem and with your help, we can do even more.

Rise with PACA. Let’s build a stronger, more accessible, more creative Erie TOGETHER.