With a mission statement to ‘play a huge role in the lives of the community by providing educational and entertainment opportunities where they can showcase their arts and talents’, Mitchell Arts Centre first opened in 1957 as a tribute to Spitfire designer Reginald Mitchell.

It is a cultural, community and creative venue on the high street in Stoke-on-Trent City Centre with a commitment to education, community and youth development delivered through workshops, screenings, school collaborations and youth engagement on top of theatre performances.

The centre has an accessible 300 seat auditorium, meeting rooms and professional dance studio.

It delivers MAC Film, MAC Theatre, MAC Music and MAC Dance in innovative and experiential ways to both attract and engage all types of audiences.

This Summer, for example, it is delivering a Peppa Pig cinema experience for little ones. It regularly screens National Theatre Live productions including Street Car Named Desire in Summer 2025 which compliments live performances of magic shows, pantos and traditional theatre.

With a mission to always be a youth-focussed venue, the centre strives to be a creative space where young people can explore their potential through initiatives like the Youth Board with St. Margaret Ward Catholic College, BBC Bring the Drama work experience placements and MAC Half Term Workshops.

Partnerships, including with The Hubb Foundation and the National Lottery, make theatre and arts accessible to children from all backgrounds, from those on the free school meal programme to those with limited mobility.

Mitchell Arts Centre has entered the High Street Impact and Business in the Community categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.