St. Lawrence Arts is owned and operated by the non-profit corporation Friends of the St. Lawrence, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization created in 1996 to restore the historic St. Lawrence Church and return it to use as an arts center. The St. Lawrence has a 3-part mission: Arts & Culture: creating an affordable and accessible venue for a diverse offerings of arts including but not limited to theater, dance, music, film, and workshops; Neighborhood & Community: adding activity, entertainment, cultural enrichment, social interaction, renovation and investment that serves both the surrounding neighborhood of Munjoy Hill as well as the residents of Greater Portland. Historic Preservation: rehabilitating this local and national landmark with the adaptive reuse as an arts center.
