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ACE director: Our Lady facility hosted 190 events and generated about $21,000 this year; ACE seeks longer-term agreement with town
Summary
Sarah Gibbs, executive director of ACE, told the Alta Town Council the community building hosted roughly 190 events in FY25, generated about $21,000 in revenue (65% to the town, 35% to ACE) and that ACE would like a longer-term operating agreement rather than successive two‑year contracts.
Sarah Gibbs, executive director of ACE, told the Alta Town Council during a June 17 work session that the facility commonly referred to as "Our Lady" hosted about 190 events in the last fiscal year (roughly 120 ACE events and 70 community rentals) and that ACE’s first-year revenue was approximately $21,000. Under the current revenue split, the town receives 65% and ACE retains 35%. Gibbs told council the facility served more than 77,000 attendees across ACE programming historically and that ACE has done 1,823 events since records began.
Gibbs described the practical challenges of running a community venue: managing memorials and emotionally fraught events, dealing with electronic booking barriers for older renters, and the day‑to‑day administrative work of maintaining a welcoming space. "Being the bookie in a building is not just getting the payments and the papers—it's dealing with people that have had loss and also joyous occasions," Gibbs said. She praised the facilities manager (Fred) and town staff coordination and asked the council to consider a longer-term agreement (rather than repeated two‑year contracts) when the current contract is renegotiated.
Why it matters: The building serves as a hub for arts, memorials and community gatherings. The council and ACE are navigating the transition from prior arrangements to town ownership and operation; stabilizing the operating agreement and clarifying budgets and responsibilities influences programming continuity and town finances.
Context and follow-up: Staff and council thanked Gibbs for the operational update and said they will continue annual reviews of utilization and revenue. Councilors discussed whether the town should fund expanded programming (e.g., early‑morning fitness) within parks or other budget lines if those activities fall outside ACE’s core arts mission. The council flagged an architectural feasibility study and possible site improvements as future capital considerations.
The council did not take formal action on the ACE contract at the June 17 meeting; staff said the agreement and any proposed longer-term contract will be considered during next year’s negotiations.
