General Information

Government Type

Interlocal

Entity

Utah Performing Arts Center Agency

Public Body

Board of Directors

Notice Information

Add Notice to Calendar

Notice Title

UPACA BOARD OF DIRECTORS meeting minutes

Notice Type(s)

Meeting

Event Start Date & Time

October 23, 2025 09:00 AM

Event End Date & Time

October 23, 2025 10:00 AM

Description/Agenda

Meeting of the UPACA BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thursday October 23, 2025, 9:00am O.C. Tanner Lounge - Eccles Theatre w/Cisco WebEx option Attendees: Angela Vanderwell, Sarah Dibble Lata, Matt Castillo, Robin Chalhoub, Ross Romero, Katie Hansen, Darrin Casper, Helen Langan, Danny Walz, Justin Green, Jenn Niedfeldt, Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin, Taylee Foulger Roll call and Introductions: Mr. Casper called the meeting to order at 9:03am. Welcome: Mr. Casper welcomed all. Review public comments: No public comments. Approval of minutes: August 21, 2025 Mr. Walz moved the request to approve the minutes. Ms. Langan moved to second. Unanimously approved. Salt Lake County and Broadway Across America/JGO Co-Presenting Agreement and Salt Lake County ArtTix and BAA Ticketing Agreement - Matt Castillo, Angela Vanderwell These agreements were emailed to all Board members prior to the meeting for their review. Mr. Castillo presented two agenda items together to the Board for approval, concluding the Request for Proposal (RFP) process through which Arts & Culture selected a partner for the next term of the Broadway series at the Eccles Theater. The current agreement with Broadway Across America expires on November 1, 2026. Due to the significant lead time required to transition to a new partner, if selected, the RFP process began approximately two and a half years ago. Mr. Castillo expressed appreciation to the Board members who participated in this competitive process, during which multiple proposals were received and reviewed. Based on the committee's recommendation, Arts & Culture will continue its partnership with Broadway Across America. Subsequent to the selection, the negotiation process began, resulting in two agreements now presented for Board approval: 1. Co-Presenting Agreement - This primary agreement defines the shared responsibilities between Eccles Theater staff and Broadway Across America for presenting the Broadway series, as well as the associated financial terms. 2. ArtTix Ticketing Terms and Conditions Agreement - This companion agreement outlines Broadway Across America's continued use of ArtTix for ticketing and subscription sales. Mr. Castillo emphasized that these agreements strengthen the Broadway at the Eccles series by providing improved financial terms and ensuring continued program success. Ms. Vanderwell noted that the agreement is structured as a 10-year term with two optional 5-year renewals, providing long-term operational stability for the theater. As the Broadway series represents a major revenue source for the Eccles Theater, this continuity is strategically significant. Mr. Castillo further highlighted the advantages of the updated financial structure under the new agreement. Following the presentation, the floor was opened for questions and discussion. All inquiries from the Board were addressed. Ms. Hansen moved the request to approve both the Co-Presenting Agreement and the ArtTix and BAA Ticketing Agreement. Mr. Walz moved to second. Unanimously approved. 2025 Eccles Theater Site Space Activation and Eccles Presents Community Engagement- Jenn Niedfeldt Ms. Niedfeldt was having technological issues, skipped to the next agenda item, and will return to her presentation. Arts & Culture Marketing: Arts for Everyone Campaign - Justin Green Mr. Green presented an overview of the Arts for Everyone Campaign to the Board. Campaign Purpose: The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness of the rich and diverse arts and culture landscape in Salt Lake County. Arts & Culture received a grant from the Utah Office of Tourism to support this initiative and collaborated with an external consultant to develop campaign messaging and creative materials that promote the local arts and culture community. The creative agency HUB developed the campaign artwork and copy concepts, resulting in two ad variations designed for flexibility and reach: - Art for Every _____ (occasion, family, emotion, community, etc.) - _____ for Everyone (music, theatre, or other genres) Photos were sourced from 14 ZAP grantees, and a range of genre-specific ads were created to highlight individual organizations. Each ad directed audiences to the campaign website, ArtForEveryoneSLCO.org, serving as a central landing page for engagement. Campaign Platforms and Results: - Social Media & Website: 1,225 page views, 570 users - Digital Billboards (throughout Salt Lake County): Approximately 200,440 impressions - City Journal: Total readership of 296,899; distributed to 206,180 households - Venue Promotions: Posters, digital signage, and website banners - Marketing Emails: 217 clicks linking to Art for Everyone Mr. Green demonstrated the campaign landing page, highlighting its interactive features. Each photo on the page links to details about the featured organization, including its website, performers, and additional information. Visitors can also select 'Find Upcoming Events,' which directs them to three event listings: - SL County Arts & Culture Events - Now Playing Utah Events - ZAP Grantee Events Additional campaign ads included variations such as Art for Every Occasion and Theater for Everyone. Following the presentation, the floor was opened for questions from the Board. All questions were addressed and answered. 2025 Eccles Theater Site Space Activation and Eccles Presents Community Engagement- Jenn Niedfeldt Ms. Niedfeldt presented an overview of the Eccles Theater's summer event series to the Board, highlighting several successful community and cultural programs, including Steppin' on Main, SL Speaks: Slam Poetry Exhibition, the 3rd Annual Mariachi Festival, SL Speaks: Feelings of Fall, and Voces en Bloom. Event Highlights: - Steppin' on Main: A partnership between The Blocks Art District, Tin Angel Café, and Eccles Theater offering free public performances. The series featured 13 consecutive events and drew 2,459 attendees. Events were hosted in the lobby and on the theater steps with the NanaWall open, creating an engaging indoor/outdoor experience. Ms. Niedfeldt shared the event calendar and highlighted the diversity of participating artists and groups. - SL Speaks: Slam Poetry Exhibition: Now in its fifth year, this event featured 10 local poets and attracted 435 attendees for 2.5 hours of poetry. Notably, 61% of survey respondents reported attending Eccles for the first time. With the NanaWall open, the performances extended into Main Street, allowing for a rolling audience experience. - 3rd Annual Mariachi Festival: Presented in partnership with Eccles Theater, The Blocks Art District, Utah Presents, and the Consulate of Mexico, this festival included 41 performers and welcomed 1,278 attendees. The event featured a VIP donor lounge and showcased four hours of continuous Mariachi performances, activating both the lobby and Delta Hall. Sponsorship and community engagement were particularly strong this year. - SL Speaks: Feelings of Fall: This poetry event featured 15 local poets performing in 10 different languages, accompanied by two local musicians. The evening attracted 182 attendees and ran for 2.5 hours, with the NanaWall open to invite audience engagement from Main Street. Several poets incorporated live music into their performances. - Voces en Bloom: The summer series concluded with Voces en Bloom on McCarthey Plaza. This year's event featured two national headliners and two local artists, delivering five hours of live music to 470 attendees. The event received sponsorship from 12 partners totaling $30,000, and Level Crossing Brewing provided a local craft beer tent. Survey data showed that 75% of attendees were first-time visitors to Eccles, and 25% learned about the event through word of mouth. Ms. Niedfeldt also reviewed the marketing strategies used to promote these events and shared insights from the community impact survey, noting the plan to continue data collection to measure engagement and reach. Upcoming Events: - Voices of Women Festival - November 14-15: A celebration highlighting the history and contributions of local women's organizations and community groups - Annual Lights On at the Eccles - November 24: A free, family-friendly evening event kicking off the holiday season. The floor was opened for questions and comments. Asked for any feedback, we are always looking to improve these events. Call for Regent Street Black Box Resident Review Sub-Committee - Matt Castillo, Angela Vanderwell Mr. Castillo explained that Arts & Culture follows a three-year review cycle for resident organizations at the Regent Street Black Box. Each resident operates under a three-year contract and is evaluated by a committee-composed of Board members-to determine whether they should be recommended for renewal. Resident organizations receive several benefits, including priority booking, discounted rental rates, and additional marketing and promotional support. In return, residents are expected to engage in regular programming, contribute to audience development, and participate in outreach activities that help elevate the profile of the Regent Street Black Box. Mr. Castillo noted that the committee responsible for this review process is being formed and asked for volunteers from the Board. Ms. Vanderwell listed the residents currently up for review and explained that a group of three Board members will meet to evaluate each organization and bring a resolution back to the full Board with recommendations regarding renewal. The following Board members expressed interest in serving on the committee: - Helen Langan - Dee-Dee Darby-Duffin - Danny Walz Current Budget and Activity Reports - Sarah Dibble & Angela Vanderwell Ms. Dibble provided a brief financial update due to time constraints, noting that overall, the organization's financial position remains strong. Mr. Castillo added that in a future meeting, the Board will be asked to review and evaluate the annual capital reserve contribution. This contribution was increased several years ago from $850,000 to $1 million annually after the 30-year facility maintenance plan revealed that funding levels were insufficient. While the organization is now in a stronger financial position, some underfunding remains. Given the continued strong performance of the Eccles Theater-and the anticipated improvement in financial outcomes under the new agreement-Mr. Castillo recommended that the Board revisit this topic within the next year to ensure long-term sustainability. Arts & Culture and Eccles Theater General Updates - Matt Castillo, Angela Vanderwell No time. Meeting adjourned at 9:59am. Next Meeting: December 11,2025 2025 Meeting Schedule All meetings start at 9:00am and are held in the O.C. Tanner Lounge at the Eccles Theater with a Web-Ex option. (Dates, times, locations subject to change. Additional meetings may be added) a. February 20 b. February 27 - Interim c. April 24 d. June 26 e. August 21 f. October 23 g. December 11

Notice of Special Accommodations (ADA)

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals needing special accommodations (including auxiliary communicative aids and services) during this meeting should notify Angela Vanderwell at avanderwell@slco.org.

Notice of Electronic or Telephone Participation

Electronic telephonic participation is available for this Body upon request.

Meeting Information

Meeting Location

Eccles Theater- O C Tanner Lounge
131 S Main St.
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
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Contact Name

Angela Vanderwell

Contact Email

avanderwell@slco.org

Contact Phone

(385)468-2524

Notice Posting Details

Notice Posted On

October 23, 2025 01:31 PM

Notice Last Edited On

February 19, 2026 11:56 AM

Audio File Address

Audio File Location

https://slco.webex.com/slco/ldr.php?RCID=a9db374c011da7829862b56baa73f716

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