HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.WHLR.20260211.Regular Wheeler Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
February 11th, 2026, | 3:00 p.m.
Attendance:
Advisory Board Members: Amy Mountjoy (Vice Chair), Dr. Tom Kurt (Secretary), Ziska Childs,
Bob Ephlin, Kate Northfield Lanich, Bryan Weingarten, Nina Gabianelli, and Sarah Pelch.
Absent: Chip Fuller (Chair)
Staff: Mike Harrington (Executive Director), Alixandra Feeley (Business Manager), Malia
Machado (Artist Services Coordinator) and Lucy Berdiales (Administrative Specialist).
Meeting Recorder:
Auto-transcription generated via Teams and Microsoft Copilot AI; summarized by Lucy Berdiales
and Alixandra Feeley.
Call to Order & Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Vice Chair Ms. Amy Mountjoy called the meeting to order. A motion to approve the January 2026
minutes, as edited and previously circulated, was made by Nina Gabianelli and affirmed by Bob
Ephlin. The motion carried unanimously.
Public Comment
Dr. Kurt shared reflections on a recent JAS Café event honoring Freddie Fisher and the revival of
the Fishwit Prize Award, noting strong attendance and meaningful community engagement. Board
discussion highlighted the importance of community-centered programming, preservation of
Aspen’s historic character, and potential collaboration opportunities with Jazz Aspen Snowmass.
Mr. Harrington noted that he maintains ongoing conversations with Jazz Aspen Snowmass
leadership and remains open to partnership opportunities as proposals emerge.
No additional public comments were offered.
Staff Presentation – Education & Outreach (Malia Machado)
Ms. Machado presented an overview of the Wheeler’s 2025 Education & Outreach programming,
reporting that approximately 1,800 students and participants were served through student
matinees and workshops. She highlighted continued growth in partnerships with local schools
and community organizations, as well as expanded artist-led workshop offerings.
Education & Outreach partnerships were described as primarily collaborative, emphasizing
shared marketing, audience engagement, and program alignment rather than financial
contributions. Programming is supported through the presenting activity budget, and student
matinees continue to be offered free of charge to schools, operating outside of cost-recovery
parameters. Ms. Machado also noted her upcoming transition into the newly created full-time
Education & Outreach role.
Mr. Harrington added that staff continues to work closely with school leadership to ensure
alignment with curricular needs. Board members expressed interest in future opportunities to
further engage local artists and expand adult-focused educational offerings
Financial Update – Year -End 2025 (Mrs. Alixandra Feeley)
Ms. Feeley presented preliminary year-end 2025 financials, noting increased revenue from
presented events and expenses finishing under budget. Approximately $800,000 in capital
project funding is expected to carry forward into 2026. She explained that eligible departmental
savings will be determined following Finance review and that in-kind grant line items are shown
for transparency and net to zero.
Staff confirmed that final 2025 financials will be presented following the official close in February,
with 2026 reporting beginning next month. No concerns were raised regarding year-end
performance.
Executive Director Report – Mr. Harrington
Mr. Harrington provided updates on capital projects planned for 2026, including continued
coordination with Historic Preservation on exterior lighting improvements and planned
back-of-house upgrades to dressing rooms, the green room, stairwells, and administrative offices.
He also reviewed the proposed replacement of the Wheeler’s audio system, noting that the
current system is nearing 20 years of service. Board discussion focused on balancing improved
acoustic performance with preservation of the theater’s historic interior, including considerations
around speaker placement, under-balcony coverage, and sound-level management. Mr.
Harrington indicated he would revisit vendor proposals and return with a refined recommendation.
Mr. Harrington presented venue utilization data for 2023–2025, highlighting significant growth in
2025. Total active days reached 230, compared to 114 in 2024 and 147 in 2023, representing
63% of total calendar availability and 91% of “reasonable use,” attributed to increased
Wheeler-presented programming and rental activity. Vault-only use is included in activity counts,
while Aspen Music Festival & School use is counted only on active programming days. Discussion
addresses summer scheduling constraints and ongoing coordination with AMFS to identify
additional opportunities where feasible.
2026 Programming Outlook
Mr. Harrington previewed upcoming programming highlights, including the Aspen Laugh Festival
in March, the return of Roaring Fork Rising in May, a proposed July 4 exterior performance
commission, and a new August Vault concert series designed to engage community members
during peak summer hours. The August series will feature week-long artist residencies
culminating in newly commissioned work, with potential collaboration from Aspen Public Radio.
Board members expressed enthusiasm for the Vault activation concept.
Strategic Initiatives
Mr. Harrington reported that staff is exploring a website redesign and evaluating ticketing platform
options to enhance the patron experience. He also confirmed continued review of rental fee
structures for 2027, including potential adjustments for Aspen-based nonprofits and evaluation of
for-profit rates to ensure market alignment.
Board Member Comments
Board members discussed concerns related to ticket resale and fraud prevention, including the use of
will-call restrictions for high-demand performances and accessibility initiatives including potential
closed-captioning tools to expand audience access. Additional comments addressed sound-level
management, overall audience experience, and comparisons with peer regional venues.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Vice Chair Amy Mountjoy, seconded by Ms. Nina Gabianelli, and
unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned.
Future Meetings Schedule
March 11, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
April 8, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
May 13, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.