G-E-T performing arts center to pause outside shows

The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau Performing Arts Center will take a break from a full schedule of hosting external performances.

The performing arts center, commonly referred to as the PAC, was finished in November 2020 and saw its first full year of use, including a slate of external performances, in 2022-23 before another full season in 2023-24.

House manager Brenda Gauchel presented her annual update on the facility at the G-E-T school board’s meeting on June 10, when she told the board there will be a break in the center bringing in professional shows to the facility attached to G-E-T High School.

The longterm goal for the PAC is that all outside performances will be paid for through ticket revenues, grants and donations, Gauchel previously told the Times in 2022.

Sales for such performances are not currently providing enough revenue to cover costs, which led to the decision to pause external shows for now, Gauchel said. 

During the 2023-24 school year, the facility was used often, Gauchel told the board as she referred to 290 total events including 21 district music performances, eight external shows, 49 non-music events and 92 private reservations.

This year’s high school graduation ceremony was also held in the PAC.

The facility will still be available to rent by the public or area organizations, and there is a potential for limited external shows in 2024-25 depending on the district’s ability to receive various grants or donations, Superintendent Michele Butler said last week.

Butler said the PAC still plays an integral role in the community even if it is not bringing in a large amount of external revenue through outside performances.

“It’s being utilized intensely,” Butler said. “The music, our own programming — music, band, vocals, musical productions, drama productions — and all of our in-services are taking place there. It is a heavily used facility. It has definitely been a good investment for our district as far as having the proper facilities for the types of events that we sponsor and the types of events that schools have.”

There is currently no set timeline on when the district might reexamine whether to reconsider outside shows.