City Issues Statement About One-Year Facility Use Agreement with Gold Fever Follies
By City of Rossland
At the Regular Council meeting held on January 13, 2025, Rossland City Council passed a motion directing staff to negotiate a one-year facility use agreement with the Gold Fever Follies to use the Miners’ Hall Performance Hall and the Lily May Room for rehearsals and performances during the summer of 2025.
This agreement will cover the period from June to August, with the goal of supporting
the Follies’ 2025 performances while maintaining access to these valuable spaces for the broader community. The new non-exclusive use agreement will allow other organizations and individuals to rent the facilities at times that were previously unavailable.
It will also enable Rossland Recreation to expand its summer camp programming by utilizing air-conditioned spaces in the Miners’ Hall, helping to offset a severe shortage in summer camp programming compared to demand, as previous summer camp spaces and wait-lists currently fill up within minutes of registration opening. The agreement will also include provisions for potential new rentals of the Hall by community groups or private individuals, diversifying the summer arts offerings available and helping to offset operational costs for the Miners’ Hall.
“This new agreement strikes a balance between continuing our support of the Gold Fever Follies and ensuring that City facilities are available to/for the broader community. At no time were the Follies being removed from the space” said Mayor Andy Morel. Also, as their previous exclusive agreement was set at an exceptionally low rate (i.e. $3,000/yr), Council determined that an increased 2025 rental fee of $6,000 for the Follies’ use of the facility was a reasonable step in order to help offset current operational costs for the Miners’ Hall.
Additionally, the motion directed staff to begin negotiations in September 2025 for a longer-term facility use agreement. These negotiations will focus on reviewing and modifying the Gold Fever Follies’ annual performance schedule in a way that better accommodates competing community needs for these valuable spaces. “We are excited to continue our collaboration with the Gold Fever Follies, an integral part of our community’s cultural fabric,” said Mayor Morel. “At the same time, it’s important that we balance their needs with those of other community groups and organizations that will benefit from increased access to these spaces. This approach will help foster a strong, cooperative approach to facility use and community programming.”
