The production of Disney's Frozen at Lehi High School serves as a primary example of how private nonprofits and municipal cultural funding interact in Lehi. City grant files, council packets, and federal tax returns show that the Lehi Arts Council utilizes Parks, Arts, Recreation, and Culture (PARC) tax dollars to cover specific costs such as show rights, set building, and high school rentals.
The production, directed by Howard and Kathryn Lay/Laycock Little, is scheduled to run through July 25 at Lehi High School. The council also utilizes city facilities for related events, such as a Frozen-themed tea party held at the Lehi City Civic Center Community Room.
Lehi voters approved the PARC tax on November 2, 2021. Under current city policy, collections are split roughly 70% to parks and recreation and 30% to arts and culture. Officials have projected annual PARC revenue between $1.3 million and $1.5 million, with approximately $400,000 historically directed toward cultural organization grants.
In the 2025 funding cycle, the Lehi Arts Council received $56,832 for show rights, high school rental, and set building. For the FY 2027 cycle, application materials from an April 13, 2026, City Council work-session packet indicate the council has again sought $48,650 for production and facility costs, along with $9,491 for mover lights and $25,110 to bring electricity to a garage near the Arts Council building. The PARC Advisory Committee, chaired by Lindsay Gehman, recommended funding these three core requests while rejecting other items such as an upright piano or laundry equipment.
A separate request for a $78,000 General Fund Allocation to cover operating costs like internet and supplies was recommended for $0 by the PARC committee. This aligns with a city effort to prevent double-funding nonprofits from both the general fund and PARC tax.
Financial records indicate that ticket sales remain a vital component of the council's budget. The Lehi Arts Council's 2024 IRS Form 990 shows total revenue of $443,321, split almost evenly between grants and contributions ($222,157) and program-service revenue ($221,164), which typically includes admissions and fees.
The organization operates without full-time employees. According to the 2024 return, President Kurt Elison reported $12,000 in compensation, while other officers remained unpaid. The board includes Vice President Jeanna Cunningham, Secretary Derrick Cain, and Treasurer Kathleen Elison.
While the council uses its longtime home at 685 N. Center Street for smaller programs, large-scale musicals require renting facilities from the Alpine School District. The council's budget includes specific line items to offset these rental charges.
Following the July 25 conclusion of Frozen, the council's rotating theater schedule includes Tuck Everlasting, Clue, and It's a Wonderful Life. Future municipal support is expected to continue underwriting rights, sets, and school rentals.
