History

In 1942 the newly constructed Red Brick began as the home to Aspen's elementary, middle and high schools.  As the number of students grew, the school district created a larger campus on Maroon Creek Road.  By 1991 the school district had consolidated all classrooms to the Maroon Creek campus, and put the Red Brick up for sale.  An organization knows as the Aspen Snowmass Council for the Arts, had the extraordinary vision and drive to petition for the City of Aspen to purchase the former schoolhouse and make it a home for the arts.  By a slim margin of votes, citizens of Aspen in the August of 1992 election, agreed for the City to purchase the building with the stated intent of providing a long-term home for the arts, nonprofit organizations and other community uses.

The City of Aspen upholds the intent of the Red Brick Center for the Arts to be a vibrant community center by offering affordable rent to nonprofits and artists and creating venues and offerings for artistic engagement.  The City of Aspen is committed to the Red Brick thriving as a shared space dedicated to enriching lives and the community.  

Staff

Executive Director

Sarah Roy

Sarah’s tenure in the creative arts prior to joining the Red Brick Center for the Arts includes work in art galleries as well as arts education institutions.  She supported all operations at the Baldwin Gallery in Aspen, CO and helped build up the archival gallery collection of the late Jack Robinson in Memphis, TN. In the gallery capacity, Sarah enjoyed working with artists to bring exhibitions to life and building client relationships.  While serving as Director of Operations at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, CO, Sarah oversaw a range of areas including the residency program, new program research, Patton-Malot Gallery, Rothblum Gallery and the retail store.  She curated exhibitions for the galleries and store that focused on showcasing experimental and innovative works.  Sarah also spent a number of years as proprietor of an art consulting company, managing and procuring collections for private owners.  Sarah believes in the essentialness of creativity in life and strives to create opportunities for engagement across all levels of experience.  Sarah holds a BA from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and an MFA from the College of Art & Design at Lesley University in Boston, MA.

Get in touch

Email: sarah.roy@aspen.gov
Phone: (970) 429-2777

Arts programming coordinator

alison l. viola

Alison comes to the Red Brick Center for the Arts from Snowmass Village where she lives with her husband, daughter, and dog. Formerly employed at Anderson Ranch Arts Center as part of the administrative team, she also taught eighteen workshops during the six years that she was employed there.  She greatly enjoyed taking workshops while at the Ranch, always looking for ways to build her skillset. Alison has been a valley resident for almost three decades taking her first job here at the Little Red School House in the early 90’s.  Prior to moving to the Roaring Fork Valley, she had worked as an art educator for all grade levels. Alison has been a member of the Aspen Elks Lodge #224, serving as editor of the Aspen Leaf, the Elks newsletter, for over 9 years.  She is an active member of St. Mary Church, serving as a catechist and youth advisor.  Alison earned an Associates Degree in Graphic Design, before the convenience of computers, from Brookdale Community College; she holds a BFA in Fine Art, with certifications in Elementary Education and Art Education from Kean College of New Jersey. In her free time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, hiking, golfing, swimming, camping and cooking. She has dabbled in ceramics, stained glass, and sewing projects, always enjoying the process of creating.

Get in touch

Email: alison.viola@aspen.gov
Phone: (970) 429-2777