Luther Burbank Center offers versatile programming to meet all tastes.
The Luther Burbank Center for the Arts has again been voted the Best Business Venue in the North Bay. Sari Larson, the associate director of programs and rentals for the Santa Rosa events center, thinks there are two big reasons for all the love—and it’s their versatility and community oriented approach. Most of their business is local and Larson says they love that.
“We always have something going on on campus, whether it’s a private event like a sweet 16, maybe a rehearsal dinner or a wedding,” Larson says. “There are so many various events that we do here, about 800 rental events each year. So there’s so much happening.”
The Ruth Finley Person Theater seats 1,600 and is the perfect venue for general sessions, speaker events and performances. The outdoor Pavilion boasts over 43,000 square feet and hosts banquets, picnics, festivals, weddings and receptions between May and October.
The Marcia and Gary Nelson Family Grand Plaza hosts receptions, intimate weddings, cocktail parties and luncheons. The Lytton Rancheria Grand Lobby with its audio/visual capabilities hosts receptions, seminars, banquets, trade shows and fundraisers.
The elegant Carston Cabaret is perfect for speaker presentations, receptions and even boasts a stage ideal for theater or cabaret-style performances. The Joan & Mack Schwing Salon is more intimate and appropriate for small meetings, receptions and wedding ceremonies.
The G.K. Hardt Conference Room Suite’s three rooms can handle any and all board meetings, trainings, workshops and breakout rooms.
They even have a farmers market Saturdays and Wednesdays in their parking lot. “We’re really community oriented here at the center,” she says. “We want to be that welcoming gathering place in the community. That’s part of our mission.”
Larson says that a lot comes down to their staff. “We have a great location. We’re easy to find. But I think really, what makes us memorable goes down to the people that you meet when you’re on site.”
They offer nonprofit discounts for rental events at the center and do a lot of fundraisers throughout the year. “We’re a nonprofit ourselves, so just like how we know that we are reliant on our community partnerships, donors and members, what we do is mission based.
“We put a lot of effort into every event, whether it’s a show that we present on the main stage, a summer camp off site or a true business event that we are hosting at the center,” Larson says.
“We’re incredibly grateful to have the support of the community for this award.”
