Santa Rosa, Calif. (March 16, 2022) – Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced it will host its annual Art of Dessert gala to benefit its arts education and community engagement programs on April 9, 2022, in the Lytton Rancheria Grand Lobby in Santa Rosa. LBC also announced State Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire will emcee the event, LBC’s popular annual fundraiser, which returns live after being a virtual event the last two years due to the pandemic.

To open up the fun and charitable purpose of Art of Dessert to more of the community, LBC also will host an online auction, featuring exclusive wine packages, gift baskets, and travel items, from April 2 to 13, as well as a community bake off between March 16 and 30. Details will be announced separately.

The Art of Dessert gala brings Sonoma County’s art lovers, enthusiasts, and devotees together with educators, parents, and business and community leaders to help elevate the arts for the whole county. The evening features a sit-down dinner with wines provided by LBC wine sponsor Rodney Strong Wine Estates, entertainment, and a live auction, facilitated by Kenn Cunningham, that will include exclusive travel and culinary experiences. Bellevue Elementary School students will demonstrate their ukulele skills, directed by Andrew DeVeny, one of the teaching artists leading a free residency established under LBC’s Education and Community Engagement program.

“Because too many people in the North Bay do not have access to the arts, our mission is to provide the programs needed to enrich, educate, and entertain all residents of Sonoma County, regardless of circumstance,” said President and CEO Rick Nowlin. “LBC is dedicated to showcasing the highest level of talent while keeping ticket prices affordable, but with 90 percent of ticket sales going directly to our exceptional artists, events like Art of Dessert help bridge the gap, making both performances and our wide-reaching education and engagement programs possible.”

This year, LBC aims to raise $525,000 to provide education through the arts to more than 50,000 students in the North Bay, with offerings such as scholarships to teachers and teaching artists, a sculpture garden and visual arts program, and a musical instrument lending library for school music programs.

Limited tickets, priced at $325, are available by emailing dev@lutherburbankcenter.org or calling 707.800.7515. To learn more about Art of Dessert, visit lutherburbankcenter.org. For more information about LBC’s Education and Community Engagement Programs, visit lutherburbankcenter.org/education.

About Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

A 501©(3) non-profit organization, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is home to world-class performances, nationally recognized education programs, contemporary visual art, and many popular events. The Arts Center is located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country and ranked among California’s top performing arts presenters. Together with its resident companies, the Center presents more than 230 performances in music, dance, theater, renowned speakers, and comedy; provides education programs serving more than 50,000 children and adults; and hosts more than 1,000 community events a year. Owned and operated by the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, the Center relies on charitable community donations to achieve its mission – to enrich, educate, and entertain.

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