Wells Fargo Center opens Lytton Rancheria grand lobby

The Wells Fargo Center for the Arts has completed the renovation
of its 36-year-old grand lobby, thanks to a $550,000 donation from
the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians.
“What the architect really wanted to do was make this a grand
gathering space, and he succeeded,” said the center’s Executive
Director Rick Nowlin.
The renovation project began in June, with the dramatic removal
of three cast iron chandeliers that had hung over the lobby for the
past three decades. The renovation also included a fresh coat of
paint, new carpet, modern stainless steel cable railings, dimmable
lighting, and some unseen structural elements for seismic safety.
The first floor men’s restroom was upgraded as well. (Not to worry,
ladies: the women’s restroom had already been expanded and
renovated two years ago.)
Nowlin sees the renovation as part of a broader effort to secure
the Wells Fargo Center’s spot as the premier arts venue in the
North Bay.
“We are taking many steps towards that goal, and the renovation
is the most visible step. It’s all part of our strategic planning
process, and how we can improve things for patrons and better serve
the community,” Nowlin said.
The Lytton Rancheria Grand Lobby has been named in honor of the
Lytton Band of Pomo Indians for a seven year period, signaling
gratitude for the Pomo’s generous gift but also granting the center
room to seek future naming partnerships. In comparison, the
center’s naming partnership with Wells Fargo Bank is for a 10 year
period.
In addition to contributing $550,000 towards the lobby’s
renovation, the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians has been a Corporate
Alliance Partner for the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts since May
of 2009. That sponsorship involves a $50,000 per year pledge for
five years. The money helps support the Education Through the Arts
program, which serves 30,000 students and teachers per year.
The Lytton Band of Pomo Indians sees their contribution as
enabling arts education and enrichment for future generations.
“One of the interesting ironies of this is that many of the
members of the tribe, when they were children, really didn’t have
the opportunity to enjoy the arts,” said Doug Elmets, spokesman for
the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians. “And to be candid, that’s not too
dissimilar from what other children in the region experience,
especially with cutbacks to schools. So what this contribution
really allows is the opportunity for the Wells Fargo Center to
reach its potential by reaching out to those that may be less
advantaged.”
Spokeswoman Kristi Buffo and Nowlin noted that the Pomo’s
generosity went beyond the lobby naming partnership, and even
beyond their multiyear commitment to being a Corporate Alliance
Partner.
“At our annual fundraising event, The Art of Dessert, they were
here and bidding like crazy,” Buffo said. “They help fund
scholarships. It’s heartwarming to see a group of people who are
using their financial well being to make their community better. To
be honest, they are so incredibly generous, it’s amazing. It’s
staggering.”
“They are very humble, but they’re also very proud,” Elmets
noted. “They love their heritage, they love their culture, and they
love where they come from: Sonoma County. Now that they have the
opportunity to be able to share with others from the good fortune
of their business enterprise, they are definitely happy to be able
to participate with Wells Fargo Center.”
The center’s main theatre on Mark West Springs Road is the
largest fixed-seat venue in Sonoma County. The campus, including
the atrium and school building (which houses an additional 400 seat
theatre), is 140,000 square feet. The campus—and the newly
renovated grand lobby—will be open to the public on September 18
for the first annual Fiesta de Independencia.