Sonoma Community Center Announces the 2026 MUSE Gala
Look in the mirror- it is YOU!
Sonoma, California. The Sonoma Community Center launches a year-long, milestone celebration beginning August 2026: 75 years of creativity, connection, and community. Beginning with the 2026 MUSE Gala, honoring the true force behind the Center’s enduring legacy—YOU, the community— the founders, visionaries, artists, supporters, and changemakers who have shaped the Center into the vibrant artistic and cultural heart of Sonoma Valley.
MUSE 2026 is not about a single honoree. Instead, it is a tribute to the collective spirit that has sustained and grown the Sonoma Community Center for three-quarters of a century. From its earliest days to today, the Center has thrived because of the people who believed in its mission and invested their time, talent, and passion. Our Community is the inspiration—the MUSE—that keeps the Center evolving to meet the needs of a diverse and ever-changing community.
We celebrate the many individuals who have left their mark on the Center’s story: board leaders; dedicated staff members; teaching artists; past Muses; committed volunteers, generous donors; and philanthropic partners—along with every class participant and event attendee who has contributed to the Center’s vitality. Together, these contributions have shaped an institution that belongs to the entire community.
“As we reflect on our past 75 years—beginning with our founder, Dr. Carroll Andrews—we are deeply grateful for the extraordinary community that has built the Sonoma Community Center,” says Vanessa Glamore Rognlien, Executive Director. “The Center is the heart of Sonoma, and it has taken the hearts of many people to make it what it is today: a place where our community comes together to connect, create, and learn. Muse 2026 will be a celebration of community at its very best.”
Muse 2026 will also spotlight the legacy of Dr. Carroll B. Andrews, a Sonoma physician whose vision launched the Center’s journey. In 1952, Dr. Andrews purchased the former Sonoma Grammar School and donated it to the community, transforming it into a hub for arts, education, and recreation. His generosity sparked a living, community-driven institution that has served Sonoma Valley for 75 years—and continues to do so today.
The milestone year will begin with the MUSE on August 15, 2026, and culminate with a Birthday Bash Gala Celebration in August 2027. The Center will hold special programming throughout the year and work with the community to envision the next 75 years of serving the Valley and beyond. The MUSE Gala is an annual celebration of a person(s) who has made a significant contribution to Sonoma Valley. Recent Muses include Manuel Merjil, Kimberly and Simon Blattner; Kevin McNeely; Gary Edwards; Steve and Holly Kyle; Elaine Bell and the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation.
MUSE 2026 will be a walk through the decades, tracing the Center’s history from 1952 to the present day. Guests will be invited to add names, memories, and milestones to an interactive timeline, which will be preserved in a time capsule to be opened in 2150, carrying today’s stories into the future.
The MUSE 2026 Gala begins with an outdoor cocktail reception at the Center, followed by an unforgettable evening of celebration. Guests will enjoy a silent and live auction featuring one-of-a-kind art, experiences, and offerings from local artists, craftspeople, businesses, and wineries. A spectacular al fresco dinner catered by the girl & the fig sets the stage for live entertainment, meaningful moments, and a few surprises along the way. As always, MUSE is an event not to be missed.
Proceeds from the Muse Gala support the Sonoma Community Center’s operations, including classes, workshops, community events, and scholarship programs that ensure access for all.
Tickets go on sale in June 2026. Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Mary Catherine Cutcliffe at 707-931-4289 or visiting www.sonomacommunitycenter.org/muse.
Community – Innovation – Creativity – Inclusion – Leadership
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Media Contact:
Vanessa Rognlien
Executive Director, Sonoma Community Center
[email protected]
707-707-938-4626 ext 4
SonomaCommunityCenter.org
