“I believe the Hall will eventually be a community landmark that residents will come to know as a place of learning and enjoyment. The Civic Center campus draws a number of higher-level, sophisticated presentations and events but is lacking a suitable facility to properly host them. The Hall would complete this need at a level that is expected in and of Newport Beach.” Thomas Johnson, Publisher Stu News Newport Stu News Laguna “Places like the proposed Lecture Hall are what takes a community from good to great. It promotes community and serves as a place for interactivity, learning and the building of social capital.” Steve Rosansky, President & CEO The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce “With the rapid change in technology, on demand independent news sources, and access to the world through our phones, a CENTER like this is necessary for a world class city such as Newport Beach.” Meghan E. McNulty, President Law Offices of Meghan E. McNulty Board of Advisors Newport Beach Foundation “As the official nonprofit arts agency for the County of Orange, we routinely take the pulse of artists and arts organizations throughout our community. Beyond funding, the greatest need expressed to us is for performance and exhibition space. Understandably, spaces at schools and colleges are primarily for curricular use and rarely available. A space like Witte Hall is greatly anticipated by area performing arts groups—from grass roots community ensembles to worldclass professional companies. These will supplement the Newport Beach Public Library’s own presentations with a depth and variety of offerings that will enrich community members of all ages and backgrounds for many years to come. In a short period of time, Witte Hall will become a much-beloved cultural asset that people will wonder how they could ever have lived without.” Richard Stein, President & CEO Arts Orange County “The proposed Lecture Hall will be one of those community amenities that once it is in operation, many will wonder how we were able to do without it for so long! It will stimulate a robust variety of programs and offerings that will allow many more residents to enjoy and benefit from. I am excited about the possibilities it will add to Newport Beach.” Homer Bludau Former Newport Beach City Manager Civic Leader “Newport Beach is truly blessed with an abundance of assets from our aspirational lifestyle to our crown jewel: Newport Harbor. One thing we need more of, however, is quality meeting space for the community as well as for special events and meeting groups. For example, our Film Festival, which has grown significantly over the last several years, needs to use Costa Mesa venues to accommodate screenings. Although our hotels have some very nice space, it doesn’t fulfill the demand from community events to client meetings and events, The new Witte Hall will be a wonderful asset that will not only support Newport Beach residents and community groups but also corporate and association clients who need an attractive auditorium venue when visiting and doing business in the city.” Gary Sherwin, President & CEO Newport Beach & Company Modern curved-glass campus building with landscaping

The Inaugural Season

Beyond Books

To Engage Learners • To Inspire Thinkers • To Nurture Civic Connections

Witte Hall will transform the quality and character of programs and events of the Newport Beach Public Library and Library Foundation as well as the extended Newport Beach community. It will enrich people’s lives and be a source of pride for our community by providing informative and entertaining programming of literary, cultural, artistic, and educational value. A modern auditorium with tiered, cushioned, permanent seating for 299 patrons, it has technically advanced stage lighting and audio-visual equipment, and excellent acoustics to accommodate a range of presentations from lectures to musical performances, from documentary films to children’s programs. Witte Hall is destined to serve our community for decades to come. Designed by award-winning architect Robert R. Coffee Architect + Associates, it is an inspiring building and a cornerstone to the impressive Newport Beach Civic Center. Much like the Central Library itself, the Hall was funded by a public/private partnership. The City of Newport Beach provided 50% of the cost of the design, site preparation, and construction. The donor community, through the efforts of the Library Foundation of Newport Beach, contributed the remaining 50%.

Learn more about programs in Witte Hall.

THANK YOU TO OUR INAUGURAL SPONSORS

Hoag
Samueli Foundation
McKenna

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