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Press and Media Archive
Official Media Release
October 13, 2006
Courtesy: City of Stockton and The Haggin Museum
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Stockton, CA - The Stockton Arts Commission will honor individuals, organizations and business that have contributed to sustaining the arts in our community at its gala Arts Awards Celebration on Friday, Oct. 20, at the Bob Hope Theatre. Museum Director Tod Ruhstaller will receive Stockton's Top Arts Recognition Award, also known as the STAR Award.
Tod will be recognized for his more than 20 years of work to develop the Haggin into Stockton’s premier cultural center. In addition to bringing major fine arts exhibitions and conserving and restoring the museum’s collections, the commission credited Tod with developing partnerships with area arts organizations, introducing diverse cultural exhibits and expanding the museum’s reach into the community through education, events, workshops, tours, concerts and recitals.
"I'm both honored and humbled," Tod said. "While I am extremely proud of my tenure with this institution, I also realize that the many accomplishments of The Haggin Museum over the past 22 years are not attributable to any individual, but rather to the collective efforts of a staff of talented professionals and a cadre of dedicated volunteers."
Other honorees at the awards gala will be the Downtown Stockton Alliance for the inaugural season of its Art Walk event and Maxine DalBen, owner and founder of the Harlequin House Art Center, for her decades of instruction, encouragement and mentoring of artists.
The awards gala will also recognize several anniversaries in the regional arts: Education Through Music, Inc.- Musical Chairs Children’s Concert Series (25 years); Stockton Friends of Chamber Music (50 years) and The Haggin Museum (75 years).
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a no-host bar and "Taste Of Downtown," featuring entrées and desserts from various downtown restaurants. Art curated by the Tidewater Art Center and Gallery will be displayed in the theatre's main foyer and mezzanine.
The one-hour awards presentation will begin at 8 p.m. in the auditorium and feature performances by New Dance Company, Stockton Theatre Project, WOW, Inc., singers Patricia Mercado, Patricio Piedra, Greg and Steve, Linda Tregle International Dance Company, and filmmaker Sophoan Sorn.
The event’s honorary host committee includes Marian Jacobs, Ron Berberian, Vince Perrin, Gil Dellinger, Judy Caruso-Williamson, and Maestro Peter Jaffe.
Tickets are $15, $25 and $30, and can be purchased at the Bob Hope Theatre. Call the Stockton Arts Commission at (209) 937-7488 for more information.
Note: Select phone numbers and email addresses from this media release have been deleted for privacy.