Ruth Holmberg
ArtsBuild (formerly Allied Arts) will present its first Annual Arts Leadership Award to Ruth Holmberg during a reception ceremony on Tuesday, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at The Space at Warehouse Row. The award will recognize Mrs. Holmberg for her support of the arts and cultural community in Chattanooga over the past 68 years.
Presented by ArtsBuild, the Arts Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has made substantial contributions to the arts in Chattanooga and who is actively engaged in the cultural life of the community. The award honors an individual who, through his or her exemplary efforts, has significantly contributed to building a stronger community through the arts.
Ms. Holmberg served as publisher of the The Chattanooga Times from 1964-1992. Her leadership positions in the arts include former chair of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Association and the Hunter Museum of American Art and as a founding member of the Tennessee Arts Commission.
“When we decided to establish this award, there was really no debate over who should be the first recipient,” said Dan Bowers, president of ArtsBuild. “Ruth Holmberg embodies ArtsBuild’s mission of building a stronger community through the arts. Without her vision and unparalleled leadership, Chattanooga would not be the vibrant arts community it is today.”
“It is impossible to say enough about what Ruth has done for the arts in Chattanooga,” said Daniel Stetson, executive director of the Hunter Museum of American Art. “Her involvement with the Hunter spans more than 50 years, and her generosity is visible on the walls in many of our galleries. As a staff member said to me this week, ‘Ruth is an arts angel whose generosity inspires a community.' Ruth is one of the most generous, intelligent and caring arts citizens I have ever had the privilege to know. She is a model to us all.”
In a Chattanooga Times Free Press op-ed in 2011, Ms. Holmberg wrote, “the arts enrich and benefit the lives of the communities we live in. That’s certainly true of Chattanooga. Arts and culture are part of what make our community vibrant and special. Chattanooga has a long history of support for the arts, and the arts have played an integral part in the revitalization of the community. Indeed, the arts will continue to be a major player at the table as the community’s renaissance continues.”
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.artsbuild.com or call 756-2787.