Our Mission:
At Stocker Arts Center art meets drama and drama meets life. We provide a venue that connects our diverse cultural community to LCCC by entertaining, educating, exciting and inspiring through performances, the arts, and educational events. Our History:
Stocker Arts Center opened its doors in 1980. The 2020-2021 season marks 40 years of the Center presenting the best of the performing and visual arts as well as films for the people of Lorain County and beyond. Over its history, Stocker Arts Center has become one of the top performing and visual arts venues in Ohio. Almost two million people have visited to enjoy one of the thousands of live performances, films, art gallery exhibits and/or community rental events. Stocker Arts Center was again chosen by the readers of PuLse Magazine as the 2019 Best of Lorain County winner in the category of Best Theater and the Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery was again chosen as the 2019 Best Gallery. Named after the late C. Paul Stocker – a successful industrialist who believed in philanthropy and service to educational, civic and community organizations – Stocker Arts Center has hosted artists, vocal and instrumental groups, international performers, dance and theatre troupes, circus performers, politicians, acrobats, celebrities and more. The performances are a variety of professional touring music, theatre, and dance attractions from throughout the United States and around the world. On August 10, 2012, the main theatre in the facility was dedicated as the George and Laurie Hoke Theatre at Stocker Arts Center. At that time, the Lorain County Community College District Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the Lorain County Community College Foundation Board of Directors recognized the Hokes with a plaque and signage in the lobby acknowledging the naming of the theatre. The plaque shares a little of their story: “From the moment they returned home in 1955, George and Laurie Hoke were extraordinary Lorain County leaders. With courage, dedication, and perseverance, Dr. Hoke established the first neurosurgical practice between Cleveland and Toledo while Laurie, a veritable force of nature, set a new standard for civic devotion in countless leadership roles, of which first in her heart was cofounding the Lorain Community Hospital. George and Laurie share the unshakable conviction that education is the key to transforming lives, and music is the key to transporting them. Their generous gift to the college, love of the arts, and service to the community is hereby acknowledged with sincere appreciation and gratitude with the naming of the George and Laurie Hoke Theatre in the C. Paul Stocker Fine Arts and Humanities Center of Lorain County Community College.”
On August 29, 2014, the Studio Theatre in the facility was dedicated as the Judge Joseph E. and Beverly A. Cirigliano Studio Theatre. At the time, Lorain County Community College recognized the Ciriglianos with a plaque and signage in the lobby acknowledging the naming of the theatre. The plaque reads: “The Honorable Judge Joseph E. and Mrs. Beverly A. Cirigliano were planning for the future of today’s students before many of them were even born. Their decades-long commitment to education and philanthropy has shaped the Lorain County Community College of today. For more than thirty years, Judge Cirigliano has shared his expertise, guiding the College as a member of the Lorain County Community College District Board of Trustees. In 1990, Judge Cirigliano invited his personal friend, Jack Nicklaus, to donate a day of his time and talent to establish an annual fundraiser, the LCCC/Jack Nicklaus Scholarship Golf Benefit, to create a much-needed endowment fund for scholarships through the Lorain County Community College Foundation. That endowment fund, now one of the largest of the Foundation’s endowments, has awarded scholarships to more than 1,000 students to date. Champions of accessibility and affordability, the Ciriglianos also created their own endowed scholarship fund in 1993, ensuring that deserving students get the aid they need to pursue their educational goals for decades to come. In honor of their outstanding dedication, generosity and love of the arts, the Lorain County Community College District Board of Trustees and the Lorain County Community College Foundation Board of Directors express their sincere appreciation through the naming of the Judge Joseph E. Cirigliano Studio Theatre.”
Stocker Arts Center features the 988-seat maximum (variable from 934 seats) Hoke Theatre, a 214-seat Lecture Hall, a 215-seat Cinema Hall, a flexible black box called the Cirigliano Studio Theatre, a Dance Studio, a Rehearsal Hall, and the Beth K. Stocker Art Gallery. The gallery exhibitions feature a mixture of professional artists, community, faculty and student work. Paul Stocker Humanities and Fine Arts Center is also home to the Lorain County Community College (LCCC) Division of Arts & Humanities (A & H), and is the performing home for the LCCC Civic Chorale, Collegiate Chorale, Civic Orchestra, Civic Concert Band, Civic Jazz Band, and the Arts and Humanities Theatre program.
