STOCKTON — Art and sports lovers alike in the Central Valley now have the opportunity to see two world-class exhibits on display at the Haggin Museum in Stockton – Picasso’s 26-piece La Tauromaquia collection and Baseball America’s Game, on the heels of the museum’s major renovation this year.

After re-opening its core art galleries a few weeks ago, an ambitious project to make the 86-year-old museum and regional landmark more accessible and interactive for visitors, the public will get its first look at the Haggin’s Picasso exhibit of etchings that illustrate the artist’s fascination with the bullfight, and Baseball America’s Game, including iconic photographs, objects and paintings representing the history of baseball.

Both exhibits were made possible through Haggin Museum’s unique partnership with Bank of America, which has loaned the collections through its Art in our Communities program. This program loans art pieces and entire collections to museums across the country to bring world-class exhibits to their communities. The museums borrow the exhibitions at no cost to increase access to important works of art while at the same time generating vital revenue.

“The magnitude of Bank of America’s art collection offers a great opportunity for our community to see high-caliber exhibitions such as these,” says Susan Obert, Haggin Museum’s Deputy Director.

Bank of America also provides Haggin Museum support materials, marketing funds and visibility to draw new audiences including school tours. To complement this partnership, Bank of America’s Museum’s on Us program offers bank cardholders free weekend access to the museum.

This is the third loaned exhibit Haggin Museum has utilized from the Arts in Our Communities program, the first being The Art Books of Henri Matisse in 2009.

Haggin Museum is a nonprofit art and history museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located at 1201 N. Pershing Ave., Stockton.

It is  open to the public Saturdays-Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays from 1:30 to 5 p.m. and 1st & 3rd Thursdays from 1:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (ages 65 and older), $5 for students and youth (ages 10-17), and free for children under 10, museum members, and on the first Saturday of each month. For more information call 209.940.6300 or visit www.hagginmuseum.org.