OUR HISTORY

Bellevue Arts Museum has grown alongside the city of Bellevue to become the Pacific Northwest's center for the exploration of art, craft and design. With a long history of community outreach, the Museum today is home to innovative exhibitions, dynamic educational programs and special events that engage our audiences in new conversations about art.

EARLY DAYS

In 1947, a group of extraordinary volunteers founded the Pacific Northwest Arts and Crafts Association, BAM's parent organization. They had two goals in mind: to promote the artists of the region, and to establish a cultural and educational center serving Bellevue and the greater Eastside.

THE EVOLUTION OF BAM ARTSfair

In July of 1947, the Pacific Northwest Arts and Crafts Association hosted their first event, an outdoor arts fair held at the Bellevue Square regional shopping center. Over more than 60 years, this annual celebration has evolved into a much-treasured Bellevue tradition. The Bellevue Arts Museum ARTSfair today is one of the largest and most prominent festivals in the Pacific Northwest, featuring more than 300 leading artists and attracting an average of 320,000 art enthusiasts every year. Learn more about the BAM ARTSfair >

A MUSEUM FINDS ITS HOME

Bellevue Art Museum, then spelled without the "s" in "Arts," was established in 1975. Since that time the Museum has undergone a series of transitions and experienced an extraordinary amount of growth. It was initially housed in a former schoolhouse, followed by a former funeral home and later was established on the third floor of the Bellevue Square shopping center. On December 31st, 2001, the Museum at last opened the doors of its first purpose-built home; a stunning, red building in the heart of downtown Bellevue designed by renowned architect Steven Holl. Learn more about the Museum's architecture >

ART, CRAFT AND DESIGN

On June 18, 2005, after extensive research and community feedback, BAM opened its doors with a revitalized mission focused on art, craft and design and an emphasis on Northwest artists. An "s" was added to "Arts," symbolizing the inclusion of craft and design. Under the leadership of Michael W. Monroe, an influential figure in American craft for many decades, BAM quickly garnered acclaim for its dynamic exhibitions and programs. When Monroe retired in 2010 and was named Director Emeritus, he was succeeded by accomplished BAM curator Stefano Catalani, who now serves as the Museum's Director of Curatorial Affairs/Artistic Director.

BAM TODAY

BAM continues its deep commitment of fostering Northwest artists while bringing national and international collections to its community. A groundbreaking, bi-yearly exhibition series focused on new works by Northwest artist and entitled BAM Biennial opened to critical acclaim in 2010. That same year, BAM launched the annual INDULGE: jewelry marketplace, a "mini BAM ARTSfair" featuring jewelry artists from all over the U.S.

A leading institution in its field, BAM has contributed to varied publications as well as self-published several catalogues, many of which are now nationally and internationally circulated. Five BAM-originated exhibitions, three of which featuring Northwest artists, have traveled to other museum venues, sparking new conversations across the continent. 2011 exhibition highlights include Wanxin Zhang: A Ten Year Survey, Think Twice: New Latin American Jewelry and George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher. BAM ARTSfair is celebrating its 65th consecutive year in 2011 and the Museum continues to be dedicated to enrich the lives of its community through its exhibitions and richly-varied programs.