Bellevue Arts Museum facts for kids
Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) in 2007
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Location | 510 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, Washington United States |
| Type | Art museum |
| Architect | Steven Holl |
The Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) is a cool place to visit in Bellevue, Washington. It's a museum that shows off modern art, amazing crafts, and clever designs. BAM is a non-profit group that started in 1975. They always have new art shows for everyone to enjoy. Since 2001, the museum has been in a special three-story building. It was designed by a famous architect named Steven Holl.
Contents
Discover the Bellevue Arts Museum
How the Museum Started
The museum's story began way back in 1947. It started as a street fair for arts and crafts. Later, in 1975, the group became a formal non-profit organization.
After being in a few different spots, the museum moved to the third floor of Bellevue Square in 1983. This is a big shopping center in downtown Bellevue. Then, in 2001, the museum opened its very own building.
A well-known architect, Steven Holl, designed this unique building. Many people in Bellevue believe it helped change downtown. It turned the area from just shops into a cool city with lots of cultural places.
A Fresh Start and New Focus
The museum faced some tough times and had to close for a while in 2003. But people worked hard to raise money, collecting $3 million! After some changes inside, the museum reopened on June 18, 2005.
It came back with a new goal: to focus on art, craft, and design. They also wanted to highlight artists from the Pacific Northwest region.
Unlike many art museums, BAM does not have a permanent collection of art. Instead, it focuses on teaching and hands-on activities. They offer many classes and workshops for people to learn and create. Since the late 2010s, BAM has been known for its unique and high-quality art shows. These shows often feature artists from the Pacific Northwest.
What You Can See: Exciting Exhibitions
The Bellevue Arts Museum has shown many different types of art. These include visual design, modern crafts, and fine art.
Some past exhibitions have featured works from famous people like architect Louis Kahn (in 2016). They also showed art by cartoonist Simon Hanselmann (in 2019). Other artists included wood sculptor Humaira Abid (in 2017) and Tariqa Waters (in 2020 and 2021).
Since 2010, the museum has held the BAM Biennial. This is a special show that highlights art made from one specific material. For example, they might focus on glass, fabric, wood, or clay. The museum has also had solo shows for ceramic artists like Tip Toland (in 2008) and Patti Warashina (in 2013).
Museum Leadership and Programs
Many people have helped lead the Bellevue Arts Museum over the years. Michael Monroe was the director from 2004 to 2008. Stefano Catalani became the director of art, craft, and design in 2010. Benedict Heywood was appointed executive director in 2017. Later, Leigh Ann More became the interim executive director in 2021. In February 2022, E. Michael Whittington was named the museum's executive director.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the museum helped out the community. They gave out over 7,000 arts and crafts kits to children and families. This allowed people to create art at home.
