The Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) has announced its closure to the public, effective Wednesday, September 4, 2024. The museum has been known for its exhibitions, cross-cultural programming, and events, including the Bellevue Arts Fair. Although BAM will cease its programs and exhibitions, its leadership remains committed to managing the Arts Fair in 2025.
BAM, like many American museums, has faced financial difficulties due to revenue losses from decreased attendance, fundraising, and retail sales since the end of the pandemic. Despite the museum’s efforts to address these challenges, it has been unable to sustain its operations.
Kate Casprowiak Scher, Executive Director of BAM, stated, “BAM was established almost 50 years ago and was largely the product of volunteerism and a drive to give the Eastside community access to the arts year round. Over 23 years ago, the museum moved into the ambitious and now iconic Steven Holl building, constructed with the idea to ‘See, Explore, Make.’ Generations of Bellevueites have supported this museum and we are deeply proud of the exhibitions and programming we have produced. Unfortunately, the financial model in the new building has never been sustainable and it has relied too heavily on ‘one-time’ big donors. We are caught in a cycle of financial instability that prevents us from reaching our potential. Still, I am incredibly grateful for the staff, the board, the docents, the advisory council, our members and everyone who has taken the time to visit or support our museum.”
As a not-for-profit organization, BAM depends heavily on grants, donations, and sponsorships. However, the combination of decreased donations, rising operational costs, and reduced visitor numbers post-pandemic has placed BAM in an unsustainable position.
“Closing the museum is not a decision we take lightly,” Scher said. “We have explored many different paths to keep our doors open. We have reached out to government, corporate and community stakeholders but have consistently come up short. There is great hesitancy to invest in an institution with preexisting financial issues. I find it frustrating because I know we have immense potential to serve the public and build Bellevue’s cultural identity. This is not just a loss for the museum, but for the entire Bellevue community. We understand the disappointment and sadness this news will bring, and we share in those feelings.”
Earlier in the year, BAM launched the SAVE BAM campaign and raised over $350,000 in six weeks. Although this support extended the museum’s operations and allowed it to host the Bellevue Arts Fair, it was not sufficient to engage the community’s largest stakeholders.
BAM is recognized for its role in the community, providing exhibitions and programs that have impacted many individuals. Board president Jay Pathy stated, “The impact of our closure will be felt deeply by those who have come to rely on the museum as a place of learning, inspiration, and connection. Schools, families, and individuals who visit BAM regularly as part of their educational and personal journeys will feel this loss acutely.”
As BAM closes, the museum has filed for Receivership. This decision is intended to protect the community asset and restructure the institution. Although Receivership is new territory for BAM, it presents an opportunity for reinvention and partnership. The museum will maintain a small transitional staff to support reorganization, run private events, and manage the Arts Fair 2025.
Pathy concluded, “We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported BAM over the years. Your belief in the power of art and culture has been our greatest strength, and we hope that, in time, we may find a way to bring that spirit back to life in a new and sustainable form.”
That’s sad
Very sad. I hope the organization can come out of receivership with the sustainable business model it needs to be a community asset for generations to come.
Always seemed boring to me, even though I have lived mere blocks away from it in 2 different occasions. And lately, woke. They will never admit wokeness in unattractive, unappealing, and even repulsive. Also, art is not what it used to be and well at least what I saw from the windows it seemed like crafty artisan things rather than “art”. Art is in a Louvre, art is in a State Hermitage, in the Metropolitan, in the British Museum. They want to overcharge to let you see crafty projects. The museum that are silly or themed oriented usually said so and they don’t pretend to be something else. They are interesting, fun, interactive. BAM was neither. There I said it.
It is very sad the museum is closing. It started with such promise.
The Eastside Heritage Center ( Bellevue Historical Society ) has an amazing collection of Bellevue and Eastside history…. papers, photographs, artifacts, clothing…..a huge collection!!!
Could the museum building be reborn as an Historic museum??…it would need city support for sure, as the Historic Society is going thru hard times also….It could be a research, display place for all the Eastside heritage organizations….
I’m not surprised given how they seemed to pat themselves on the back for putting on marginalized, elitist, politicized, and audience-unfriendly exhibits over the past couple of decades. Good riddance if it were to continue that way, but with the deep-pocketed donor community of the Eastside I’m hoping they’ll re-emerge much improved.
Seriously morbid for a new artist transplant in Seattle. Some of the richest billionaires and companies are here, yet the cities of Seattle and Bellevue are crumbling with such depressing news, crime, homelessness violence, closures and more all year.
In a city with so much wealth it is alarming that the choice comes down to closing the art museum. Those that have worked so hard to keep BAM afloat are to be commended for their efforts. Community support means everyone and too much of the wealth leaves the community. What does this say about Bellevue?! I wouldn’t mind so much if they were going to turn it into a shelter for the unhoused. I doubt that will happen.
Thanks for the memories. Many productive and meaningful philanthropy events held in that space.
Larry (HopeDealer)
larryjsnyder.com
“Interesting” announcement – the comments are interesting as well – they exemplify one of the most important rights we still have – the Ist Amendment
Given what’s on- going in the USA enjoy our current privilege – it is under assault – we all need to fight the assault.
Bellevue and Seattle will be less because of this closure. I was a member in its first years and when it transitioned into a craft focused venue I was excited. We have fine art museums in the area, so craft need to be represented. I join in being disappointed that the wealth in our area cannot see this as a crucial advantage to life in the Northwest.
No surprise and a long time coming. I never saw the BAM as a true art museum but rather a platform for craft exhibition which I never thought would suffice to keep the doors open. When my wife and I offered to volunteer a few years ago, we received a chilly reception from board members who were only interested in monetary donations. I predicted then that the BAM would fail. Hopefully a new leadership group with vision for a true museum will step up.
I’m hoping Bellevue Botanical Garden is not next. Some of their trees and shrubs loom woke.
I’m surprised by some of the rude comments here, Woke, really? Good riddance, really? Were you ever told, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all? Well, as one person noted, we do have a First Amendment. I’m an Emeritus docent at BAM and a long time member even before the museum was built and was housed in the beautiful Steven Holl building. There have been fabulous exhibitions at BAM and yes, the museum has specialized in craft art, but we have some incredible local artists who work in those mediums. Exhibits with renowned NW ceramic artists such as Patti Warashina, Tip Toland and Beth Cavener are unmistakably art and fabulous art at that. The Bellevue Arts Museum was the center for arts and culture on the Eastside otherwise sadly it’s mostly a mall. It is very sad and disappointing that with all the wealth in this area that more people didn’t see this institution as worthy of supporting and saving. It will be such a loss for Bellevue.
I’m surprised by some of the rude comments here, Woke, really? Good riddance, really? Were you ever told, if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all? Well, as one person noted, we do have a First Amendment. I’m an Emeritus docent at BAM and a long time member even before the museum was built and was housed in the beautiful Steven Holl building. There have been fabulous exhibitions at BAM and yes, the museum has specialized in craft art, but we have some incredible local artists who work in those mediums. Exhibits with renowned NW ceramic artists such as Patti Warashina, Tip Toland and Beth Cavener are unmistakably art and fabulous art at that. The Bellevue Arts Museum was the center for arts and culture on the Eastside otherwise sadly it’s mostly a mall. It is very unfortunate and disappointing that with all the wealth in this area that more people didn’t see this institution as worthy of supporting and saving. It will be such a loss for Bellevue.
So saddened by this news. Long time fan of the BAM. They did have craft, but they also had some amazing art by local artists who are either now already established in the US/world or up-and-coming in the art world. Beautiful work always on display. This will be a great loss for the Eastside community and I can’t believe what this says about the values of the area… it’s all shopping and real estate…
Blame the museum staff and their expensive healthcare costs
It wouldn’t be worth just closing it. More special events, festivities, art and fashion shows, more engagement of local emerging artists as well as established collections keep a museum open.
Go Woke, Go Broke.
Woke? Some of you seem to have no idea what that is. It’s easy enough to look it up. If not look at your mom’s dictionary. Art is in the eye of the beholder. Obviously “good riddance” Mr Trump man and John who just can’t stop commenting and Billy the lost in translation guy do not have the education to comprehend art past 9th grade.