The Bellevue Arts Museum has a new home on the Bellevue College campus, settling into the D Building alongside the college's art gallery, BCTV television station, Carlson Theatre and Stop Gap Studio.
BAM moved to campus on Sept. 18, Bellevue College announced in a press release. The nonprofit, best known for producing the Bellevue Arts Fair, closed its downtown location in September 2024 amid financial challenges, 425 Magazine reported. BAM detailed its plans to relocate to the college campus in June.
The cluster of arts facilities in and around the D Building creates what the college calls a hub for community arts, entertainment and student learning.
"Bringing the Bellevue Arts Museum to Bellevue College will place an extraordinary resource that will enrich students' education through direct engagement with world-class art, building lasting value to our community," said Rich Fukutaki, Bellevue College Board of Trustees chair, in the press release.
BAM CEO Cassandra Johnston called Bellevue College "a natural fit" for the museum, saying both institutions share a commitment to expanding access to the arts and championing the social value of creative and cultural spaces.
The move matters to BAM's future. Board of Directors President Adam Harrison said the organization will continue to produce the Bellevue Arts Fair while working to reinvent itself beyond its former museum walls. He said BAM plans to evolve its mission to respond to the needs of its partners and the broader community.
The two institutions said they are exploring several areas of potential collaboration. Those include Summer Arts Fair internships for Bellevue College students, cultural art workshops open to the community, and a partnership with the college's Interior Design department to co-design BAM's new space. BAM's artist network could also help strengthen the college's existing arts programs and support its on-campus galleries.
No details about lease terms or the financial arrangement between BAM and Bellevue College have been made public.
BAM currently occupies temporary space in the D Building. The organization will move into rooms D274 and D275 after classes relocate to the college's new W Building, expected to open in spring 2027.
