BELLEVUE, WA.- Effective April 1, 2009, Bellevue Arts Museum will be open seven days a week, including Mondays.

New hours of operation (for both Bellevue Arts Museum and the Museum Store):

Monday - Thursday: 11 am - 5 pm
Friday: 11 am - 8 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 12 - 5 pm

The Board of Trustees and staff are excited to offer patrons even more time and opportunity to experience the ever-expanding world of art, craft and design at Bellevue Arts Museum, and to shop at one of the best Museum Stores in the country. “We are more accessible than ever,” Board President Susan Edelheit states. “We look forward to being one of the few museums who welcome visitors on Mondays.”

The museum is pleased to continue to offer tours to schools and other educational organizations between 10 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Tours before 11 am will be private, making it an even more rewarding experience for participants.

Free First Friday will continue to be held the first Friday of every month with free admission to the museum’s galleries all day (11 am – 8 pm) in addition to lectures, artist demonstrations and other activities.

Museum admission will remain the same ($9 adults, $7 seniors/ students, Free for children under 6, Free for members). “We’re proud to continue to provide exceptional art and art education opportunities at such affordable rates and thank all of our financial supporters who make this happen,” Interim Executive Director Mark Crawford explains. “And as always, members enjoy free admission to the museum all year long in addition to many other benefits.”

In celebration of the new hours, the museum will offer a 50% discount on admission on all four Mondays during the month of April.

By adjusting the hours of operation the museum will also be able to make the most efficient use of its resources for admissions, retail and security. “Small changes can make a big difference,” Crawford explains. “We’re not only open seven days a week, we’re also saving money doing it!”

Bellevue Arts Museum currently has a number of exciting exhibitions on view that is well worth the trip, including: The Book Borrowers: Contemporary Artists Transforming the Book (through June 16); American Quilt Classics, 1800 – 1980: The Bresler Collection (through May 31), Intertwined: Contemporary Baskets from the Sara and David Lieberman Collection (through March 22) and Etsuko Ichikawa: Traces of the Molten State (through May 3). On April 9, a new exhibition by renowned Northwest wood sculptor Michael Peterson, entitled Michael Peterson: Evolution | Revolution, will open to the public. A vast variety of engaging educational programs for people of all ages and abilities complete the Museum’s offerings.