BELLEVUE, WA.- Bellevue Arts Museum, the Pacific Northwest's center for the exploration of art, craft and design, announce the search for a Managing Director. This newly created position will oversee all administrative functions of the Museum, including fundraising, communications, operations and finance, and work in close partnership with Director of Curatorial Affairs/Artistic Director Stefano Catalani. A search committee, comprised of board, staff and community members, has been formed and the search is scheduled to launch at the end of May.
The announcement comes from both the Board of Trustees and Mark Crawford, who has served as BAM's Executive Director/CEO for nearly three years. The Managing Director will replace the Executive Director/CEO position, formalizing the dual leadership structure the Museum has had in place for well over a year.
"Balancing strong artistic vision with equally strong administrative leadership has proven to be the perfect model for the Museum's growing needs and has allowed us to excel at all aspects of the Museum," says President of the Board of Trustees, Anne Kilcup, "and I'd like to thank Mark for his immense contribution to BAM's success." Mr. Crawford was hired to strengthen the Museum's internal operations and to provide support during the now-completed artistic leadership transition. With those tasks accomplished, BAM is now entering its next phase of growth. "Mark has positioned us stronger than ever," Kilcup continues. "He's been an avid supporter of the dual leadership structure ever since he came on and has set the stage for this new chapter in BAM's history." Mr. Crawford's term is scheduled to conclude at the end of August, at which point the Board expects to fill the Managing Director position.
"BAM is an outstanding artistic institution and it has been a privilege to be part of an organization doing such great work day in and day out," says Crawford. "The vitality of the Museum, the breadth of its exhibitions and the quality of its programs make this a unique and vital part of our cultural landscape. I'm confident that this leadership model will help sustain and grow the Museum in the future."
2011 continues to be an exciting year of inspiring exhibitions and engaging community programs. In just a few weeks, BAM will open two new exhibitions: Midway, a new installation by Seattle-based metalsmith Cathy McClure and the Northwest's premier of Think Twice: New Latin American Jewelry. A unique array of artist talks, kids & family programs and other events will be held in conjunction with both exhibitions. Later this summer, from July 29 through 31, the Museum will once again bring one of the largest and most-treasured arts festivals to life, BAM artsfair. Featuring over 300 juried artists, this three-day celebration welcomes over 320,000 visitors every year. "I'm thrilled about all that the future holds," says Kilcup. "The Museum is such an important part of community life and we can't wait to share all we have to offer."
