Client Spotlight - Kate Casprowiak-Scher - Reviving the Bellevue Arts Museum for Bellevue Residents ad

I was made Executive Director of Bellevue Arts Museum under auspicious circumstances. Our institution is coming up on its 75th year, and our Steven Holl designed building, is almost 24 years old.  We host a range of exhibits, from regional and up and coming artists to established globally recognized names.  We are truly a gem in the heart of downtown Bellevue. And yet, when I was made Executive Director, it was at a time of financial crisis and possible closure.  

My role at the museum encompasses many responsibilities.  Foremost is helping to guide the museum to a healthier financial status.  As you can imagine, this is not a quick process, but one that relies upon continued relationship building with all sorts of Bellevue constituents:  community leaders, business leaders and members of the local government.  I am constantly meeting with people and trying to forge partnership and advocating for the very real and awesome opportunity that BAM represents.  Museums are environments where people engage in creative thinking and mind-opening conversations. However, because we are at a critical impasse, partners of BAM have a much greater opportunity to help shape the cultural landscape of Bellevue and the greater Eastside. Change is our best answer to the challenges we face.  I find that incredibly exciting.  

I am quite fortunate to be leading this institution, despite our very real and difficult issues.  I have a team of around 20 staff members, who I do my best to support as we carry a workload that is disproportionately heavy in comparison to our job descriptions.  But the BAMfam, as we call ourselves, is resilient and driven by a faith in the important work we do and the conviction that we can do much more.

In short, I am a team leader, communicator, strategic thinker, cheerleader, problem solver and advocate for the arts in Bellevue. And on my favorite days, I am an art historian, touring folks through our galleries and remembering why I chose a career in the arts

Read more about Kate’s journey with the Bellevue Art Museum here!