BIMA celebrates its 5th Anniversary Year by showcasing some of the diverse artworks donated to the Collection.

This exhibition is part two of the BIMA@5 exhibition, begun in summer 2018. BIMA has a small but growing Permanent Art Collection (PAC). It includes actual and promised gifts of contemporary art and craft, with a focus on artists from the Puget Sound Region. The main exception is the Artist’s Books Collection – promised gifts of BIMA’s Founder, Cynthia Sears. That special collection extends beyond the Puget Sound region, and includes work from national and international artists.

The PAC includes various media such as painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass, wood, artist’s books, fiber, and jewelry art. We collect works by artists at all stages of their careers.

We do not have an acquisitions fund to purchase art. Instead, we rely on compelling donations from private collections, estates, galleries, and artists. BIMA is collecting slowly and deliberately.

There is a formal process, including review by the Art Acquisitions and Exhibitions (A&E) Committee (comprised of board, staff, and community members), with Board endorsement. BIMA typically rotates art from the PAC twice per year, or two of every three rotations.