BELLEVUE, WA.- For more than sixty years, the Pacific Northwest community, art collectors worldwide and enthusiasts of all ages have enjoyed the annual Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair presented by Microsoft. This year’s three-day festival, held July 24 - 26, was no exception as an estimated 320,000 visitors came to enjoy the 325 juried artist booths, live entertainment, great food and much more.

2009 marked the 63rd year for this beloved free community event, featuring high quality art and fun for the entire family. This year’s kidsfair sponsored by Overlake Hospital Medical Center, a much anticipated highlight for children of all ages, attracted over 9,000 young participants to the Museum, while sidewalk chalk artist Brian Major, sponsored by Orthodontic Excellence, recreated Georges Seurat’s famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte right outside the Museum. (Major’s chalk masterpiece remains visible to this day and the Museum encourages visitors to stop by BAM to see it.)

Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair highlights included:

►325 juried exhibitors offered unique, handmade arts & crafts. Media included drawing/pastels, fiber, furniture, glass, jewelry, metal work, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, wearables and wood. 90 artists participated for the first time.

►Kidsfair, sponsored by Overlake Hospital Medical Center, featured over 8,000 square feet of fun, hands-on art activities for children, Billions of Bubbles, Sock Puppets, Museum Passport, Preschool Play, Painting Studio, Tie-Dye Art and all-time favorites Bubbles the Clown and Zany Worms!

►Admission to BAM artsfair as well as Bellevue Arts Museum was FREE throughout all three days of the festival thanks to the generous support of The Bellevue Collection.

►Chalk It Up! sponsored by Comcast – a free outdoor chalk activity for children big and small in front of the Museum on 6th Street.

►Arts in Action Demonstrations Stage, sponsored by MulvannyG2 Architecture, featured woodturning, stone carving, screenprinting and more.

►Brian Major chalk painting: Celebrated chalk artist Brian Major recreated a famous masterpiece in chalk thanks to the generous support of Orthodontic Excellence.

►Special exhibit of Carol Duke Artist Awards of Excellence winners was showcased at Bellevue Place from July 20 - 26.

►International Origami exhibit at Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square from July 13 - 26 featured creations by origami artists from around the world.

►Delicious concessions featuring non-profit partners such as Bellevue Rotary, Eastside Shrine Club and the Greater Bellevue Lions Club.

BAM artsfair is an exciting opportunity for artists from all over the United States to showcase and sell their hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind goods. “Knowledgeable and enthusiastic patrons, great location and association with Bellevue Arts Museum, plus a helpful, qualified staff make the Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair one of the most respected fairs in the entire country,” Taman VanScoy, a photographer and one of the participating artists of this year’s fair states.