BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON.- Rick Collette, President Board of Trustees of the Bellevue Art Museum wrote the following statement: "Dear Friends, As promised, I am pleased to give you an update regarding the plans for the re-opening of Bellevue Art Museum.  The difficult decision to temporarily close the Museum at the end of September has been followed by much hard work by the Board of Trustees and the staff. We have received generous counsel-and a heartening dose of confidence-from our community that has included artists, cultural arts organizations, members, civic leaders and supporters of all types.

In October, Mark Haley, formerly CEO and Chairman of the Board of Brown & Haley was hired as the Museum’s Interim Managing Director. He and our staff have held more than 80 meetings with stakeholders of the Museum, talking with over 300 people and received hundreds of letters of support from the public. This process of listening and discussion has yielded great insight leading to the development of a new mission/vision statement by the Board of Trustees. These statements of direction link this Museum with its heritage of craft and design.

Bellevue Art Museum’s Proposed Vision Statement: Bellevue Art Museum illuminates and enriches the human spirit through art, craft and design.

Bellevue Art Museum’s Proposed Mission Statement: Bellevue Art Museum is the Pacific Northwest’s center for the exploration of art, craft and design through exhibition, educational programs and partnerships, emphasizing the work of regional artists.

This proposed mission and vision will be offered for comment during a series of public meetings to be held in January. I encourage you to be part of this conversation. Dates, times and locations will be announced early in the New Year via the press.

Another step in the process is the development of a sustainable business plan. We have formed a committee, which is being led by Board member Frank Statkus of the Boeing Company and supported by respected business and arts leaders. The Board will review the final product early in 2004. In conjunction with this work, C. David Hubanks, a respected leader in the Puget Sound arts community has agreed to lead an aggressive board development effort.

The planned re-opening of Bellevue Art Museum will coincide with the 58th Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair to be held July 23 - 25, 2004. Planning is underway for the best Fair ever - the theme will be a celebration of the artists and volunteers who make this community tradition possible.

During that time, I look forward to greeting you, as does the Board and staff, when the doors swing open and you find a museum committed to art, craft and design and emphasizing the work of regional artists. In the meantime, I will let you know our progress in the first quarter of 2004. I wish you a happy holiday season and a new year filled with promise."