New record set at Bellevue Art Museum’s annual fundraiser

Event chair Cappy Thompson (standing, fourth from right) is pictured with museum friends and staff.

The Bellevue Arts Museum in Bellevue, Washington hosted their annual fundraiser, Artful Evening, on July 22^nd, 2009, with more than 400 art collectors, political officials, and community members in attendance. Glass artist Cappy Thompson, known for her extraordinary painting on glass, was the event chair. Collectors Rick and Bonnie Colette were given special honors for their support of and service to the museum.

Since its debut in 1953, Artful Evening has helped raise funds to support the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs with the goal of making BAM more accessible and affordable.  A new record was set with $600,000 in funds raised this year, all the more remarkable considering the economic climate.

This is a new record for the museum, with the attendance and income steadily increasing each year.  Susan Edelheit, the museum’s president of the board of trustees  says, “We are immensely grateful for the tremendous dedication and trust the community has demonstrated in the Museum, despite the challenging economic times.”

Noted philanthropists Jack and Becky Benaroya were in attendance at the Bellevue fundraiser.

The evening consisted of a silent auction, featuring 90 works of arts that had been donated, a live auction, and a presentation of the 2009 Carol Duke Artist Awards of Excellence.  Ten award winners were each given a $1,000 prize in memory of one of the original founders of the fair, Carol Duke. Artful Evening is currently the largest annual fundraising activity benefiting museum programs.

For more information: http://www.bellevuearts.org

—Marianne Mychaskiw