Published Sunday, January 22, 2012
KITSAP SUN
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND —
The slow pace of fundraising and construction has delayed the opening of the West Sound's first art museum by at least a year.
The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art had planned to open its
state-of-the-art, $13 million facility on Winslow Way by mid-2012. Now,
the opening date isn't likely until late spring or early summer 2013,
and is contingent on a $2.3 million fundraising push that museum
supporters hope to finish before the summer construction season.
"We were just not making enough (fundraising) progress for it to be responsible of us to move on to the second phase," said Chris Snow, a member of the museum's board, which took shape in 2009.
Last year, the nonprofit museum opened an office, classroom and 95-seat auditorium in an Island Gateway commercial building that will eventually connect with the museum's main exhibition building, which had its foundation completed early this month. The design for the finished building calls for a two-story wedge of steel and glass jutting toward the high-traffic Winslow Way-Highway 305 intersection.
Museum supporters say it will be a landmark building seen by nearly all who visit Winslow by ferry or travel in via the highway.
Totaling 20,000 square feet, the museum will have room for a permanent contemporary art collection, traveling exhibitions, retail space and a coffee shop. The permanent collection will specialize in Bainbridge and Northwest artists.
The museum has raised just over $11 million of its $15.3 million capital campaign goal. The money raised beyond construction costs will help pay for the museum's three-person staff and other operating costs.
The $2.3 million that museum supporters hope to raise in the coming months would boost the board's confidence before it green-lights the final construction phase.
"We just couldn't keep going with construction and sleep well at night," said Snow, who is expected to take over as board president this month.
Fundraising slowed after an initial flurry of dollars from local donors. The museum is searching for off-island funding from corporations, private foundations and government granting agencies before it begins a drive for smaller contributions from individuals and families.
"Initially, we worked with the founders and board members and the relationships they have in funding circles," said Greg Robinson, the museum's executive director. "Now, we're trying to go more broadly."
The museum's biggest success in the broader fundraising arena was obtaining a $502,000 grant from the state last year.
"That helps us leverage other funds," Robinson said. "It's kind of like a ... seal of approval."
A key to drawing dollars from large foundations and corporate donors is proving the museum has strong local support, Robinson said.
That's part of the reason the museum began offering its 60-person capacity classroom and auditorium to various cultural and nonprofit groups for free during the summer. The museum began charging fees for its facilities during the winter.
Kitsap Regional Library, the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Bainbridge have used the auditorium for community gatherings. The newly formed Winslow Art Center makes regular use of the classroom for drawing and calligraphy classes.
The neighboring Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) has held a summer camp and musical theater performances in the museum's spaces.
"We've been very, very grateful to them," said Susan Sivitz, KiDiMu's executive director. "With the extra space, we were able to double the number of offerings during our summer camp."
The two museums plan to continue their close partnership.
"We're showing we have and deserve broad-based support," said Robinson, who led La Conner's Museum of Northwest Art for five years before joining the Bainbridge museum in late 2010.
Snow expects the art museum and Bainbridge public schools to form a relationship that could include regular student museum visits and art instruction.
He would like to see more groups make use of the auditorium, which has a theater-quality sound and video system.
"Off-island money (sources) will step forward if they know there's a positive momentum of support here," Snow said. "But I think we should be building support from people here on Bainbridge Island on principle because this is the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art."
While raising money hasn't been as easy as expected, Robinson said the work required in planning the building played a larger role in slowing the museum's progress.
"I think during the last year, the organization realized the complexity of the planning process, and how long it would take to (develop) the site," he said.
Adding to the complexity was the recent push to have the building reach gold-level certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The initial design, which incorporated recycled materials, stormwater collection and several other earth-friendly features, had aimed for a lower silver rating.
An added geothermal mechanical system provided much of the LEED ratings boost the museum wanted. The system, which was completed this month, will pull heat from the ground to warm the building, thereby reducing its dependence on the power grid.
For Robinson, building the museum has encompassed much more than the building itself.
The museum began planning construction and fundraising almost immediately after a group of island art lovers gathered around the art museum idea.
"We've been building a whole new organization, not just a building," he said.
"We were just not making enough (fundraising) progress for it to be responsible of us to move on to the second phase," said Chris Snow, a member of the museum's board, which took shape in 2009.
Last year, the nonprofit museum opened an office, classroom and 95-seat auditorium in an Island Gateway commercial building that will eventually connect with the museum's main exhibition building, which had its foundation completed early this month. The design for the finished building calls for a two-story wedge of steel and glass jutting toward the high-traffic Winslow Way-Highway 305 intersection.
Museum supporters say it will be a landmark building seen by nearly all who visit Winslow by ferry or travel in via the highway.
Totaling 20,000 square feet, the museum will have room for a permanent contemporary art collection, traveling exhibitions, retail space and a coffee shop. The permanent collection will specialize in Bainbridge and Northwest artists.
The museum has raised just over $11 million of its $15.3 million capital campaign goal. The money raised beyond construction costs will help pay for the museum's three-person staff and other operating costs.
The $2.3 million that museum supporters hope to raise in the coming months would boost the board's confidence before it green-lights the final construction phase.
"We just couldn't keep going with construction and sleep well at night," said Snow, who is expected to take over as board president this month.
Fundraising slowed after an initial flurry of dollars from local donors. The museum is searching for off-island funding from corporations, private foundations and government granting agencies before it begins a drive for smaller contributions from individuals and families.
"Initially, we worked with the founders and board members and the relationships they have in funding circles," said Greg Robinson, the museum's executive director. "Now, we're trying to go more broadly."
The museum's biggest success in the broader fundraising arena was obtaining a $502,000 grant from the state last year.
"That helps us leverage other funds," Robinson said. "It's kind of like a ... seal of approval."
A key to drawing dollars from large foundations and corporate donors is proving the museum has strong local support, Robinson said.
That's part of the reason the museum began offering its 60-person capacity classroom and auditorium to various cultural and nonprofit groups for free during the summer. The museum began charging fees for its facilities during the winter.
Kitsap Regional Library, the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce and Sustainable Bainbridge have used the auditorium for community gatherings. The newly formed Winslow Art Center makes regular use of the classroom for drawing and calligraphy classes.
The neighboring Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) has held a summer camp and musical theater performances in the museum's spaces.
"We've been very, very grateful to them," said Susan Sivitz, KiDiMu's executive director. "With the extra space, we were able to double the number of offerings during our summer camp."
The two museums plan to continue their close partnership.
"We're showing we have and deserve broad-based support," said Robinson, who led La Conner's Museum of Northwest Art for five years before joining the Bainbridge museum in late 2010.
Snow expects the art museum and Bainbridge public schools to form a relationship that could include regular student museum visits and art instruction.
He would like to see more groups make use of the auditorium, which has a theater-quality sound and video system.
"Off-island money (sources) will step forward if they know there's a positive momentum of support here," Snow said. "But I think we should be building support from people here on Bainbridge Island on principle because this is the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art."
While raising money hasn't been as easy as expected, Robinson said the work required in planning the building played a larger role in slowing the museum's progress.
"I think during the last year, the organization realized the complexity of the planning process, and how long it would take to (develop) the site," he said.
Adding to the complexity was the recent push to have the building reach gold-level certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The initial design, which incorporated recycled materials, stormwater collection and several other earth-friendly features, had aimed for a lower silver rating.
An added geothermal mechanical system provided much of the LEED ratings boost the museum wanted. The system, which was completed this month, will pull heat from the ground to warm the building, thereby reducing its dependence on the power grid.
For Robinson, building the museum has encompassed much more than the building itself.
The museum began planning construction and fundraising almost immediately after a group of island art lovers gathered around the art museum idea.
"We've been building a whole new organization, not just a building," he said.
