The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA) has built a distinctive identity around the artists, cultures, and creative communities of the Puget Sound region. In this conversation, Executive Director Andrew (Andy) Maus, Deputy Director Korum Bischoff, and Board President Suzanna Darcy discuss the museum’s community-centered mission, its evolving leadership, and its commitment to presenting a wide range of artistic expression. From its exhibitions and artist book collection to its role as a gathering place for Bainbridge Island, BIMA demonstrates how a museum can serve as both a cultural resource and an active participant in its community.
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Guests:
Andrew Maus, Executive Director
Korum Bischoff, Deputy Director
Suzanna Darcy, President of the Board
Key Points
- BIMA is a free, program-forward museum centered on the artists and communities of the Puget Sound region.
- The museum sees itself as a community resource and gathering place, with a role that extends beyond exhibiting and collecting art.
- Its exhibitions present a broad understanding of art and craft, allowing visitors to consider the meaning of artistic expression for themselves.
- The Cynthia Sears Artist Book Collection is a major institutional asset, supporting new programming and an artist residency initiative.
- BIMA presents 15 to 20 unique, internally curated exhibitions each year, giving established and emerging regional artists opportunities to share their work.
Other Points on Museums and Community Engagement
BIMA offers everything new Executive Director Andy Maus values in a museum: free admission, strong education programs, community involvement, and a focus on local artists. His past work at community-focused museums taught him that museums should act like public libraries, sharing their resources freely as true community centers. Because BIMA already shares these values, Maus feels it is a natural fit for his leadership style.
BIMA’s role goes beyond just displaying art. Maus wants the museum to actively use its resources to spark conversation and team up with local artists and neighbors on new projects. Deputy Director Korum Bischoff adds that BIMA lets visitors decide what art means to them by showing a wide mix of objects—from beaded graduation caps to canoes, pottery, and furniture.
The museum is deeply connected to the Puget Sound art scene, using its shows to highlight overlooked and lesser-known local artists. A standout feature is the impressive Cynthia Sears Artist Book Collection. According to Bischoff, BIMA creates 15 to 20 original exhibitions each year, treating new artists with the same care as famous ones. Since most of these artists live nearby, visitors often get the chance to meet them and learn about their work firsthand.
BIMA is now entering a new chapter by shifting from its original founders to a long-term leadership team, starting with hiring Maus to guide the museum for the next decade. The artist book collection is also driving exciting growth, including plans for a dedicated space and a new artist residency called Daisy Lane. While this collection has earned BIMA international recognition, the museum’s main goal remains growing its unique, community-rooted vision.