Bainbridge Island Museum of Art building on Winslow Way with its name on the facade

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Photo: 박현진 via Google Maps

The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, known locally as BIMA, sits at the corner of Winslow Way and State Route 305 in downtown Winslow, about a five minute walk from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal. Its mission is the contemporary art and craft of the Puget Sound region, so the walls are filled with work by artists who live and make things right here.

It is an easy museum to fit into a day on the island. Step off the ferry from Seattle, walk into Winslow, and you can spend an unhurried stretch looking at art, grab lunch at the bistro and still have time to explore the shops on Winslow Way. The museum also holds an international collection of artists’ books, which gives it a personality you will not find in many regional art museums.

What You’ll See

  • Regional contemporary art and craft: the galleries change often, with the museum mounting 15 to 20 exhibitions a year, so there is usually something new even if you have visited before.
  • The Cynthia Sears Artists’ Books Collection: more than 4,000 one of a kind works and limited editions from around the world, shown in the dedicated Sherry Grover Gallery. These are books as art objects, from sculptural pieces to works that invite you to interact.
  • The permanent collection: a growing collection centered on artists of the Puget Sound region.
  • The building itself: a translucent, light filled design by Matthew Coates of Coates Design Architects, certified LEED Gold, with a solar array and a geo exchange heating and cooling system.
  • Auditorium, bistro and store: the museum has a 100 seat auditorium, the BIMA Bistro serves food made with local ingredients, and there is a museum store.

The Story Behind It

BIMA began with art collector Cynthia Sears. About a decade before the museum opened, she grew frustrated that there was no dedicated venue to show the work of local and regional artists, and she pushed the idea forward despite skeptics, famously turning down advice to build a collection first and a museum later. Her own collection of artists’ books became the core of the museum’s books collection, which still bears her name.

The museum opened to the public in June 2013 with a founding board drawn from around the region. In 2023 it launched a biennial award program to recognize artists working in the region.

Tips for Your Visit

  • Leave the car in Seattle if you like. The museum is about a five minute walk from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal, and the ferry from Seattle’s Coleman Dock takes about 35 minutes.
  • Driving over? The museum offers visitor parking, with accessible spaces on Ravine Lane and more spaces in an underground garage.
  • The building is easy to get around: a flat courtyard entry, ramps and elevators throughout, and loaner wheelchairs at the reception desk.
  • Coming with a group of eight or more? You can book a guided tour tailored to your group’s interests.
  • Plan a meal around your visit. The BIMA Bistro is right inside, and downtown Winslow’s shops and restaurants are steps away.

Plan Your Visit

Address: 550 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: 206.842.4451
Website: biartmuseum.org
Hours and admission: Check the museum website for current days, hours, and admission before you visit.
Directions: View on Google Maps

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