Bellevue Arts Museum appoints new artistic director

The Bellevue Arts Museum has appointed Stefano Catalani as director of curatorial affairs/artistic director, half of a leadership team that will guide a museum that is finding its feet after several tumultuous years.

Catalani, who has served as Bellevue Arts Museum's curator since 2005, will take on his new role Feb. 12. He succeeds director emeritus Michael Monroe, who is retiring.

The museum moved to its site on Bellevue Way Northeast in 2001, but closed two years later due to low attendance, financial problems and lack of a clear artistic mission. It reopened in 2005 with a focus on arts, crafts and design. In 2008, its former chief financial officer pleaded guilty to embezzling nearly $300,000 from the museum.

Catalani, along with Monroe and executive director/CEO Mark Crawford, who started his position in May, has helped re-establish the credibility of the museum.

Catalani "really is well-respected in the community," said Betina Finley, chairwoman of the arts commission for the city of Bellevue. "He's been able to garner some of these amazing Northwest artists. ... Many of the exhibits he's curated have gone on to exhibit nationally."

At BAM, Catalani has conceived and organized 17 exhibitions, including those showcasing the work of Northwest artists such as Mandy Greer, John Grade and Etsuko Ichikawa. He's also written or contributed to nine exhibition catalogs published by BAM.

"I'm excited," said Catalani, 42. "I want to continue to bring the best art and craft and design in the Northwest here, fostering and supporting Northwest artists."

Financially, the museum is also starting to find its way, though big challenges remain.

Like most arts organizations, BAM has been hard-hit by the economy and last year slashed several hundred thousand dollars from its budget.

Its year-end totals aren't final but will most likely show a deficit of about $140,000 on $2.7 million of expenses.

But the deficit was planned and will be covered by a $2 million gift the city of Bellevue gave the museum in 2007 to help expand its membership and donor base.

The gift came with strings, including annual audits, quarterly financial updates, and requirements such as having robust private funding sources.

Bellevue City Attorney Lori Riordan said the museum has been meeting those requirements.

The museum has no accumulated debt. Its membership grew last year to 1,730 members, up from 1,600 a year ago. Paid admission was up almost 30 percent.

"None of us are saying everything's hunky-dory," Crawford said. But "given the year we all just went through, I'm actually really proud of us."

Janet I. Tu: 206-464-2272 or jtu@seattletimes.com