Mark Crawford has been appointed Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM).

He Crawford brings over 25 years of experience in successfully leading and managing growth in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and has served as the Museum’s Interim Executive Director since October 2008.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mark as the Executive Director/CEO for Bellevue Arts Museum,” Susan Edelheit, President of the Board of Trustees, said. “His energy, his passion for the museum, his creative skills, and, of course, his in-depth experience in managing growing nonprofit organizations make him the ideal person for this position at this time.”

Crawford has spent the majority of his nonprofit career working in the arts. He served as Managing Director at Portland, Ore., Center Stage and Associate Managing Director at A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle between 1993 and 2002. He also served as Executive Director at the Committee for Children in Seattle between 2003 and 2007. Before joining BAM, he was Interim Chief Executive Officer at the Seattle-based Talaris Institute.

As Executive Director/CEO of Bellevue Arts Museum, Crawford will be responsible for all executive functions of the museum and will be overseeing the organization’s day-to-day operations, fund development and publicity efforts as well as finances. Crawford will continue his collaboration with the curatorial team led by Michael Monroe and Curator Stefano Catalani.

“Working with such respected curators as Michael and Stefano and the outstanding curatorial team they have developed is a tremendous opportunity and I couldn’t be more excited,” Crawford said.

One of only 10 museums in the nation with a focus on art, craft and design, BAM showcases exhibitions by national and international artists and collectors as well as emerging regional artists. The museum also presents the Bellevue Arts Museum artsfair, the largest and most prestigious juried arts festival in the Pacific Northwest held annually in July.