The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art recently announced that it is the recipient of a grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust of Vancouver, Washington, to support the further development of the their cultural programming.

The Murdock Charitable Trust is a competitive grant offered to nonprofits in a five-state region of the Pacific Northwest: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Since its establishment in 1975, more than $900 million has been distributed through more than 6,000 grants.

“Wow! We couldn’t be happier,” said Sheila Hughes, BIMA’s Executive Director.

“The timing of this grant — right at the end of our fifth anniversary — goes such a long way to validate everything we have worked so hard to accomplish,” she said.

BIMA received the Murdock Trust grant to support its burgeoning cultural program, specifically to provide more than $150,000 over three years in seed-funding for a new Cultural Impact Initiative, including the creation of a new position: cultural programs manager.

The new position, being filled by Jesse Ziebart, will reportedly oversee the thoughtful and continued development and expansion of the organization’s diverse and lively showcase of arts, cultural and humanities programs.

“I am honored to join the BIMA family and to have the opportunity to give back to the artistic community that has shaped so many of us who grew up here,” Ziebart said. “Everyone wins with a Cultural Impact Initiative like this — residents receive more access to world-class arts and humanities programs, artists are supported and spotlighted, even our local economy gets a boost when visitors come attend things like music, theater and film. I am so thankful the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust has chosen to fund programs like these. It will be exciting to see cultural programs at the museum continue to grow!”

Ziebart’s work experience includes arts programming, event coordination, hospitality, television production and sponsorship. After 15 years in various aspects of programming and producing, she said she’s excited to return to her hometown of Bainbridge Island.

“The stars have aligned for BIMA to be a huge resource to the greater Kitsap community and beyond,” Hughes agreed. “And we’re completely committed to making that happen.

“Considering that we’re located at the crossroads of King and Kitsap (counties), our excellent exhibitions have already made BIMA an established destination for cultural tourism by visitors from around the globe — over 100,000 in 2018. And because of the generosity of its early supporters, BIMA has a world-class facility with gallery, classroom, meeting, workshop and auditorium space. Our goal is to be in further service to the region — by lighting up this space with the most interesting, exciting and culturally adventurous program of arts, humanities and cultural events that we can create.”

For more information visit www.biartmuseum.org.