On May 5, 2026, Bellevue’s City Council signed off on a plan to help KidsQuest Children’s Museum take over the former Bellevue Arts Museum building, moving the long-running kids’ institution into the heart of downtown. The vote unlocks up to $10 million in public support, with an initial appropriation to get work rolling. KidsQuest says the larger space is slated to open in 2029 and could welcome many more Eastside families.
Council signs off on a $10 million package
Under Ordinance No. 6915, the city agreed to a funding agreement worth up to $10,000,000 over the next two biennia and adjusted the 2025–26 General Fund to pull an initial $4,500,000 from the Long Range Planning Reserve, according to the City of Bellevue council packet. Instead of cutting a single unrestricted check, the ordinance links the city’s contribution to a formal funding agreement and specific project milestones.
KidsQuest already under contract for the BAM building
KidsQuest and the Bellevue Arts Museum first unveiled…..