From Historic Train Station to Contemporary Art Museum
The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) was founded in 1972 by two groups of Brattleboro citizens committed to saving their town’s historic train station from the wrecking ball. One group sought to transform the former Union Station into a museum of local history, the other into a center for art classes and exhibitions. At the request of the Town of Brattleboro selectboard, the two groups agreed to work together, and BMAC was born.
Following months of laborious cleaning and renovation done by scores of volunteers, the newly fledged institution opened its doors to the public on September 10, 1972. One side of the former train station lobby contained display cases featuring historical artifacts, the other an exhibition of new artwork by Wolf Kahn, David Rohn, and other artists with local ties. The legendary Vermont folk musician Margaret MacArthur sang and played lap dulcimer.
Fast forward more than 50 years, and today BMAC is a vibrant non-collecting contemporary art museum focused on the work of living artists. An anchor of southern Vermont’s rich cultural life, BMAC brings notable art and artists to Brattleboro and provides a platform for our region’s many artistic talents. BMAC presents 15-20 exhibitions annually, complemented by 60-70 public programs and extensive educational offerings developed in partnership with area schools and service organizations.
Like most art museums in America, BMAC is funded largely through membership dues and charitable donations.
Take a visual journey through the first 50 years of BMAC’s exhibition history at bmac50th.org.
Mission
BMAC illuminates art and ideas in ways that inspire, inform, and connect all people. We celebrate innovation, learning, and courageous creative expression.
Vision
BMAC is a spirited and inclusive forum, deeply connected to community and place—a vibrant hub of cultural activity that enriches the artistic, social, educational, and economic landscape of Brattleboro and beyond.
Guiding Principles
BMAC’s trustees, staff, and volunteers are guided by the following principles in their work on behalf of the museum:
* Create meaningful experiences for artists and the public
* Embrace courage and informed risk-taking in exploring the issues of our time
* Be nimble, flexible, and responsive to the needs of the people we serve
* Be accessible and approachable
* Accept and respect differences
* Ensure the inclusion of diverse voices and viewpoints
* Build and sustain authentic, reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationships
* Maintain a trusting professional environment where growth can flourish
* Ensure prudent oversight of the resources in our care
* Help make Brattleboro and the surrounding region a thriving cultural destination
Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion
BMAC seeks to be a welcoming place where people from all walks of life experience belonging and see themselves reflected in who we are and what we do. To that end, we are deeply committed to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, as defined by the American Association of Museums. We know that the very best version of our museum is one where those values are richly manifest in who we are, in the art and artists we present, and in the audiences we serve. We know that we have a pivotal role to play in advancing equity and justice in our community, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also because doing so promises to yield the most vibrant, resilient, and relevant version of our organization.
We will be creating, implementing, and regularly updating a DEAI Plan through engagement with the public. While that work is ongoing, we will continue to work with diverse partners to co-create museum offerings; take steps to make the public’s experiences with BMAC equitable, accessible, and inclusive; diversify our Board and staff; learn about DEAI through Board and staff training; advance an organizational culture that is equitable, inclusive, and transparent; prioritize DEAI work in resource and time allocation; and explore ways to acknowledge and address inequities in our institutional history.
