As we prepare for BIMA Bash!, the Museum will have adjusted hours and closures:
June 15–16: Museum Store and Bistro are open, with select gallery closures.
June 17: The Bistro is closed. Museum and Store are open as usual with select gallery closures.
June 18:Only the BIMA Store is open, 10 AM–2 PM. All other Museum spaces are closed.
June 19–20: The Museum is fully closed.
Thank you for your patience as we prepare for BIMA Bash!
Questions? Please reach out to us at (206) 842-4451.
Get Ready for BIMA’s Treasure Trek: Your Complete Guide to Finding Glass Floats
Summer is almost here and that means one thing—BIMA’s Treasure Trek is back! This year, 200 unique hand-blown glass floats will be hidden across public lands in Kitsap County. Each float is a tiny work of art inspired by Japanese fishing net floats and created by talented youth at Hilltop Artists, a Tacoma-based nonprofit.
Treasure Trek is all about adventure, exploration, and a little bit of luck. It’s a you-find-it, you-keep-it scavenger hunt for art lovers of all ages. Each float is carefully hidden, never on private property or in unsafe areas, so you can enjoy your hunt while staying safe. Whether you are a seasoned explorer or just looking for a fun outdoor activity, Treasure Trek is the perfect way to enjoy summer, discover new parks, and find a little magic along the way.
To make sure everyone has fun and stays safe, we’ve put together a complete guide. From Do’s and Don’ts to FAQs, here’s everything you need to know before you hit the trails!
Do’s for Treasure Trek
Do take your time and enjoy the hunt
Finding a float is more about observation than speed. Walk the trails, take in the scenery, and let your eyes wander. Floats could be tucked behind a log, sitting in a bush, or resting on a tree branch. Paying attention to details not only helps you spot floats but also makes the experience more rewarding.
Do share your find
Part of the fun is sharing the excitement. Snap a photo of your float and post it to Instagram with #BIMATreasureTrek and tag @bimuseum.of.art. You can also email your photo to treasuretrek@biartmuseum.org. Sharing your discovery helps inspire others to get outside and explore and keeps the BIMA community connected.
Do handle floats with care
These floats are delicate, hand-blown works of art. Pick them up gently and avoid tossing or dropping them. Treat them like a tiny treasure—you can admire them, display them at home, or photograph them for friends and family. As a reminder, we are unable to replace broken floats, so be careful with yours!
Do keep it fair
If you find more than one float, take only one for your household. Leave the others where you found them or take a photo and return it. This ensures other people get a chance to enjoy the hunt too. Treasure Trek is about community as much as discovery, so sharing the fun is part of the adventure.
Don’ts for Treasure Trek
Don’t go off-trail or enter private property
All floats are hidden on public land directly next to trails or on public park property, so there’s no need to leave the marked paths. Trespassing or cutting through off-limit areas puts you and the environment at risk. Stick to trails and beaches and enjoy the hunt in spaces designed for public use.
Don’t take more than one float
Only one float per household ensures everyone has a fair chance to find one. Taking multiple floats diminishes the fun for others. If you stumble on an extra, leave it where it is so the next seeker can enjoy the discovery.
Don’t move a float from where it was found
Re-hiding floats can confuse other participants and BIMA volunteers. If you find a float and want to continue hunting, either leave your first one in it’s original hiding place!! This keeps the hunt fair and fun for everyone!
Don’t disturb wildlife or sensitive areas
Floats are never hidden in wetlands or fragile ecosystems. Stay on the trails, watch where you step, and avoid disturbing plants and animals. Respecting the environment ensures parks stay beautiful and accessible for everyone.
Don’t follow volunteers hiding floats
Volunteers hide the floats in advance to make the experience fun for all. Following them spoils the surprise and isn’t safe. Part of the excitement is discovering the floats on your own, so let the volunteers do their work and enjoy the hunt naturally.
Don’t put yourself in unsafe situations
Floats are always within reach from safe paths. Don’t venture into water, climb steep slopes, rocks, or trees to grab one. Your safety is the top priority. Treasure Trek is meant to be fun and accessible, so keeping your feet on solid ground ensures every adventure ends with a smile.
Treasure Trek FAQs
How do I know when a new float drop happens? New floats are hidden throughout June. Follow BIMA on Instagram or check the website for announcements, but keep in mind that volunteers hide floats continuously, so not every drop is announced immediately. Please be patient with our staff, as every person hiding floats is volunteering their time!
Are floats numbered or unique in any way? Yes, every float is hand-blown, stamped with BIMA’s logo, and have a number sticker with instructions. Each is unique, so every find is a one-of-a-kind treasure.
Do I need to sign up or register to participate? No registration is required. Treasure Trek is open to anyone ready to explore Kitsap County parks and public lands.
Can I bring kids or pets? Absolutely. Kids love the hunt, and pets can join if the parks allow (check the park’s website to see if pets are allowed). Keep in mind one float per person, including children.
What if I find a float but can’t take it home? You can leave it in its spot for the next hunter or snap a photo to share online. Every float can bring joy even if you can’t physically keep it.
Can I participate if I live outside Kitsap County? Yes! Treasure Trek is open to anyone who wants to explore the parks and try their luck. The more eyes looking, the more fun for everyone.
What should I do if a float is broken or damaged? Leave broken floats where you found them. Volunteers will collect them at the end of the month. Don’t attempt to repair or move broken floats. Floats are not replaceable, so if you break yours after you have it home, we are unable to repair or replace it.
Can I help hide floats? Our volunteers have it covered!
2025 BRAVA Awards: Celebrating Artists and the Light They Bring
There’s a magic to the BRAVA Awards that goes beyond recognition. It’s about pausing to witness the brilliance of artists who illuminate the world, even when it can feel heavy or uncertain. This year’s ceremony was a celebration of that light, a reminder of why BIMA exists to support creativity and give artists room to thrive.
Throughout the evening, we reflected on the state of the art world and the challenges artists face. BIMA Executive Director, Sheila Hughes, reminded us of the importance of cultivating hope: “Artists see and interpret this complicated world for us. They cultivate our hope. And in the struggle against apathy and cynicism…things that shut down our world and make it smaller, they open the world back up for us with ideas, perspectives and expressions. They call us into inquiry. But at BIMA, we understand that we are downstream on this cultural river, and that further upstream, the artists themselves are experiencing their livelihoods being threatened, disrespected, disrupted…I know this all sounds quite dark, but there are lights in this world, from candles and flashlights, to bioluminescence and exploding stars, and this program and this museum are among them. BIMA and BRAVA Awards can’t replace the IMLS, and they can’t set the Kennedy Center back on their track, but we can be a light on the path for artists who are interested in cultivating hope. And in this case, four artists, who each have something very important and very beautiful to share with us. We can add our light to the sum of light.”
The evening also featured BRAVA Award films by Tony Hannawacker, centered on each winner and offering an intimate look into their inspirations, processes, and stories. Watching these films reminded everyone present why art matters—it connects, challenges, and uplifts us. See below to watch these amazing films!
The celebration concluded with Nikki McClure, the last award winner to be honored, sharing her encouragement: “Keep making, believe that you can make, know that you can make, and know that you will make. And we are here today to celebrate, and we’re going to support this creative work. These people working towards illuminating joy… working towards showing people wonder, and creating unity, creating community. So tomorrow, what are we going to do tomorrow? I say we just keep doing this. Let’s find somebody to lift up, let’s find someone to encourage, let’s find someone to support…you have a whole community behind you, and they are all saying: ‘More, more, please, we need you!’…”
And with that, Nikki shouted: BRAVA!!
Congratulations to the 2025 BRAVA Award winners, and thank you for continuing to be a beacon of light in this world. We are honored to stand beside you and champion your work.
