The Bristol Art Museum was founded in 1963 by three women from Bristol: Jill Pardee, Margaret Nerone, and Marie Perry. Mrs. Ethel Barrymore Colt Miglietta, heir to the Linden Place Estate, offered them the use of her Ballroom at Linden Place, which they then converted into functioning gallery space. BAM's mission is to encourage the creation, promotion, and appreciation of the arts through rotating exhibitions and educational opportunities. Community outreach programs and partnerships are central to our goal of engaging diverse audiences in the arts of our time. BAM aims to enrich the cultural life of the community and region through eclectic exhibitions and educational programs, and to be an accessible community resource for future generations.