The Takoma Art Museum (TAM) is to open the doors to its new $22m, 50,000sq ft home in May.

Visitors to the facility, located near Seattle, USA, will be treated to a collection showcasing the best of north-west American art.

Three special exhibitions are planned, including Building Tradition: Gifts in Honor of the Northwest Art Collection, which pays tribute to the community-minded mission of the 67-year-old arts organisation through gifts to its collection.

Northwest Mythologies: The Interactions of Mark Tobey, Morris Graves, Kenneth Callahan and Guy Anderson will reflect upon the history of TAM, by examining significant periods in north-west art and their ongoing influence today.

TAM curator of contemporary art, Greg Bell is working with Dale Chihuly's studios on plans for a site-specific installation by the renowned glass artist. TAM has had a long relationship with Takoma-born Chihuly.

The new galleries are connected by a ramp that will allow visitors to gradually move from street level to the second floor of the building, allowing them to take in the north-west landscape and the art as they move upwards. Visitor tours will culminate with a hands-on art-making or arts learning experience in the Education Wing, which covers over 8,000sq ft.

Included is an art classroom, art resource centre and open art studio, as well as an event space, larger museum store and a café. In addition, the 12,000sq ft of exhibition space doubles TAM's existing art-viewing capacity.

The museum's five galleries will feature top national shows, themed exhibits and historical retrospectives, as well as a Chihuly collection. Details: www.takomaartmuseum.org and +1 253 272-4258