Bellingham and Whatcom County deeply value togetherness. We believe in staying connected during this time of being apart. To achieve that goal, more than 30 performing and visual arts organizations have collaborated to form the Whatcom Arts Project — a campaign to inform, entertain, educate, inspire, collaborate, support, promote, and uplift each other daily and remain socially close while physically distanced.
The First Time I Arted!
Love a good origin story? Folks from all across our Whatcom County arts community are sharing the sometimes sordid, always entertaining stories of “The First Time I Arted!” New videos posted to YouTube, if you need some inspiration and a smile! Or you can check out #whatcomartsproject, #firsttimeARTing, #ARTingwhatcom, or #BellinghamExperience on social media.
Keeping the Arts Alive
We are banding together for the betterment of our community and also to keep the local arts alive, now and looking ahead to whatever the future holds. Learn with us, dance with us, sing with us, be creative with us, all in the comfort of your home.
See our daily content on Facebook: Whatcom Arts Project offering performances, classes, narratives, interactive tours and other arts experiences all online. A full calendar of events is below.
Whatcom Arts Project Calendar
Daytime Educational Content: April 26 – May 2
Monday Music
- Bellingham Symphony Orchestra – Elementary post at 8 a.m.
Tuesday Visual Arts
- Allied Arts of Whatcom County – Elementary post at 8 a.m.
- Whatcom Museum – Elementary post at 8 a.m.
Wild Wednesday
- Bellingham Repertory Dance – Elementary post at 8 a.m.
Thursday Theatre
- Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY) – All ages
Friday Fun Day
- Whatcom County Library System – Elementary post at 8 a.m.
- Whatcom County Library System – Middle & High School post at 10 a.m.
Evening Date Night / Family Time Content: April 26 – May 2
Monday, April 26 : Bellingham Film
Wednesday, April 28: Jazz Center of Bellingham
Thursday, April 29: Pickford Film Center
Friday, April 23: Jansen Art Center – Virtual Silent Auction
Saturday, May 1: CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival
Sunday, May 2: Whatcom County Library System’s Whatcom READS
Mural Artist Gretchen Leggitt
The beautiful mural art in our header is by local artist Gretchen Leggitt. From designs like this mural on the wall outside the Horseshoe Cafe to the largest mural in Washington State located on Puget Sound Energy’s building that spans the length of two football fields, Gretchen is leaving her mark on Bellingham and Washington State. Get to know her in this video:
More About Our Arts Partners
Allied Arts of Whatcom County
For 40 years, Allied Arts of Whatcom County has been a leader in fostering and supporting the local arts scene and serves more than 50,000 people annually. Allied Arts has improved the cultural health and vitality of our community through a variety of events involving visual artists and musicians, its sponsorship of exhibits and programs focused on local artists, its extensive arts education in local schools and its public advocacy for the arts.
Currently, Allied Arts is focused on developing and increasing collaborative relationships with local and regional organizations serving Whatcom County.
Baker Creek Ceramic Studio
Baker Creek Studio is offering free clay sculpturing lessons throughout the month of April! They will even deliver free clay kits to your doorstep and will be providing a variety of classes to fit all ages. Class packets are also available for teachers.
Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth
BAAY Theatre is bringing creative writing classes, costume classes and new creative community activities right to you. Join in the celebration of imagination!
Founded in 2006, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization that offers quality instruction in theater, choir, dance, music, and visual arts to youth ages 3-17. The mission of BAAY is to enrich children’s lives through the exploration of the arts. Through BAAY’s programs, they create community and teach children confidence, character, and creativity.
Bellingham Film
Bellingham Film is the film production central of Bellingham. They work to bring the Whatcom and Skagit County filmmaking community together for networking, education and promotion of this area and the Pacific Northwest as a filmmaking destination.
Bellingham Repertory Dance
Bellingham Repertory Dance (BRD) is a professional contemporary dance collective that began with its first fall performance in 2006, and is now producing two full-length concerts annually. Visit their website to check out their monthly artist spotlight!
BRD has provided educational opportunities by offering weekly dance technique classes, quarterly masterclasses with guest artists, annual youth outreach programs and rehearsals open for public viewing. To date, the company has worked with many regionally and nationally recognized choreographers and hopes to continue to bring great dance works to local and new audiences of contemporary dance.
Bellingham Symphony Orchestra
Since the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra can’t perform at the concert hall, they have decided to share the music straight from their homes to yours. Each week, the BSO posts Learn At Home! activities and At Home with the BSO performances on their website and to social media as part of the Whatcom Arts Project. Watch this video to learn more about the BSO.
Bellingham Theatre Guild
Bellingham Theatre Guild, established in 1929, is a volunteer organization whose mission is to create theatrical experiences for everyone. BTG welcomes all that are willing to do the work: set builders, painters, actors, costumers, makeup artists, tickets, hospitality folks, greeters, ushers, house managers, trustees, officers, publicity folks.
When this public health emergency ends, BTG will resume performances for the public monthly orientations for those interested in volunteering here. Contact info@bellinghamtheatreguild.com for more.
CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival
CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival is an award-winning multi-day annual curated film festival that showcases and celebrates exceptional films directed by women from around the world. In addition to screening the films, CASCADIA stages social and networking events, workshops, industry panels, educational forums and more during the festival.
Gallery Syre
Gallery Syre showcases the work of David Syre, An American artist and Whatcom County local, whose paintings, drawings and sculptures are inspired by travel and nature.
Jansen Art Center
The J’s historic building in downtown Lynden is home to 6 creative art studios, a 110 seat performance hall, 2 floors of exhibit space, the Firehall Cafe and Gallery Shop. The J provides participants with opportunities and encouragement to find their own creativity in a collaborative setting.
Jazz Center of Bellingham
Jazz Center of Bellingham enriches and inspires our community through jazz, a celebration of humanity! We can’t wait to be with you again with live classes and concerts from our home in the Sylvia Center. Until then…on Mondays our Education Program faculty members offer video lessons and masterclasses for musicians in topics such as improvising, theory, and tune interpretation. On Wednesdays we share recordings from our concert series. Enjoy! The Jazz Center, a proud 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and education organization, is delighted to be a part of the Whatcom Arts Project.
Make.Shift Art Space
Make.Shift is a DIY art space, with four different arms of programming: we’re an art gallery, community radio station (94.9 KZAX), all-ages music venue, and we rent art studios and band practice spaces. And for everything that happens in-house, our policy is ‘no booze, no drugs, no jerks.’ Although lately, not much is happening in house but have no fear! Our Gallery has gone virtual and our KZAX broadcasters are still bringing you local tunes & talk!
Mount Baker Theatre
The Mount Baker Theatre ignites the imagination of audiences of all ages by presenting national tours and regional acts to audiences from throughout the North Puget Sound region. The Theatre, beautifully restored to its original splendor, anchors the arts district, acts as a community gathering space, and provides economic impact through tourism.
Pickford Film Center
Along with 150 other independent cinemas across the country, Pickford Film Center has suspended its physical programming, but they’re still very much in the business of bringing you new movies!
Check out www.pickfordfilmcenter.org for new releases that you can stream from the comfort of your own home, knowing that up to 100% of your ticket price goes back to support the Pickford. In addition, the Pickford staff is curating a variety of film recommendation lists, keeping the spirit of their original genre Film Series alive through mailing lists and the Pickford website and pursuing other creative ways to continue Pickford’s education outreach and engage with our community and film.
Sylvia Center for the Arts
Unlocked from the iDiOM Theater archives, Sylvia Center for the Arts is bringing you BREAKING BREAD hosted by Julia LaFortune with live music from Ellie Gordon. It’s our fresh, live, local, true storytelling series. We open our doors, share our truth, and break bread with one another every other month. This episode is from the before times, before Sylvia opened its doors officially in the big space. The year is 2017. Six brave souls and one intrepid host bring their truth to the stage as they tell stories based on the theme “ALIEN.”
Uptown Art
Join Uptown Art for virtual classes with Facebook Live! No art experience required! For just $25 you can take home all the supplies you need to follow along and create a masterpiece in the comfort of your own home! Class remains accessible for 7 days after the start of the class.
Western Gallery
Take a virtual tour of the Western Gallery’s current exhibition or the Outdoor Sculpture Collection with Museum Educator Tami Landis. The Western Gallery will continue to create videos and digital content to help bring their art and galleries to you.
Whatcom Art Guild
Whatcom Art Guild is a non-profit organization, open to all, dedicated to advancing and promoting the visual arts in Whatcom County. It is the oldest continually operating art group in the county. The Guild sponsors two major fine art and/or craft shows annually. Also, spaces are available to members in local businesses to show and sell their work. The Guild sponsors workshops and other activities, including gallery visits, throughout the year. In addition, it cooperates with other art and craft organizations that are interested in promoting local artists and crafters.
To join the Whatcom Art Guild, complete the application form and send it with your dues to the Membership Chairperson.
Whatcom Art Market
The Whatcom Art Market is a co-op gallery exhibiting the work of over 45 local artists. The Whatcom Art Market features paintings, photography, woodworking, glasswork, textiles, sculpture, jewelry, greeting cards, and more. As Bellingham’s largest cooperative art gallery, it provides a wide selection of art and gifts.
Whatcom Museum
The Whatcom Museum, located in the heart of downtown Bellingham’s cultural district, offers a rich variety of programs and exhibitions about art, nature and Northwest history.
Although the campus is currently closed, the Museum is providing a variety of digital resources including an activity page for kids!
Learn more through these links: Facebook, Twitter, e-News sign-up, Family Interactive Gallery eNews sign-up and the Museum’s blog.
Whatcom Library System
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) connects people with information, ideas and community. WCLS circulates more than 2 million items annually through 10 branches, the bookmobile, and a Library Express location on Northwest Drive.
Residents have access to WCLS’s rich collection of books in print and digital formats, music and movies, online digital services, inspiring events for every age, and public meeting spaces. Experience “The Power of Sharing” by visiting WCLS.org.
Whatcom Reads
Whatcom READS is an annual literary happening that invites Bellingham and Whatcom County neighbors to celebrate books by reading or listening to the same title. During the year, locals discuss the book and explore its themes at lively, public gatherings that lead up to the author’s visit and presentations in the spring. Whatcom READS – organized by all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County and our community partner Village Books – is grateful for funding sponsors, Friends of Bellingham Public Library and Whatcom County Library Foundation, and for the generous support of numerous community collaborators. Visit whatcomreads.org.
Whatcom Arts Project Resources
Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) connects people with information, ideas and community. WCLS circulates more than 2 million items annually through 10 branches, the bookmobile, and a Library Express location on Northwest Drive.
Dedicated to the arts in our region by empowering local artists through organized festivals and events, enriching our local school children through educational outreach programs, and working as a liaison to art enthusiasts of all ages
Sylvia Center is a performing arts center in Bellingham, Washington. We provide affordable space for Whatcom County’s artists to rehearse, teach and perform, while also creating a central hub for arts audiences to discover and enjoy locally-created music, theater, and dance.
Jazz Center of Bellingham enriches and inspires our community through jazz, a celebration of humanity! We can’t wait to be with you again with live classes and concerts from our home in the Sylvia Center. Until then…on Mondays our Education Program faculty members offer video lessons and masterclasses for musicians in topics such as improvising, theory, and tune interpretation. On Wednesdays we share recordings from our concert series. Enjoy!
The community-based Whatcom Symphony Orchestra performs music of all ages for all ages in six concerts per season at the Mount Baker Theatre, featuring local musicians as well as nationally- & internationally-renowned guest artists. Tickets via the Mount Baker Theatre.
The exhibition features a selection of paintings, drawings and sculptures that spans David Syre’s artistic career so far, from one of his first works to the most recent large-scale canvases that show a complex mastery of painting techniques and visual translation of spiritual, personal and collective experiences.
CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival presents an annual, four-day film festival in April dedicated to showcasing the exceptional films directed by women. The festival screens films, hosts educational panel discussions and Q&A sessions with directors and film industry professionals, presents a Script Studio and stages social events where filmmakers and audience members network. Other events during the year include a summer outdoor short film night.
The Jansen Art Center creates opportunities for the community to engage in the arts. Exhibits and classes rotate seasonally, with new programs starting every three months. Whether it’s ceramics, dance, painting, jewelry, music, textiles, gallery exhibits or live performances, there is something for everyone at the J. Image credit: Randy Fleming
Founded in 2006, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth (BAAY) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization that offers quality instruction in theater, choir, dance, music, and visual arts to youth ages 3-17.
Bellingham Repertory Dance (BRD) is a professional contemporary dance collective that began with its first fall performance in 2006, and is now producing two full-length concerts annually. Visit their website to check out their monthly artist spotlight!
Bellingham Theatre Guild, established in 1929, is a volunteer organization whose mission is to create theatrical experiences for everyone. BTG welcomes all that are willing to do the work: set builders, painters, actors, costumers, makeup artists, tickets, hospitality folks, greeters, ushers, house managers, trustees, officers, publicity folks.
The Western Gallery provides diverse experiences in the visual arts for its constituencies, encompassing the University community and region while providing a point of reference to the national and international art scene.
Bellingham Film was created on 2012 to bring the film community together in an effort to grow our local film industry. The film community of Bellingham and the surrounding area has grown dramatically since our start. With only a few production companies, we now represent a flourishing industry with a wide selection of production companies and DIY filmmakers.
The Lightcatcher hosts a rotating schedule of art exhibitions throughout the year and houses the Family Interactive Gallery (FIG) and Museum Store.
The Whatcom Museum, located in the heart of downtown Bellingham’s cultural district, offers a rich variety of programs and exhibitions about art, nature, and Northwest history. Home to the Whatcom Museum since 1941, Old City Hall features history exhibits and the John M. Edson Hall of Birds.
Fiercely independent and downright neighborly, Pickford Film Center offers an authentic, rich and uniquely Bellingham experience in a casual and friendly environment. Dedicated to showing the best in independent, foreign and documentary films, PFC programming brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate the joy of the moving image.
Deb McCunn opened Baker Creek Ceramic Studio in 2010 to offer quality classes and studio space for artists and students to improve their craft, develop innovative techniques and nurture their creativity to design and form high quality ceramic art.
Whatcom READS is a county-wide program that encourages everyone to read and discuss the same book. It is organized by all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County and our community partner, Village Books.