Welcome to Allied Arts of Whatcom County!
Creating a vibrant community connected through the arts
EXPLORE OUR EVENTS & PROGRAMS
Holiday Festival of the Arts
Our Full Sized In-person Art MarketThe Holiday Festival of the Arts is an indoor and online, 5 week-long festival featuring over 100 artisans from our region.
Exhibits
The Best of Whatcom County Art Displays and ExhibitionsFrom gallery shows, to local events and expos, Allied Arts puts on a wide range of delightful art events throughout the year.
A Community Conversation about the Arts in Whatcom County
Make your Voice Heard!Arts Education Program
Professionally Taught Art Education ProjectsEach year our program conducts workshops in dance, theatre and the visual arts in the Bellingham schools and throughout Whatcom County.
Arts & Culture Guide
A Comprehensive List of the Bellingham Art SceneFeatured in local hotels, tourism and visitor centers, libraries, bookstores and other locations; as well as in all the locations featured on the map.
Reuse Thrift Store
Re-used Products and Materials for Creating ArtItems for sale are collected through donations, and sold at low cost. We sell some knick-knacks, drawing supplies, fabrics, crafts etc.
Arts & Culture Guide
A Comprehensive List of the Bellingham Art SceneFeatured in local hotels, tourism and visitor centers, libraries, bookstores and other locations; as well as in all the locations featured on the map.
Reuse Thrift Store
Re-used Products and Materials for Creating ArtItems for sale are collected through donations, and sold at low cost. We sell some knick-knacks, drawing supplies, fabrics, crafts etc.
Arts Education Program
Professionally Taught Art Education ProjectsEach year our program conducts workshops in dance, theatre and the visual arts in the Bellingham schools and throughout Whatcom County.
VISIT OUR GALLERY
Now Showing …
August: Take Shape
Take Shape
August 7–29, 2026
Gallery Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 4pm
Opening Reception: August 7th, 6pm-9pm
1213 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225
Allied Arts of Whatcom County invites the community to experience Take Shape, a group exhibition featuring regional artists working across painting, sketching, printmaking, ceramics, fiber, and mixed media. The exhibition will be on view August 7–29, 2026, with a free Opening Reception on Friday, August 7 from 6:00–9:00 PM at Allied Arts, 1213 Cornwall Avenue in downtown Bellingham.
Take Shape explores the many ways artists transform ideas, observations, and materials into meaningful works of art. From expressive lines and layered surfaces to handmade vessels and sculptural forms, the exhibition highlights the relationship between an artist’s vision and the process of creating.
Featured artists include Frank Frazee, whose paintings and sketches capture landscapes, color, and personal observations through expressive mark-making; Jay Heller, whose bold linocuts celebrate architecture, perspective, and the intricate details found in familiar places; Buttercup Nyberg, whose ceramic works reflect connections between nature, function, and artistic expression; and S. Cowan-Quan, whose mixed media sculptures combine fiber, natural materials, and handmade forms to create imaginative characters and narratives.
Together, these artists invite visitors to slow down and appreciate the textures, details, and stories that emerge when ideas are given physical form.
As Allied Arts continues to expand opportunities for artists and audiences alike, Take Shape reflects the organization’s commitment to showcasing a wide range of creative voices while connecting our community through art.
The exhibition and opening reception are free and open to the public. Artwork will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting both exhibiting artists and Allied Arts’ nonprofit mission to strengthen Whatcom County’s creative community.
For more information visit www.alliedarts.org or contact us at 360-676-8548 or gallery@alliedarts.org.
A LITTLE ABOUT US
For over 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 the community through community 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. Read More…
What’s Next for Allied Arts – A Letter to Membership
Dear Allied Arts Community,
Five months ago, I stepped into the role of Interim Executive Director with a simple goal: listen first.
Since then, I’ve had conversations with artists, volunteers, business owners, teachers, performers, nonprofit leaders, parents, students, and longtime supporters across Whatcom County. We’ve hosted community discussions, shared ideas over coffee, and heard from people who love Allied Arts and want to see it thrive for the next generation.
One thing became clear: our community is looking for more ways to connect.
People want places to meet fellow creatives, discover opportunities, share ideas, learn new skills, bring their families, hear live music, make art, and feel part of something bigger than themselves.
So that’s where we’re headed.
This August, Allied Arts will begin testing a new chapter for our downtown space. Following our July exhibit, we’ll be rearranging the building to make room for more of what the community has asked for: workshops, performances, gatherings, exhibitions, creative retail, and new opportunities to connect. Some ideas will work beautifully. Others we’ll learn from and improve. That’s the exciting part.
Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, we’re focusing on what Allied Arts does best: bringing people together and helping creativity flourish across Whatcom County.
You’ll start seeing more collaborations, more opportunities to participate, and more reasons to stop by and see what’s happening. Whether you’re an artist, musician, writer, performer, maker, student, parent, retiree, arts supporter, or simply someone who enjoys being part of a creative community, we want you here.
The future of Allied Arts won’t be built by one person, one board, or one organization. It will be built by the people who care about the arts and believe they make our community stronger.
Thank you for being part of that future.
I hope to see you soon.
Meredith Patten
Interim Executive Director
Allied Arts of Whatcom County
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
In partnership, we sponsor numerous arts events and organizations in the area. Learn More