AAWC, Author at Allied Arts of Whatcom County

Inspire WA Spotlight on King County

Cultural Futures is our FREE funding, policy, and advocacy workshop for cultural businesses and supporters! This spring, we invite you to join your local partners for Cultural Futures! Cultural Futures is Inspire Washington’s annual post-State Legislative Session tour when we visit communities to share what happened during the 2024 Legislative Session. It’s our job to alert you to new funding and policy opportunities.

Why is this work important? The 2025 Legislative Session is ramping up to be a BIG one! We anticipate many new objectives for each of our sectors—science, heritage, and the arts. Without new advocates and active engagement across the state, these large funding requests will be very challenging to secure. If you have thought about getting involved in the past but haven’t yet participated, now is the time! With Inspire Washington, cultural advocacy is easy, fun, collaborative, and inspiring!

On the agenda:

New Funding & Policies – We will break down the wins and successes of the Legislative Session and the opportunities for your work.
Coalition Building – The 2025 Legislative Session is going to be huge for our sector and we will need to double our coalition of advocates to secure our big requests for science, heritage, and arts programs.
Grant opportunities – ArtsWA, Humanities WA, USDA, community projects, Capital Funding, Federal Opportunities, and much more!
Listening – What do you need and what should we advocates for? How do you get involved? It will take a broad coalition to secure future funding.
About Our Coalition – Do you want to be more involved in policy development and advocacy or learn about partnership? We’ll plug you into future activities so that your community is represented.

In Person Events:

Virtual Events, via Zoom:

For more of the latest news from Inspire Washington, visit their website!

By AAWC|2024-05-03T14:46:49-07:00May 3rd, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news|Tags: arts legislation, events, king county, politics, stay informed|

SeaFeast 2024 design contest

Call for youth artists! This year we’re giving our youngest ocean lovers (ages 4-17) the opportunity to submit their artwork for our SeaFeast 2024 design contest featuring the theme From Sea to Me and what that means to you. Winning designs will be featured on this year’s t- shirt and poster, and all submitted art will be displayed during Bellingham SeaFeast on October 5 & 6, 2024 and on our website. This contest is supported by our partners BP, Launching Success, Marine Life Center, the Whatcom County Library System, Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County and Blue Skies for Children.

Design Guidelines

Using the theme From Sea to Me, create an original design illustrating what that means to you and your community. Any medium is welcome but keep in mind the design must be able to print on the front of a t-shirt and on our event poster. Up to three colors may be used. Digital designs may be submitted as a high resolution .jpg, .png, .pdf or .eps file.

Submission Info & Prizes

To enter, parents or guardians can upload a photo of the design page online on the submission form or original design pages can be turned in in-person at Launching Success, 1707 N State Street, Bellingham, or the Marine Life Center, 1801 Roeder Ave, Ste 100, Bellingham, by May 30, 2024. Only one submission per contestant.

Designs will be judged on the following criteria:

Originality
Visibility – Is it eye catching and visible from a distance?
Does it coincide with the mission of Bellingham SeaFeast?
Feasibility – Must be easy to reproduce. By submitting a design, you are agreeing to all contest rules and guidelines.

The top three submissions for each of the following age categories will be selected by Bellingham SeaFeast and contest partners and announced by Friday, June 28, 2024.

Frys (ages 4-8)
Parrs (ages 9-12)
Smolts (ages 13-17)

A final round of online voting will take place for the top three of each age category with artwork and artist bios through July 31, 2024. Final winner will be announced on August 5, 2024. Top three finalists from each age category will receive a fun gift basket and the grand prize winner will get a Fun Day on the Bay and SeaFeast 2024 Weekend Package.

Important Dates

April 29-May 30 – Submit entries online or in-person at Launching Success or Marine Life Center.
June 28 – Top three entries from each age category will be announced.
July 8-31 – Online voting commences for top three entries for each age category.
August 5 – Contest winner is announced.
October 5- 6 – Join us at Bellingham SeaFeast to see the submissions and purchase a t-shirt with grand prize winning design.

Fine Print

By submitting an entry, the artist and parent or guardian consents that it is the artist’s own original work and that he/she has all necessary rights and permissions to use any included elements. The Bellingham SeaFeast team reserves the right to make adjustments and alterations to the winning entry. The winning artist grants to Bellingham SeaFeast the exclusive right to the design, including any modifications thereof, to be used on promotional/marketing and other Bellingham SeaFeast and partnering organizations materials. The artist shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Bellingham SeaFeast from and against any and all suits, actions, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, losses and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of any violation of third party rights (including, without limitation, intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, dilution or violation) in connection with Bellingham SeaFeast’s use, distribution, publishing, sale or exploitation of the design. No submissions will be returned.

If you have any questions, please email kevin@bellinghamseafeast.com

By AAWC|2024-05-02T12:58:30-07:00April 26th, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news, competition|Tags: art contest, call to artists, competition, kids art, SeaFeast, youth art|

Earth Day Fair @ Boundary Bay

Boundary Bay Brewery, as part of their Sustainability Series, are hosting their Earth Day Fair again this year, so mark your calendars for April 22nd, 12-4PM!

Booths and Vendors you’ll be able to find at the fair:

Flynn Farms

Plantas Nativa

Sustainable Connections

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association

Whatcom Million Trees Project

Allied Arts of Whatcom County

By AAWC|2024-04-11T14:04:21-07:00April 11th, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news|Tags: Bellingham, Event, festival|

Apply now for the Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program!

Interested in teaching or learning a traditional trade, craft, or skill? The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program!

The program provides financial support to a Master Artist and an Apprentice who want to preserve a cultural tradition important to their community. Participants may teach or study visual art, occupational arts, traditional language practices, storytelling and other verbal arts, dance, culinary traditions, music, and much more.

Humanities Washington and ArtsWA are excited to help individuals to use their traditional art to connect with their past, build bridges to others and their surroundings, and preserve a skill for future generations.

Apply by May 1!

Questions? Contact violeta@humanities.org.

The Center for Washington Cultural Traditions is a partnership between Humanities Washington and ArtsWA.

By AAWC|2024-04-11T13:50:41-07:00April 11th, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news|Tags: apprenticeship, ArtsWA, cultural arts, grants and funding, heritage arts|

The Wave En Blanc & Art Festival 2024: Call For Artists!

Unleash Your Creativity at the 2024 Wave En Blanc & Art Festival!

Time is running out! Register by April 30th to secure your spot at the summer’s biggest art festival. The twenty (20) artists with the highest jury scores will receive one complimentary ticket to the En Blanc evening fundraiser where your jury selected art will be exhibited.

Artists and art aficionados, prepare to immerse yourselves in a sea of creativity and color at the most anticipated event of the summer – the Blaine Arts Council’s “2024 Wave En Blanc & Art Festival,” happening this July 27th and 28th! This isn’t just an art festival; it’s a celebration of artistic innovation, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the US/Canada border in Blaine.

This is more than an event; it’s a movement. A chance to connect with fellow artists, celebrate diversity in art, and reach an audience looking to purchase art! Don’t wait, join the art revolution today! Register now to become a part of a thriving artistic community and let your creativity soar.

Guest Jurors – Nancy Grigsby, of Women Painters of Washington, a society of professional women artists based in Seattle; and Phyllis Howard, founding member of the Whatcom Art Market.

Participation Details: $25 Jury Fee
Art Festival/Studio booths, BAC members: $150
Art Festival/Studio booths, non-members: $200

Submission deadline: April 30

APPLY NOW!

By AAWC|2024-04-11T14:45:13-07:00April 11th, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news|Tags: art show, BAC, Blaine, Blaine Arts Council, call to artists, juried|

Veterans Art Program: Acrylic Painting with Lori VanEtta April 13th, 20th, and 27th 1-4

We are thrilled to announce our new arts education series for veterans and military-connected individuals in the community! The Allied Arts Veterans Art Program partners with local teaching artists to offer free art classes to veterans, military members, guard, reserves, their spouses/partners and caregivers. Our mission is to provide a comfortable, creative space for our participants to discover the creative arts and explore artistic expression as a form of self-care.

Come join local artist Lori VanEtta to learn how to create an abstract painting. You can be a rank beginner or someone who wants to learn more from her years of painting experience. She will explain the differences between types of acrylic paints and useful mediums. She will introduce basic design armatures as a foundation to a successful painting. We will review color mixing and ways to keep your colors bright. You will learn several tricks for layering paint, adding texture and just having fun. All supplies will be provided. You just need to come with an open attitude and some old clothing that you can spill on without worries. Let’s play!

Sign up here!

As part of our Veteran Arts program, this class is made possible through grants provided by ArtsWA, The Washington State Legislature, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

By AAWC|2024-04-10T12:42:40-07:00April 10th, 2024|Categories: AAWC Blog, Art News 360, classes, community news|Tags: Art As Business, Bellingham, class, Event, Vet Arts, workshop|

Exhibition by Bellingham Artist Jyoti Duwadi

Born into a family of Nepali poets and writers, Jyoti moved to the U.S. to study political science. After receiving a Ph.D., he began creating art in a wide array of media as well as public art installations addressing social and environmental issues. Learn more about the artist at http://akash-himal.com/JyotiDuwadi/

“The Port Angeles Fine Art Center will present the exhibition, Reimagining the Intersection of Art & Environment – Exploring Natural & Repurposed Materials, from April 5 through May 29. This display of over 40 works highlights Jyoti Duwadi’s multifaceted art that often calls attention to nature’s beauty and the precarious relationship between humans and the environment.”

More about the exhibit can be found at: https://pafac.org/gallery-exhibits/reimaginingtheintersectionofartandenvironment/

By AAWC|2024-04-08T18:03:57-07:00April 8th, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news|Tags: art show, Port Angeles|

Whatcom READS announces 2025 book selection!

From Whatcom County Library System:

No Two Persons by Port Townsend, Wash.-based author Erica Bauermeister is the Whatcom READS 2025 book selection. Sasha taqʷšəblu Lapointe, author of the 2024 featured title, Red Paint: The Ancestral Autobiography of a Coast Salish Punk, made the announcement at the close of the March 15 Whatcom READS author event at the Mount Baker Theatre.

Liane Moriarty, bestselling author of Big Little Lies, said of No Two Persons, “If you’re passionate about reading, I know you’ll be passionate about this book.”

Erica Bauermeister is the New York Times bestselling author of five novels, including The Scent Keeper, The School of Essential Ingredients, and her latest, No Two Persons. She also has written a memoir, House Lessons: Renovating a Life, and is the co-author of two readers’ guides, 500 Great Books by Women and Let’s Hear It for the Girls. Her books have been Reese’s Book Club and Indie Next Picks and have been published in over two dozen countries. Learn more about the author at her website, ericabauermeister.com.

Newsweek selected No Two Persons for its Best Books of 2023 list. The magazine’s Senior Editor Meredith Wolf called it: “A breathtaking novel about the power a book can have. It takes you inside the hearts of a complex web of broken personalities, empowered and made whole by the same book. The characters brought to life are delicately interwoven throughout, forming a seamless, beautiful fabric.” The audiobook of No Two Persons won an Audie Award for multi-voiced performance.

Community members may borrow No Two Persons as a book, eBook or eAudiobook from local libraries or purchase it from Village Books, which donates a percentage of each sale to Whatcom READS.

Leading up to the author events in March 2025, the librarians, library staff and booksellers on the Whatcom READS planning committee will offer free community programs that explore themes from No Two Persons. Inspired by the book, the 2025 Whatcom WRITES prompt is “The Book That Changed My Life.” Visit Whatcom READS website, whatcomreads.org, and social media pages for updates and to get involved.

About Whatcom READS: Northwest Washington’s premier annual literary event, Whatcom READS celebrates reading, readers and strong communities through the shared experience of one book. Now in its 16th year, Whatcom READS is presented by all the public and academic libraries in Bellingham and Whatcom County – Bellingham Public Library, Bellingham Technical College, Northwest Indian College, Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College and Whatcom County Library System. Village Books is Whatcom READS’ community partner. Learn more at whatcomreads.org.

By AAWC|2024-04-08T17:38:26-07:00April 8th, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news, competition|Tags: Whatcom READS, Whatcom READS art challenge, writing contest|

Botanical Ink Making with Nova

Make Your Own Botanical Ink with Nova-April 6th, 1-3pm

As part of Allied Arts’ sustainability themed Recycled Art & Resource Expo, we’re hosting this class about using natural materials to create your own art materials!

Participants will learn a simple botanical ink-making method using natural materials (berries or dried flowers). They will help to make ink and learn how to change the base color with mordants and modifiers. They will then have time to create small paintings using the ink. Each participant will get a small bottle of ink to take home. Class cost is $40!

To sign up click here!

By AAWC|2024-04-04T15:24:44-07:00April 2nd, 2024|Categories: AAWC Blog, Art News 360, classes, community news|Tags: Art As Business, Bellingham, class, Event, Vet Arts, workshop|

Habitat for Humanity Trashion Show Call for Designers

Habitat for Humanity is looking for up to 20 designers to create an outfit made primarily out of items that would otherwise become trash and to provide a model for their outfit at the event. There is a $40 designer fee to enter the show and cash prizes and bragging rights will be available for 1st place- $500, runner up- $250, best model- $125 and peoples choice- $125. Here is the link to sign up: https://www.hfhwhatcom.org/news-and-events/trashion-show

What is a Trashion Show? Trash and Fashion come together as the Trashion Show to help bring awareness to the amount of waste generated and to the opportunities for repurposing, recycling and reusing. This year, the Trashion Show will be held as a stand-alone event on June 7th, 2024 at the Fishermans Pavilion in Bellingham from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. The evening will include drinks, food trucks, fundraising games, raffles, silent auction and, of course, the trashion show. It’ll be a fun evening with lots of guest participation. All proceeds support Habitat’s mission to build safe, affordable, permanent housing for people in need in Whatcom County.

Because of Habitat for Humanity’s work with the Habitat Store, recycling and re-purposing are words we hear every day. Being very conscious of the environment, Habitat recycles clothing and fabrics, cardboard, plastics, wood and metal at the Habitat Store. That said, they raise even more awareness of this issue by encouraging people like you to create wearable apparel from 75% recycled trash and worn by models on the runway to be judged by the attendees during the auction. The results are impressive. Please have a look at Habitat’s website for more information and some inspiring entries from past years.

We hope you will enter the Trashion Show or help to share this event information with other people that you know who may be interested! Here’s a flyer for you to share, just click the link and save the pdf!

If you have any questions, please reach out to Hillary Pritchard at hillary.pritchard@hfhwhatcom.org, or call 360.715.9170, Ext. 1013.

By AAWC|2024-03-28T12:45:24-07:00March 28th, 2024|Categories: Art News 360, community news, competition|Tags: call to artists, Event, fashion show, Habitat for Humanity, reuse, upcycle|

About AAWC

Design Guidelines

Submission Info & Prizes

Important Dates

Fine Print