Whatcom Art Center

The New Community Art Space in Whatcom County

Take a Class

art class

 Art Exhibits

art exhibition

 Special Events

special event

Welcome to Whatcom Art Center, your new creative hub in the historic Fairhaven neighborhood of Bellingham, Washington!

We’re thrilled to open our doors on November 1, 2024, with a grand opening celebration to follow in the coming weeks.

As an exciting new initiative from the Whatcom Art Guild, the Whatcom Art Center (WAC) was founded to celebrate the Guild’s 60th anniversary. Our vibrant center offers studio spaces for rent, a variety of public art classes, exhibitions from local artists, and special events throughout the year. Whether you’re an artist looking to grow or someone passionate about the arts, we have something for everyone.

For workshop leaders and facilitators, the WAC provides versatile rental spaces equipped with everything you need to create a memorable experience for your participants.

Conveniently located next door to the Whatcom Art Market, where 45 local artists’ works are displayed and available for purchase seven days a week, the WAC is your gateway to a thriving artistic community.

The Fairhaven district is known for its boutique shopping, diverse eateries, cozy cafes, and a scenic waterfront boardwalk that offers stunning views of Bellingham Bay—perfect for a post-lunch stroll. If you’re visiting from out of town, the bus and train stations are just a short walk away.

With so much planned for 2025, we invite you to sign up for our *Arts In Every Color* newsletter to stay in the loop on all our upcoming events, classes, and shows (sign up below).

We can’t wait to meet you at the Whatcom Art Center!

Location: 1105 11th St, Bellingham, WA (see map below).

Calendar

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6:00 PM - Sacred Solace
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26
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31
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2
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WAG Healing Arts Group
February 24, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Healing Arts special interest group
WAG Portrait Group
February 25, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Portrait special interest group
Layered Acrylic Magic (Cancelled)
** CANCELLED** Apologies, this event has been cancelled by the artist due to family issues.  Make highly layered and fascinating paintings with a variety of...
Imagine-Scapes (Cancelled)
** CANCELLED** Apologies, this event has been cancelled by the artist due to family issues.  You can create soulscapes! It doesn’t take much...a few colors...
WAM All Hands Meeting
March 3, 2025    
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Whatcom Art Market All Hands meeting - for WAM members only
WAG Mixed Media Group
March 4, 2025    
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Monthly meeting of the WAG Mixed Media special interest group
WAG Fiber Arts Group
March 10, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Fiber Arts special interest group
March 13, 2025    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Watercolor special interest group
Fluid Dutch Pour Workshop #1
March 15, 2025    
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
SieArts Fluid Art Dutch Pour class will include learning how to mix paints for the dutch pour method and creating a 12 x 12 inch...
Diverse Perspectives Poetry Reading
March 17, 2025    
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Irish are known for their poetry – what better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than through the art of poetry. Join us for...
Sacred Solace
March 19, 2025    
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Mindful crafting followed by a meditative sound bath. First playshop: crafting a journal and learn how to script intentions and manifestations. Art Medium: Papercutting, magazines,...
Sehome High School Art Show
Join us at Whatcom Art Center as we showcase the incredible talent of Sehome High School art students - a celebration of young, passionate artists...
Sehome High School Art Show
Join us at Whatcom Art Center as we showcase the incredible talent of Sehome High School art students - a celebration of young, passionate artists...
Sehome High School Art Show
Join us at Whatcom Art Center as we showcase the incredible talent of Sehome High School art students - a celebration of young, passionate artists...
March 24, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Healing Arts special interest group
March 25, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Portrait special interest group
Parent and Me: Emotion Critters
March 29, 2025    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Emotion Critters will be created out of fabric and other materials using simple stitches and other sewing and crafting techniques to reflect the chosen emotion....
Gel Plate Printing
March 30, 2025    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Private Event Printing on a gel plate is a form of art that creates one of a kind prints. These prints are then used to...
WAG Mixed Media Group
April 1, 2025    
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Mixed media art combines different materials and techniques—think collage, paint, fabric, found objects, and more! Whether you’re layering textures, experimenting with new materials, or just...
The Wheel of Time: Creating the Tibetan Mandala
Explore the meditative art of mandala creation in this hands-on class! Using a compass and ruler, students will learn to construct the foundational geometric structure...
Events on February 24, 2025
WAG Healing Arts Group
24 Feb 25
Bellingham
Events on February 25, 2025
WAG Portrait Group
25 Feb 25
Bellingham
Events on March 1, 2025
Layered Acrylic Magic (Cancelled)
1 Mar 25
Bellingham
Imagine-Scapes (Cancelled)
1 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 3, 2025
WAM All Hands Meeting
3 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 4, 2025
WAG Mixed Media Group
4 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 10, 2025
WAG Fiber Arts Group
10 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 13, 2025
13 Mar
13 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 15, 2025
Fluid Dutch Pour Workshop #1
15 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 17, 2025
Events on March 19, 2025
Sacred Solace
19 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 21, 2025
Sehome High School Art Show
21 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 22, 2025
Sehome High School Art Show
22 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 23, 2025
Sehome High School Art Show
23 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 24, 2025
24 Mar
24 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 25, 2025
25 Mar
25 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 29, 2025
Parent and Me: Emotion Critters
29 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on March 30, 2025
Gel Plate Printing
30 Mar 25
Bellingham
Events on April 1, 2025
WAG Mixed Media Group
1 Apr 25
Bellingham
Events on April 3, 2025

Featured Events

Apr 2025

Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting

Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting

April 28, 2025    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Monthly meeting of the Whatcom Art Guild. This month's special guest is Forrest Chel, Pyrography Artist! Based in Birch Bay, Forrest Chel presents their art, [...]
WAG Portrait Group

WAG Portrait Group

April 29, 2025    
9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Our Portrait Group offers a wonderful opportunity to hone your skills in life drawing or painting. Each session features one pose, broken into three 20-minute sessions with short breaks, plus [...]
Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

April 30, 2025    
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join me for a six-week guided course exploring how photography can be a tool for self-reflection, mindfulness, and creative expression. Through themed photography exercises, participants [...]

May 2025

Silk Scarf painting class

Silk Scarf painting class

May 3, 2025    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
In this class, we will be painting on a medium-weight, 100% silk scarf with a hand sewn rolled edge. The fabric has a wonderfully smooth [...]
Happy Little Fundraiser - A Bob Ross Inspired Celebration

Happy Little Fundraiser - A Bob Ross Inspired Celebration

May 4, 2025    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Join us for an art-filled, joy-packed, nostalgia-fueled fundraiser inspired by the one and only Bob Ross! This isn't just a party—it's a happy little experience designed [...]
06 May

WAG Mixed Media Group

May 6, 2025    
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Monthly meeting of the WAG Mixed Media special interest group
Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

May 7, 2025    
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join me for a six-week guided course exploring how photography can be a tool for self-reflection, mindfulness, and creative expression. Through themed photography exercises, participants [...]
08 May

WAG Watercolor Group

May 8, 2025    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Watercolor special interest group
12 May

WAG Fiber Arts Group

May 12, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Fiber Arts special interest group
Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

May 14, 2025    
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join me for a six-week guided course exploring how photography can be a tool for self-reflection, mindfulness, and creative expression. Through themed photography exercises, participants [...]
Make the Most of your Cell Phone Photography: From Basic to Creative

Make the Most of your Cell Phone Photography: From Basic to Creative

May 15, 2025    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Learn how to boost your cell phone photography by learning about some of the hidden and underused features of Smartphones, then take your Smartphone photography [...]
Night Skies with Embroidery Painting and Beading

Night Skies with Embroidery Painting and Beading

May 16, 2025    
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
In this class we will use paint and textiles to make a picture of an evening or sunset sky with trees! We will first use [...]
19 May

Healing Through Art

May 19, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Healing Arts special interest group
Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting

Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting

May 19, 2025    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Monthly meeting of the Whatcom Art Guild. This meeting special guests are artist duo Lori Marshall of ZenWrockz and Swil Kanim violinist/keynote speaker. Lori Marshall [...]
20 May

WAG Portrait Group

May 20, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Portrait special interest group
Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

Healing Through the Lens: A Photography-Based Personal Growth Course

May 21, 2025    
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Join me for a six-week guided course exploring how photography can be a tool for self-reflection, mindfulness, and creative expression. Through themed photography exercises, participants [...]
From the Mountains to the Sea - Childrens Art Exhibit

From the Mountains to the Sea - Childrens Art Exhibit

May 24, 2025    
11:00 am - 5:30 pm
The theme is “From the Mountains to the Sea”, encouraging students to explore and depict the beauty of our region’s landscapes, from the peaks of [...]
From the Mountains to the Sea - Childrens Art Exhibit

From the Mountains to the Sea - Childrens Art Exhibit

May 25, 2025    
11:00 am - 5:30 pm
The theme is “From the Mountains to the Sea”, encouraging students to explore and depict the beauty of our region’s landscapes, from the peaks of [...]

Jun 2025

03 Jun

WAG Mixed Media Group

June 3, 2025    
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Monthly meeting of the WAG Mixed Media special interest group
09 Jun

WAG Fiber Arts Group

June 9, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Fiber Arts special interest group
12 Jun

WAG Watercolor Group

June 12, 2025    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Watercolor special interest group
19 Jun

Healing Through Art

June 19, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Healing Arts special interest group
24 Jun

WAG Portrait Group

June 24, 2025    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Portrait special interest group

Jul 2025

01 Jul

WAG Mixed Media Group

July 1, 2025    
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Monthly meeting of the WAG Mixed Media special interest group
10 Jul

WAG Watercolor Group

July 10, 2025    
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Monthly recurring meeting of the WAG Watercolor special interest group