EVENTS OVERVIEW

Classes

Art Shows/Events

Art Studios

Events at the Whatcom Art Center!

The Whatcom Art Center (WAC) embodies the vision of the Whatcom Art Guild (WAG), a vibrant 60-year-old art community committed to connecting local artists with the culturally rich county we call home. Alongside the Whatcom Art Market (WAM) next door, WAC is a creative hub designed to engage and inspire.

Our Space for Creativity

WAC is a dynamic space where artists can gather, create, and share their work. It offers a venue for classes and workshops, special events, and art exhibitions. Additionally, we provide highly sought-after 24/7 studio spaces for 3 to 6 resident artists, giving them a dedicated environment to work and grow.

Join Our Creative Community!

We warmly welcome the community to explore WAC* and its offerings. Teachers can rent spaces to host workshops, and various art classes will be available to accommodate different artistic interests and skill levels. Additionally, affordable membership is available in the Whatcom Art Guild. We host monthly meetings, participate in various art shows and competitions throughout Washington State, and offer mentorship. Our artists can apply to the Whatcom Art Market to show and sell their work seven days a week.

Growing and Evolving

As with any creative process, we’re continuously refining. Throughout 2025, we’ll expand our offerings and improve our processes to serve the community better. Starting November 1, 2025, you can contact our center director, Peggy Alexander, for workshop bookings or studio rentals. Class schedules and details, including experience levels, costs, and supplies, will be available on our website’s Classes page. Secure your spot by paying directly through the class descriptions.

Questions or Feedback?

We welcome your questions and insights as we continue to fine-tune our operations. As a volunteer-only organization, we rely on the generosity of our artist community and supporters to sustain WAC and WAM financially and in all our endeavors.

*WAM (the market), WAC (the center), WAG (the organization called the GUILD).

What’s Happening at Whatcom Art Center

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7:00 PM - PAM Meeting
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Bellingham Illuminations - Art in a New Light
October 31, 2026 - November 8, 2026    
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
"Bellingham Illuminations—Art in a New Light" is an immersive experience showcasing both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art unified by the theme of phosphorescence and light. The...
November 9, 2026    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
WAG Board Meeting
November 9, 2026    
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
PAM Meeting
November 10, 2026    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
PAM Meeting
Open Studio Painting Class
November 11, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking...
Watercolor Group
November 12, 2026    
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
November 13, 2026    
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Beneath The Layers: A collection of work by the Collage Connection Group - Opening Reception
Opening Reception for: Beneath the Layers   Art work created by Collage Connection participants which meets once a month at the Whatcom Art Center.
Beneath The Layers: A Collection of work by the Collage Connection Group
Art work created by Collage Connection participants which meets once a month at the Whatcom Art Center. The work includes mixed media and other forms...
November 16, 2026    
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Open Studio Painting Class
November 18, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking...
Foraging the Forest Floor: Framing Nature's Small Wonders
By late November, the woods are full of quiet beauty — textured bark, soft moss, skeletal leaves, and fallen twigs, all the small things we...
RETURN TO THE LIGHT — Holiday Edition: Glass Mosaic Candle Holder Workshop
There's a reason candlelight sits at the center of so many December traditions. Whether it's the glow of a menorah, the shimmer of Christmas lights,...
Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting
November 23, 2026    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for a festive art experience! Member-led winter craft make and take! This meeting we will doing interactive festive art together: Painting wood rounds...
Setup for Holiday Festive Art Show
November 25, 2026    
1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Holiday Festive Art Show
November 27, 2026 - November 29, 2026    
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Come join us for a Holiday Festive Art Show, a joyful celebration of creativity, color, and the spirit of the season. Explore a vibrant collection...
Festive Art Show Tear Down
November 30, 2026    
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Open Studio Painting Class
December 2, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking...
Watercolor Group
December 3, 2026    
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
WAG Special Interest group - Watercolor painting. Watercolor Group - Beth Robertson crownlanebeth@comcast.net    
Collage Connections
December 5, 2026    
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
If you love working with collage, come join us on the first Saturday of the month from 1:00 - 4:30 to create your masterpiece. This...
Mosaic Holiday Box-The Magic Gift Box (Session 1 of 2)
Mosaic Holiday Box – a Sparkling Gift Idea! This holiday season, make something with your own hands: a magic mosaic holiday box! This 2-session workshop...
Open Studio Painting Class
December 8, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking...
Intro to Oil Painting
December 10, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Step into the timeless world of oil painting—where color becomes emotion, and brushstrokes awaken something ancient and alive within you. In this one-day workshop, you’ll...
Mosaic Holiday Box - The Magic Gift Box (Session 2 of 2)
This is session 2 of a 2 part class. Please visit this link for a full class description and how to register.     Instructor...
Events on November 1, 2026
Events on November 2, 2026
Events on November 3, 2026
Events on November 4, 2026
Events on November 5, 2026
Events on November 6, 2026
Events on November 7, 2026
Events on November 8, 2026
Events on November 9, 2026
09 Nov
9 Nov 26
Bellingham
WAG Board Meeting
9 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 10, 2026
PAM Meeting
10 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 11, 2026
Open Studio Painting Class
11 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 12, 2026
Watercolor Group
12 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 13, 2026
Events on November 14, 2026
Events on November 15, 2026
Events on November 16, 2026
16 Nov
16 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 18, 2026
Open Studio Painting Class
18 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 20, 2026
Events on November 21, 2026
Events on November 22, 2026
Events on November 23, 2026
Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting
23 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 25, 2026
Setup for Holiday Festive Art Show
25 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 27, 2026
Holiday Festive Art Show
27 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 28, 2026
Holiday Festive Art Show
27 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 29, 2026
Holiday Festive Art Show
27 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on November 30, 2026
Festive Art Show Tear Down
30 Nov 26
Bellingham
Events on December 2, 2026
Open Studio Painting Class
2 Dec 26
Bellingham
Events on December 3, 2026
Watercolor Group
3 Dec 26
Bellingham
Events on December 5, 2026
Collage Connections
5 Dec 26
Bellingham
Events on December 6, 2026
Events on December 8, 2026
Open Studio Painting Class
8 Dec 26
Bellingham
Events on December 10, 2026
Intro to Oil Painting
10 Dec 26
Bellingham
Events on December 12, 2026

Oct 2026

Bellingham Illuminations - Art in a New Light

Bellingham Illuminations - Art in a New Light

October 31, 2026 - November 8, 2026    
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
"Bellingham Illuminations—Art in a New Light" is an immersive experience showcasing both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art unified by the theme of phosphorescence and light. The [...]

Nov 2026

Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

November 11, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
Watercolor Group

Watercolor Group

November 12, 2026    
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Beneath The Layers: A collection of work by the Collage Connection Group - Opening Reception

Beneath The Layers: A collection of work by the Collage Connection Group - Opening Reception

November 13, 2026    
4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Opening Reception for: Beneath the Layers   Art work created by Collage Connection participants which meets once a month at the Whatcom Art Center.
Beneath The Layers: A Collection of work by the Collage Connection Group

Beneath The Layers: A Collection of work by the Collage Connection Group

November 14, 2026 - November 15, 2026    
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Art work created by Collage Connection participants which meets once a month at the Whatcom Art Center. The work includes mixed media and other forms [...]
Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

November 18, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
Foraging the Forest Floor: Framing Nature's Small Wonders

Foraging the Forest Floor: Framing Nature's Small Wonders

November 21, 2026    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
By late November, the woods are full of quiet beauty — textured bark, soft moss, skeletal leaves, and fallen twigs, all the small things we [...]
RETURN TO THE LIGHT — Holiday Edition: Glass Mosaic Candle Holder Workshop

RETURN TO THE LIGHT — Holiday Edition: Glass Mosaic Candle Holder Workshop

November 22, 2026    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
There's a reason candlelight sits at the center of so many December traditions. Whether it's the glow of a menorah, the shimmer of Christmas lights, [...]
Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting

Whatcom Art Guild Monthly Meeting

November 23, 2026    
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Join us for a festive art experience! Member-led winter craft make and take! This meeting we will doing interactive festive art together: Painting wood rounds [...]
Holiday Festive Art Show

Holiday Festive Art Show

November 27, 2026 - November 29, 2026    
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Come join us for a Holiday Festive Art Show, a joyful celebration of creativity, color, and the spirit of the season. Explore a vibrant collection [...]

Dec 2026

Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

December 2, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
Watercolor Group

Watercolor Group

December 3, 2026    
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
WAG Special Interest group - Watercolor painting. Watercolor Group - Beth Robertson crownlanebeth@comcast.net    
Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

December 8, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
Intro to Oil Painting

Intro to Oil Painting

December 10, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Step into the timeless world of oil painting—where color becomes emotion, and brushstrokes awaken something ancient and alive within you. In this one-day workshop, you’ll [...]
Build and Decorate a Gingerbread House (Seniors)

Build and Decorate a Gingerbread House (Seniors)

December 15, 2026    
10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Working with senior groups to have fun and enjoy building an edible house with lots and lots of delicious candies and cookies plus the wonderful [...]
Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

December 16, 2026    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
Make your own Festive Art!

Make your own Festive Art!

December 19, 2026 - December 20, 2026    
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Various artists from Whatcom Art Guild and Market will be putting on various seasonal 'make & take' art activities, where you can create your own [...]
Build and Decorate a Gingerbread House (Youth)

Build and Decorate a Gingerbread House (Youth)

December 21, 2026 - December 22, 2026    
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
This is a 2 day class: First day, build the gingerbread house; Second day, decorate it. Building a gingerbread house is an awesome partnership project [...]

Jan 2027

Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

January 6, 2027    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
The Art of Intention – A New Year Symbol-Making Workshop

The Art of Intention – A New Year Symbol-Making Workshop

January 10, 2027    
1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Ditch the resolutions. Create a secret code of symbols for what matters most to you in 2027. What if you began the year by discovering [...]
Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

January 13, 2027    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
KINU-SAIGA - The Japanese Art of Painting with Fabric

KINU-SAIGA - The Japanese Art of Painting with Fabric

January 15, 2027    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
You will be learning a textile art developed in the 1980's in Japan using fabric as your paint brush. This does not require advance knowledge [...]
Three Thrilling Watercolor Techniques to get Your Landscape Groove on

Three Thrilling Watercolor Techniques to get Your Landscape Groove on

January 16, 2027    
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Three sheets, three techniques, three colors in under three hours! Art medium: Watercolor Instructor: Julie Mortimer Cost: $30 Age groups: All welcome Class size: 20 [...]
The Art of Attention – A Nature-Inspired Journal-Making Workshop

The Art of Attention – A Nature-Inspired Journal-Making Workshop

January 17, 2027    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
“Eyes that look are common, but eyes that see are rare.” (J. Oswald Sanders) You know the moment. Something small stops you: a leaf catching [...]
Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

January 20, 2027    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
The Art of Connection – A Boho Weaving Workshop

The Art of Connection – A Boho Weaving Workshop

January 23, 2027    
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Let's Go Bohemian During this cozy winter workshop in Bellingham, Washington, you'll make your own simple loom, then weave on it with yarns, fabric strips, [...]

Feb 2027

Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

February 3, 2027    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

February 17, 2027    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]
Open Studio Painting Class

Open Studio Painting Class

February 24, 2027    
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Open Studio Painting has found a wonderful new home at the Whatcom Art Center in Fairhaven, where this beloved program continues to support artists seeking [...]