After 30 years in the same location, Allied Arts of Whatcom County is changing direction in 2025. The Bellingham nonprofit will celebrate the grand opening of its new gallery, located at 1213 Cornwall Ave., on Friday, Feb. 7. Festivities coincide with Allied Art’s annual Member’s Show, as well as the organization’s 45th anniversary.
Allied Arts is dedicated to “empowering local artists, fostering arts education and engaging enthusiasts of the arts.” It was previously headquartered at 1418 Cornwall Ave., but with their lease up for renewal this year, Executive Director Kelly Hart said a facility upgrade had already been on the board’s radar.
A former board member tipped her off about a potentially suitable spot across from Hotel Leo, just steps away from restaurants and high-end retail. Upon touring the space, Hart and the board said “yes” as soon as they stepped inside. The new location features a substantial gallery space with high ceilings, two additional offices, a receiving room and plenty of room for Allied Arts’ thrift store.
The new space had its soft opening in January amid the exhibition “Heritage in Motion,” which features work by Indigenous artists Jason LaClair, Michelle DeAsis and Dionisio “Nish” Romero. Hart said the show’s concept dovetails with the nonprofit’s overall mission: to be inclusive to all communities within Whatcom County.
“Our staff are super welcoming and inclusive,” Hart said. “All ages and walks of life are welcome.”
Allied Arts was founded in 1980 to provide opportunities for local artists. However, Hart said its board expanded its mission about 15 years ago to include a stronger community focus. The nonprofit serves about 50,000 people each year through a dozen community programs.
Educational offerings include a Veterans Art Program and one of the largest Arts in Schools programs in Washington state. Allied Arts also hosts events, including the Holiday Festival of the Arts in December and the Cultural Arts Festival in March.
Hart said headquartering all this under one roof can prove difficult. One of Allied Arts’ biggest logistical challenges was the Reuse Thrift Store (AARTS), which sells used supplies at a discount to benefit the nonprofit’s programming. In the old facility, the thrift store was housed across the hall from the gallery, thus reducing overall foot traffic.
The new space provides much-needed extra room for AARTS’ inventory. And since accessing the thrift store requires walking through the gallery, every visitor gets exposed to local arts — intentionally or otherwise.
“We really want [visitors to] have a chance to look around and see work by local artists,” Hart said of the gallery space. “Even if they don’t spend a lot of time in here, it gives us a chance to also network with them.”
2025 looks to be a bright year for Allied Arts: The Annual Membership Show will include work from more than 100 of the nonprofit’s members. The show features a diverse range of mediums and skill levels, with pieces from longtime Whatcom County artists and gallery newcomers hanging side-by-side.
The following month, they’ll partner with Whatcom Reads and present their annual Cultural Arts Festival (March 15–16) at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. April marks the return of their Recycled Arts Resource Expo (RARE).
Hart described this lineup as “a lot of tried-and-true, fun things,” noting that the new location adds an additional layer of excitement. Whether you’re an artist, an appreciator or simply curious about what Allied Arts has to offer, everyone is encouraged to stop in for a visit.
Allied Arts’ 2025 Member’s Show has an opening reception from 6–9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7. The exhibition remains on view 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday until March 1 at 1213 Cornwall Ave. Info: alliedarts.org.
Cocoa Laney is CDN’s lifestyle editor; reach her at cocoalaney@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 128.
