WELCOME TO THE WHATCOM MUSEUM

Mission—
The Whatcom Museum provides informative, innovative and interactive educational programs and exhibitions about art and Northwest history and the influences that affected their evolution. We seek to stimulate inquiry about our changing cultural, natural and historical landscapes, for the youngest to the oldest minds, and to inspire preservation of and creative contributions to our region.

Located in the heart of Downtown Bellingham, Wash., the Whatcom Museum is a nonprofit organization operated jointly by the City of Bellingham and the Whatcom Museum Foundation. The Museum is accredited nationally by the American Association of Museums.

The Whatcom Museum campus currently is composed of three buildings that feature exhibitions of fine art, regional history and hands–on children’s art activities. The Museum’s collection holds more than 200,000 artifacts and art pieces of regional importance, including a vast photographic archive.

A new building for the Whatcom Museum is under construction at the corner of Grand Avenue and Flora Street. Called the Lightcatcher Building, it will be a preeminent facility for displaying art and cultural artifacts and will include a new all-ages interactive gallery with numerous activities for children and families. It is slated to open in late 2009.

Each of the Museum’s existing three buildings is located on Prospect Street between Champion Street and Central Avenue.

Thanks to our program sponsors:

Proud Member of:

JACOBS RESEARCH FUNDS

Jacobs Research Funds is a grant program supporting anthropological research (socio-cultural or linguistic in content) on the indigenous peoples of Canada, Mexico, mainland United States, including Alaska, with a focus on the Pacific Northwest. Grants are given for work on problems in: language, social organization, political organization, religion, mythology, music, other arts, psychology and folk science.

To apply for a Jacobs Research Fund Grant, complete the Application Form. Preferably complete the user-writable Word version of the application, which can be e-mailed back to the Jacobs Fund administrative center along with supporting documents. If necessary, you can download, print, complete and mail back the Acrobat version. However, either version must be received by the Jacobs Fund administration by Feb. 15. Also, be sure to read the grant application guidelines Word version, Acrobat version.

If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, You may get your free copy of Adobe Reader by simply clicking this button.

Please e-mail the Jacobs Fund coordinator with questions.

SUBMISSION OF EXHIBITION PROPOSALS

Exhibitions proposed outside of the regular Museum staff process will be reviewed annually. All exhibitions are subject to review and approval by Museum staff. The appropriateness of, and potential commitment to, an exhibition is determined by its ability, by way of example, to apply and follow the Museum’s mission statement; achieve curatorial balance; demonstrate adequate resource development; and incorporate successfully into the exhibition schedule.

Exhibition Proposal Guidelines(pdf)

SUBMITTING YOUR ARTWORK FOR REVIEW

Due to the number of unsolicited submissions we receive, it has become necessary for us to hold one portfolio review per year. For 2009, this review will occur during the month of September. Our curatorial team will respond to submissions by December 2009. Unfortunately, we will not be able to offer professional advice or feedback. If we are interested in your work, we will contact you for further information. All other artists will receive a standard response via email or letter.

All artwork submitted for consideration by the Whatcom Museum for 2010 must be received by Sept.1, 2009.

For detailed instructions on submitting your artwork, please read the following guidelines: Submitting Artwork for Review (pdf)