WAST is a vibrant community of artists who are passionate about promoting the arts in Whatcom County. Through a variety of events, gallery shows and studio tours, WAST provides a platform for artists to showcase their work and connect with a wider audience. As a member of WAST, you become part of a dynamic community of professional artists who are committed to promoting each other's work and advancing the arts in the region. Whether you are a painter, sculptor, photographer, or mixed media artist, WAST provides a supportive and collaborative environment where you can thrive and grow as an artist. By joining WAST, you have the opportunity to connect with other artists, exhibit your work, and participate in a variety of exciting events and activities throughout the year.

 

2024 Tour dates are October 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 2024
Please read these important instructions for the Studio Tour

 

• The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour is a free, self-guided tour occurring the first two weekends of October. The Studio Tour offers visitors insights into the creative process, work-life and work-environment of area artists and provides an opportunity for people to purchase original works directly from their makers

• The organization also produces group gallery shows throughout the year. Most of these are open without jurying to all WAST participating artists. Some shows may require that each artist’s works be juried in order to be in the show. A list of gallery shows, how to apply, deadline dates, and details will be provided on the Artist's Only page once established.

• In 2023, the tour featured 60 local artists, showing throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County. The tour is widely promoted in the Seattle to Vancouver BC corridor and is cooperatively organized and run by the participants on a volunteer basis. In addition to the application fees, the tour obtains grant money and ad revenue from the brochure it publishes

• The promoters of the Whatcom Artist Studio Tour make every effort to create a premier art experience for visitors, and a successful exhibiting and sales venue for artists in Bellingham and Whatcom County.

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Advertising and Promotion

Tour members share in the benefits of group advertising including

• Member’s pages on the Tour website (www.studiotour.net). Your page is active during the entire year for visitor’s to use to view your artwork and contact you for appointments.

• Member group art exhibition opportunities at galleries throughout the year.

• Street signs, printed promotional materials you may distribute at arts fairs or other opportunities through the year.  

• Social media posting on WAST pages regarding your upcoming shows or other art activities related to your work.

• Social Media posts and boosted ads on Facebook and Instagram.

• Coordinated press releases to area media, advertisements in periodical publications throughout Whatcom County, the Puget Sound area, and lower British Columbia.

• A beautifully designed brochure, including tour maps and art photos as well as information about each artist. See it here.

• Posters are placed in local establishments, street banners and signage throughout the community. 

 

The Tour also organizes and promotes additional exhibitions and exhibiting opportunities for Tour Artists throughout the year at various locations in Whatcom County, such as the Whatcom Museum, Jansen Art Center, Allied Arts of Whatcom County, Chuckanut Bay Gallery, Dakota Arts and others, as they become available.

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Requirements for Acceptance

Standards of Work

• All work submitted for jury and sold during WAST must be original works in its execution and design handcrafted by the applicant. Works that have been produced with commercial kits are not acceptable.

Jury Process

• All new artists are required to jury in 2024. If you are a returning artist and participated in 2022 or 2023 you do not have to jury. Participating artists must jury every three years

 

Tour Participation

The tour is for YOU! It is a cooperative, volunteer-driven effort from all member artists who have made this event a premier venue for Whatcom County artists for 29 years. The tour can’t happen without your active participation in its production. 

• Every artist is required to contribute time doing tasks or serving on a committee. No exceptions.

• Tasks will be clearly defined and most require no more than a couple of hours. A sign-up sheet at the first meeting will outline the tasks and estimated time required.

• All artists are responsible for collecting and paying taxes to the appropriate city, county, and/or state tax agencies.

• New in 2024 The Whatcom Artist Studio Tour does not provide any insurance for individual members. Member artists are required to provide a certificate of minimum required insurance coverage to WAST. There are many event specific policies available at a reasonable cost. Please contact us if you need help accessing appropriate insurance carriers.

• Artists’ studios must be open during the posted hours of the tour. Artists must be present in their respective studios during the Tour barring extraordinary circumstances.

• Artists and studios must be located in Whatcom County.

• WAST strongly encourages each artist to provide demonstrations and/or visual representation of their artistic processes to the public.

• The studio space must be suitable to show work.

• The studio must be adequate to accommodate tour visitors safely. 

• Covid Protocols will be observed according to CDC guidelines at the time of the tour.

• During the tour days and hours, the studio must sell only work by participating tour artists who have juried, been accepted and paid the WAST application (when applicable) and studio fee.

• Studios are encouraged to include an actual art production area.

• Studios that provide education or instruction as a regular course of business may display but not sell student work during the show (unless the student is a paying WAST artist participant), unless you are a visiting juried tour artist sharing another artist’s studio, as a prearranged agreement.

 

Studio Tour Jury and Participation Fees

The jury fee for 2024 is $35 (a small fee is added to credit card and Paypal payments). Applications open January, 2024 and close April 15, 2024. Annual Membership fee for 2024 is $350 per artist not per studio. Fees are due no later than June 1, 2024.

 

We strive to keep expenses as low as possible and they are directly affected by the number of artists that volunteer to help with the various tasks required to make the tour happen. 

 

All fees may be paid by check, credit card or PayPal.

Mail checks to
Whatcom Artist Studio Tour
PO Box 5921
Bellingham, WA 98227

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The Membership fee includes

• An information page on the website for each artist that includes a gallery of up to six color photographs of work, a brief description of your work, a studio and email address and a personal website link, a Google map with your location. 

• Brochure listing with 1 photo of your artwork and address/contact information, and a brief statement (roughly 150 character description) of your process.

• Opportunities to participate in group Gallery exhibitions through the year.

• Social Media promotional opportunities.

• 2 directional WAST street signs

• Stack of brochures, posters and other promotional material.

• Get to hang out and party with hot local artists!