Last fall, Allied Arts of Whatcom County unveiled their all-new Whatcom County Arts Awards, a program celebrating the individuals and organizations who create or promote the arts in Whatcom County.
Scott Ward, president of Allied Arts, gave us insight into the motivation behind the new awards.
“From 1978 to 2021, the City of Bellingham celebrated our arts community through the Mayor’s Arts Awards,” he says. “In 2025, the Allied Arts of Whatcom County board felt the absence of that tradition and recognized how important it is to continue honoring the artists and art supporters who enrich our community.”
Photograph by Pete Mitchell
The Whatcom County Arts Awards recognize winners in five categories. In 2025, the winners were: Harold Niven of Another Wave Fiber Art in Arts Legend; Bellingham Symphony Orchestra’s Executive Director Gail Ridenour in Arts Advocate; artist Michelle DeAsis in Visual; Whatcom READS in Literary; and Pam Kuntz of nonprofit dance company Kuntz and Company in Performance.
“Using the City’s original award criteria and guided by our own mission, Allied Arts wanted to be sure that we honored working artists in all media, dedicated supporters of the arts, and those who show a deep commitment to the creative culture of our county,” says Ward about the creation of the winning categories. “Individuals, businesses, and organizations are all eligible for recognition—showing the many ways people contribute to the arts community of Whatcom County.”
Photograph by Kristen Boehm
The inaugural awards were presented on Nov. 21, with the ceremony acting as “the official kick-off party” for the Holiday Festival of the Arts, according to Ward.
This allowed attendees to meet and mingle with the artists being awarded and those featured in the festival. 1213 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, 360.676.8548, alliedarts.org
