BELLINGHAM - Local music nonprofit Make.Shift is debuting its new home Friday, Oct. 7, with an art show during the Downtown Art Walk.

Make.Shift's new spot at 306 Flora St. will provide practice space for musicians, studio space for artists and a venue for live music, as well as room for other programs for local artists.

The group also has just signed a lease with the nonprofit Whatcom All-ages Arts & Music, allowing WhAAM to put on shows in the space, 306 Flora St.

"We've been working so long with WhAAM, and both groups have worked so hard to make this partnership happen," said Make.Shift Director Cat Sieh. "It's wonderful to see what's come out of that relationship so far, and I'm excited to see what happens in the future."

Make.Shift took over the business and lease for the Jinx Art Space building in July and has had plenty of help from volunteers and local businesses during the renovation process.

"It's absolutely amazing to see the music community come together and support this project and see it come through," Sieh said. "Everybody has been so gung ho, so supportive."

Make.Shift will keep the upstairs space as a gallery, and will open with the group show "The Black Forest: Fear and Nature," from 6 p.m. to midnight Friday. The event also will include the Bellingham Circus Guild and music by Bar Tabac.

Downstairs will remain a music venue, and there are practice spaces available for bands to rent. The Jinx sign remains out front.

WhAAM's first show in the space will be 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, with a grand opening show 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.

Sieh described the building as a constant work in progress as the group develops plans to offer classes, programs and more services for local artists and musicians.

"We have such a great framework to move forward," she said.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

To find out more about WhAAM and the shows it has scheduled for the month, go online to whaam.org. For information about Make.Shift, go to makeshiftproject.com.