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POSTED: Monday, Jul. 06, 2009

Museum educator Richard Vanderway stepping down after 35 years

Richard Vanderway - the even-tempered explainer of Northwest history to thousands of school children - is retiring after 35 years at Whatcom Museum.

His last day on the job as curator of educational and public programs will be Oct. 1.

After that, Vanderway's future seems set. He plans to walk, hike and bird-watch a lot, and enjoy his time with museum colleague Bev Wiltshire, whom he married a year ago.

Vanderway's settled future stands in marked contrast to that of the museum, itself.

The museum's upcoming move to the new Lightcatcher Building, coupled with tight funding and staffing, has left several issues unresolved, including the future of programs developed by Vanderway.

"I'm leaving at a pivotal time," he said. "The museum is going in a lot of directions."

FELL INTO THE JOB

Born in Bellingham 60 years ago, Vanderway grew up helping at his father's gas stations around town. He graduated from Western Washington University with an education degree in 1971, ready to teach science and math. Instead, he ran into a glut of would-be teachers on the market.

Fortunately, Vanderway had been a reliable volunteer at the museum for a couple of years, so he landed a part-time job there. When the museum closed for a few years for repairs, he went back to Western to augment his teaching certificate. When the museum reopened in 1974, he resumed his job fulltime.

Back then, you didn't need a degree in museumology, and when groups came to the museum for a tour, whichever employee was least busy and most willing would lead the way.

Vanderway changed that for the better. He designed history, nature and art presentations geared to the classroom needs of teachers and youngsters. Bellingham students began coming in droves. Then students from other local schools. Then classes from other counties.

Vanderway has been doing it so long that teachers who bring their students mention that they listened to Vanderway when they were kids.

About 25,000 people a year roll through the museum because of the educational programs. Another 15,000 a year show up for concerts, puppet shows and other free public events organized by Vanderway. Together, that's nearly 40 percent of museum attendance.

He also has curated numerous exhibits through the years, and has narrated the museum's Bellingham Bay History Cruises the past 22 summers.

CHANGES

The programs run by Vanderway have been free. That's changing.

Once the Lightcatcher Building opens, the museum will charge admission, and free programming might become, well, history.

The $12.8-million building at Grand Avenue and Flora Street will be home to the museum's art collections, a children's museum and traveling exhibits. It's expected to open Nov. 7.

With cuts in staffing and funding, the museum plans, for the first time, to charge admission for exhibits, likely $9 to $10. Admission also might be charged for concerts and other public programs.

For students, the museum is seeking a one-year federal grant to help schools cover the cost of art and history programs. The grant could provide up to $150,000 to be matched locally, but the money wouldn't be available until the 2010-11 school year.

As for the coming school year?

"We're in a transitional phase," acknowledged Patty Relay, the museum's director of development. "We'll be tweaking it to see what works, what doesn't work."

In another change, a docents program is being organized to train volunteers to lead art tours in the Lightcatcher Building. Marilyn Burns, a former docent at Seattle Art Museum, has been hired part-time to guide that.

"This is an important effort to make the museum more friendly," she said.

Vanderway knows his departure might help another museum worker save his or her job during city layoffs expected soon. That's not the only reason he's retiring. The time feels right.

"It seemed to me that my skills were for this kind of free museum," he said.

HISTORY CRUISES

What: Bellingham Bay History Cruises, narrated by Richard Vanderway.

When: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, through Aug. 13.

Where: The 110-foot Island Caper departs from Squalicum Harbor.

Tickets: $25 per person, or $20 for Whatcom Museum members. Tickets: 778-8963.

Extra: For more about the museum's docent program, call Marilyn Burns, 778-8930.