‘We want everyone to feel they belong’: Whatcom Museum hosts free events and sensory hours
The Whatcom Museum is already known as a source of education, beautiful exhibits and local history, but it also offers free special events for those needing a sensory-friendly space, or a fun family day out.
The museum has two exhibition buildings, Old City Hall and the Lightcatcher Building. Both buildings offer “Access for All Free First Fridays” and “Low Sensory Sunday,” events to welcome more guests into the museum.
Low Sensory Sunday events
Low Sensory Sundays take place every other month “to offer a dedicated time reserved for children and their families who require a quieter environment to focus, explore, and make art,” Adrienne Dawson, director or marketing at Whatcom Museum wrote in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
The free event runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and is reserved for children 12 and younger with sensory processing needs or on the autism spectrum to enjoy the museum’s Family Interactive Gallery, along with their families. At noon, the museum opens for all guests.
“Our goal in all things is to make the Whatcom Museum inclusive. Low Sensory Sunday hours provide a calmer environment in the FIG for families to explore at their own pace and connect with other families who may share similar life experiences,” Dawson said.
“During Low Sensory Sunday hours, we install moveable walls to create focused areas for children to explore. Lights and sounds are turned low, and tools such as gloves, activity cue cards, timers, and headphones are provided. These tools are also available every day at the front desk at both of the museum’s exhibition buildings for anyone who needs them,” Dawson said.
The museum is also hoping to offer Low Sensory Sundays monthly in the future, but needs to secure funding to make it possible.
“We know there’s a need for this in our community... we most want families to know that they’re welcome here — and not just at the Family Interactive Gallery, but in all of our spaces. Art is for everyone,” Dawson said.
The next Low Sensory Sundays are at 10 a.m. on May 26 and July 28 at the Lightcatcher & Family Interactive Gallery 250 Flora St, in Bellingham.
Free First Fridays
Free First Fridays take place the first Friday of each month, offering free admission to both museum exhibition buildings all day for all ages.
“The goal of our new Access for All Free First Friday program is to make it easier and even more welcoming for anyone to visit museums – simple as that! We want everyone to feel they belong here,” Dawson said.
The museum decided to start Free First Fridays after receiving a grant from the Art Bridges Foundation.
The Whatcom Museum was one of only 64 museums and art institutions across the country that received an Access for All grant from the Art Bridges Foundation in October. Each grant recipient is using its funds in different ways, but all are committed to reducing barriers that make it difficult for people to experience art. The Whatcom Museum is using this generous grant to offer free admission, free programming, and extended hours one day per month. This is a three-year grant, so we intend to offer Free First Fridays at least through 2026,” Dawson said.
Each month’s event has changing programs and themes which are announced online on the museum’s website. The museum also extends normal operating hours for Free First Fridays, keeping both buildings open until 9 p.m.
The next First Free Friday is from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 3 at Old City Hall at 121 Prospect St. and the Lightcatcher building at 250 Flora St.
