Part of Bellingham has been named one of the most creative neighborhoods in America

Bellingham is secure enough about its artsy identity that it probably doesn’t need an internet survey conducted thousands of miles away for validation. But that didn’t stop Philadelphia-based real estate company Brotherly Love Properties from including a Bellingham neighborhood in its recent list of the most creative places in the country.

The study aimed to rank the most sought-after neighborhoods in America for their attractiveness to creative people. Based on over 3,000 responses, it came up with a list of the 110 best neighborhoods for creative people in the country. While plenty of those included were famous neighborhoods in big cities, downtown Bellingham ranked in the top 25, the highest of any neighborhood in Washington.

Downtown Bellingham arts district

Downtown Bellingham’s arts district took the 24th spot on the list. Respondents pointed to its proximity to nature and local art markets as reasons the area is so sought-after by creative people.

More a section of downtown than a strictly-defined arts district, the northwest part of downtown Bellingham features the city’s main arts-related attractions. The area is home to what’s arguably the city’s primary performance venue, the Mount Baker Theatre, along with the Pickford Film Center.

It’s home to the Whatcom Museum and the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention. It’s also where you’ll find smaller venues and galleries, like Make.Shift Art Space, downtown’s art studio-turned-gallery-turned-event space and music venue, and the improv-focused The Upfront Theater.

According to Dylan Deane-Boyle, president and CEO of Bellingham Whatcom County Tourism, Bellingham’s art scene is sometimes overshadowed by the area’s access to nature, but remains one of the city’s highlights.

“Bellingham and Whatcom County are recognized around the world for our outdoor recreation, but we also take great pride in our arts and culture offerings,” Deane-Boyle said in a statement over email to the Bellingham Herald.

Arts events in downtown Bellingham

It’s not just the area’s theaters and museums that earned mention in the survey. Downtown also has a number of recurring arts-related events.

Visit downtown on the first Friday of any month and you’ll find free events at the Whatcom Museum, along with an assortment of other art-related happenings.

The Downtown Bellingham Partnership hosts its Downtown Sounds outdoor concert series each summer. That area is also home to the Wild Buffalo House of Music, along with plenty of galleries and public art.

Other WA, PNW cities with top arts scenes

Downtown Bellingham was one of two Washington neighborhoods to make the list. Seattle’s Fremont district was just a few spots behind at No. 30. Portland’s Pearl District made the list as well, just behind Seattle at No. 31.

This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 10:13 AM.