BELLINGHAM, Wash. — September 24, 2026 — Paper Whale, a Bellingham-based nonprofit placemaking agency, announced today that it will establish a new downtown home at the former Public Market property at 1530 Cornwall Avenue, following approval of a lease agreement between Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) Board of Directors and Paper Whale’s Board of Directors.
The agreement marks a major milestone in Paper Whale’s evolution and a new chapter for the iconic property, bringing renewed activity to Downtown Bellingham while creating new opportunities for artists, organizations and the broader community. The space will bring local artist studios, creative coworking, exhibitions, performances, workshops, and community events under one roof, while providing a year-round home for Paper Whale’s growing slate of programs, including Fire & Story Festival, Noisy Waters Mural Festival, and the Rising Tide Speaker Series. Paper Whale expects to take possession of the Public Market on October 1.
“Paper Whale is ambitious, visionary, and capable of transforming the Public Market into a third space, one that is focused on driving the local creative economy,” said Nick Hartrich, Executive Director of Paper Whale. “We are dedicated to designing experiences in unexpected spaces across Bellingham, and Paper Whale seeks to both accelerate and showcase what an economically vibrant future feels like with creatives behind the wheel.”
“By partnering with Paper Whale, WTA looks forward to benefiting our riders and community by enabling vibrancy and creative activity on the former Public Market site,” said WTA Board Chair and Ferndale City Council Member Ali Hawkinson. “While WTA works towards its long-term vision for this property, we’re delighted for Paper Whale to activate this space and bring it to life.”
The Public Market project reflects Paper Whale’s broader approach to placemaking: activating underused spaces through art, culture, and shared experiences. Since its founding in 2021, the organization has worked with creatives, businesses, public agencies, and community partners to bring creative activity to Bellingham’s Waterfront, Downtown, and Old Town areas.
Over the next several months, Paper Whale will begin preparing the building for occupancy, with uses and programming expanding as improvements and permitting are completed. The space will evolve over time, creating room to test ideas, take creative risks, and discover what kinds of spaces, programs, and experiences can best serve Bellingham’s creative community.
The Cornwall Avenue location represents a significant expansion of Paper Whale’s presence in downtown Bellingham and highlights what can be possible when public agencies and community organizations work together to creatively activate existing spaces.
“This is more than an event venue,” Hartrich said. “This is a space for working creatives, ideators, and people with vision and capacity to see an idea through. We create people-centered places, and the Public Market fully embodies that intention.”
Paper Whale will share additional details about the Public Market, including artist studio and coworking opportunities, upcoming programming, partnerships, and opening plans, as the project develops at www.paper-whale.com.
In the months ahead, Paper Whale will be looking for support from local businesses, organizations, and individuals through volunteer help, in-kind donations, and financial contributions to help make this new creative space possible. To make a donation in support of this project, visit www.paper-whale.com/donate.
About Paper Whale
Paper Whale is a Bellingham-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural organization that activates spaces, supports local artists, and creates opportunities for community connection through public art and shared experiences. Its programs include the Fire & Story Festival, Noisy Waters Mural Festival, Rising Tide Speaker Series, public art projects, immersive installations, and other creative placemaking initiatives throughout Bellingham. Learn more at www.paper-whale.com.
About Whatcom Transportation Authority
Whatcom Transportation Authority connects people to opportunity by providing public transportation throughout Bellingham and Whatcom County. WTA purchased the Public Market as the future home of a Transit Oriented Development project, to collocate housing with expanded transit service, and serve as a gateway to downtown. This partnership with Paper Whale achieves WTA’s preliminary goal of activating this keystone property while working toward its long-term vision for the site.
The above was provided to Whatcom Business Journal for publication and is being published without revision and without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. No effort was made to confirm any information provided. The author(s) are solely responsible for the content.
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