SpringHill Suites Bellingham is partnering with Allied Arts of Whatcom County to bring the local art scene to hotel guests and the surrounding community during its third annual ArtNight event Friday, October 14 from 5:30 – 8:30 pm.
“SpringHill is a brand that is all about the arts, and it shows right when you come in the lobby,” shared General Manager Keith Coleman. The space itself is artfully designed, encouraging guests and visitors to get creative. There’s even a touch screen wall for visitors to draw on. ArtNight further elevates the space by transforming part of the hotel into a gallery for an evening.
“ArtNight is a super relaxed chance to dress up a little and go look at great art,” shared Coleman. The evening is completely free and includes appetizers, delicious drink specials from the Chuckanut Lobby Bar, and live music performed by The Anissa Jazz Trio.
ArtNight gives hotel guests the unique opportunity to connect with the local community and appreciate great art together. Allied Arts of Whatcom County will display a variety of art to help bring a taste of local talent into the hotel for the evening. Past art pieces have included jewelry, metal work, paintings, and photography. Some artists had such a great time showing their work last year they decided to come back again.
“It is my second time around,” shared local artist, and WhatcomTalk Community Relations & Business Development Manager, Kevin Forrester Coleman. Kevin was pleased with the opportunity to share his art and make connections to the community during last year’s ArtNight event. “It was a good turnout with a variety of works for all types of people. I think it’s a great way for artists to come together and share what they do in an upscale environment.”
In addition to being an inspiring evening out, ArtNight is a great opportunity to give back to the community via SpringHill Suites by Save Art! program, which gets much needed funding for arts education into schools.
Research has shown that art education has a tremendous impact on the developmental growth and academic success of children. The introduction of the arts in early education teaches valuable life-skills such as creative problem solving, decision making and articulating a vision, and helps to build self-esteem and self-confidence. In spite of this, many schools are facing severe budget cuts that minimize or eliminate their art programs.
In partnership with Fresh Artists – a non-profit organization that brings quality art supplies and innovative art programs to teachers in need – SpringHill Suites will provide art materials to local schools in communities across North America. October is National Arts & Humanities Month, so it’s the perfect time for local hotel guests and community members to make a donation that will go toward purchasing art kits for Cordata Elementary School. Donors will also get to add a paint splotch on the wall, doing their part to create an art piece that will be displayed in the lobby.
“As an artist and former educator in the arts, it is really important to have art in the schools and the money to buy supplies so kids can be creative and use their imaginations,” shared Art Night participant Kevin Forrester Coleman. In 2014 SpringHill Suites raised more than $2,000 for art supplies at Alderwood Elementary. SpringHill Suites’ General Manager Keith Coleman will never forget the day he got to help deliver supplies to the school.
“We pulled in front of the school and all these kids came running out to help us unload the art supplies,” he said. “It was so cool!”
The ArtNight and Save Art! programs showcase how Bellingham’s SpringHill Suites fulfills its requirement to help the local community. Supporting local nonprofits and community organizations is a national requirement of the Marriott brand, and these events are things Keith Coleman is thrilled to add to his list of “to-dos.”
“I can’t believe I get to say, ‘I have to do this. I have to raise money for kids, and have to see their reactions,’” shared Coleman. “It’s such a great part of my job.”
If you can’t make it to ArtNight on Friday, October 14 from 5:30-8:30 pm, you can drop by SpringHill Suites anytime through the end of October to make your contribution to supporting the arts at Cordata Elementary School.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is located at 4040 Northwest Avenue in Bellingham.
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