About

BAAY’S MISSION IS TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF CHILDREN THROUGH THE EXPLORATION OF THE ARTS

Founded in 2006, Bellingham Arts Academy for Youth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts education organization that offers quality instruction in theatre, choir, dance, music, and visual arts for students in pre-k through high school. The mission of BAAY is to enrich children’s lives through the exploration of the arts.

BAAY serves over 1500 children annually at our downtown campus and in the schools throughout Whatcom County. Through our programs, we create community, and teach children confidence, character, and creativity.

BAAY is committed to serving all children in our community. We believe that the arts are a basic and essential component of all children’s education. As part of our work toward equity, we never turn a child away for financial reasons, and provide over $70,000 each year in financial aid to remove barriers to participation. As we grow, we are expanding BAAY in the Schools programming to include fully subsidized enrichment classes in local Title-I schools, bringing the arts directly to children who need them.

At BAAY, we believe in accessible arts education for all. Every student who auditions for a production will receive a part (see our casting policy in the FAQ on this page), and we offer financial aid (see here). You can join in this work – give a gift today and help a local child access the arts!

About BAAY
About BAAY

The BAAY Way

BAAY is a safe place for all young people to discover artistry, develop friendships, collaborate, and have fun. At BAAY, we treat all people with respect and compassion. We approach our work with focus and integrity. We take care of ourselves, each other, and the space we share.

In our role as staff at BAAY:

  • We are artistic professionals and balance creativity with respect and integrity.
  • We show up on time.
  • We clean up our messes.
  • We expect great things from ourselves, each other, and our students.
  • We respect and acknowledge each other’s personal and professional boundaries.
  • We share in the care, cleanliness, and security of BAAY’s facility.
  • Our communication is clear, timely, and direct.
  • We celebrate our successes and have fun together.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility at BAAY

Here at BAAY, we believe in equity and inclusion for all. We strive to practice anti-racism and anti-oppression in all aspects of our organization, and we realize that this will be an ongoing process that we will continue to address. BAAY is committed to growing and learning from all resources available to us to correct systemic injustices and to ensure that our friends in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and LGBTQ+ communities, as well as our friends with disabilities and other marginalized and historically excluded groups, are not only represented but also supported as full and vital members of the BAAY community.

Our DEIA committee meets monthly. For information about joining or contributing, contact our office.