Historic Arts District building gifted to local Indigenous-led nonprofit
A historic building in the heart of Bellingham’s Arts District has been gifted to Children of the Setting Sun Productions, an Indigenous-led nonprofit that brings Coast Salish stories and teachings together for social and environmental change.
Mindport Exhibits has occupied the building at 210 W. Holly Street since 2001, but Tallie Jones, executive director, announced earlier this year, the interactive museum will permanently close this fall.
The official closure date for Mindport has been set for Nov. 3. Jones and her team will disburse exhibits and empty the space after that date. People interested in visiting Mindport before it closes should check https://www.mindport.org/closure/ for open hours leading up to Nov. 3.
“This is a wonderful future for this much-loved building,” Jones said. CSSP plans to honor the building’s history as an education space while focusing on Indigenous stories and place-based learning.
Transfer of building bolsters Bellingham’s Arts District
Gifting the building at 210 W. Holly Street to Children of the Setting Sun marks a significant milestone in Bellingham history as the building pivots from one cultural institution to another. The transition of the building from Mindport Exhibits to CSSP, made possible by an anonymous benefactor and facilitated by the Whatcom Community Foundation, ensures the building remains a cultural space within the Arts District.
“When we began to consider the need to close Mindport Exhibits, it felt important to find a nonprofit organization to fill this space, one that values art and science, connecting people and respect for the natural world,” said Jones.
Children of the Setting Sun’s diverse projects, their values and nationally acknowledged work uplifting Indigenous voices and facilitating cross-cultural understanding brought the organization quickly to mind. CSSP’s focus on young people and mentoring and supporting future generations helped solidify the decision.
Darrell Hillaire, executive director of CSSP, expressed deep gratitude to the benefactor, the Jones Family and Mindport staff for nearly 30 years of fostering curiosity, conversation and 0connection. He added that CSSP is honored to guide this community touchstone into its next chapter with a shared commitment to creativity, learning and community engagement.
What will CSSP do with the building?
Children of the Setting Sun is developing Setting Sun Labs — a vibrant lab space that will share films, podcasts, events, a digital heritage library, immersive media and contemporary art. Their vision is to create an immersive experience gallery, a Coast Salish lifeways gallery, digital media production studios, an artist-in-residence program, and maker spaces for Indigenous artists to create and interact with each other and the community.
Bellingham-based RMC Architects and Dawson Construction have been hired to renovate the three-story building for its new use. If all goes according to plan, construction should begin in spring 2025, and the building should be fully open in spring 2026.
“For the first time, CSSP will have a space open to the public where we can invite the community and our partners to collaborate and walk with us on this journey to change hearts and minds. We will strengthen, remember, and share Indigenous stories of hy’shqe/gratitude,” said Hillaire.
About Mindport Exhibits: Mindport Exhibits is a unique interactive museum located in Bellingham, Washington, dedicated to fostering curiosity and creativity. Since its founding in 1995, Mindport has offered hands-on exhibits that blend art and science to inspire visitors of all ages. Our mission is to encourage exploration, learning and a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of our world. For more information, visit www.mindport.org.
About Children of the Setting Sun Productions: Children of the Setting Sun Productions, based in Bellingham, Washington, is an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization that works to create, share and educate with Indigenous stories of gratitude, generosity and respect to empower the minds and hearts of future generations. Through educational programs, community events and cultural preservation efforts, they work to empower Indigenous youth and foster cultural understanding and respect. For more information, visit https://settingsunproductions.org/.