A visit to the NSCAD Art Supply Store in Granville Mall is always a journey of fun, discovery, and function.
“While the store is here for our fine art and media arts students, other shoppers – tourists and city residents – have started to wander in more often for inspiration, gifts, and networking in the arts community,” said Store Manager Kat Larocque.
Staff and customers often share information about classes, tricks of the trade, and arts-related events in the city, said Larocque. Plus, there’s an area in the store where local artists can leave their business cards, or promote their events. The store also participates in Downtown Halifax Business Commission events and invites vendors and artists to do in-store demos and talks.
The most important service is for students, and fine art and media arts students will find all the art materials they need for their classes. Art supplies in the store include a wide selection of painting materials such as paints, brushes, paper ranging from sketchbooks to newsprint pads to high quality printing and watercolour paper. Fabriano, Somerset and Arches are some of the brands that are carried by the store.
There’s also a section for yarns, cotton, rayon and silk yard goods, and some sewing tools, plus fabrics such as muslin cotton, rayon, linen, and silks.
Printing supplies include dyes, pens, pencils, erasers, and various papers. There are photography supplies including black and white film, some ceramics tools and drafting materials, and pastels, Conté sticks and crayons, charcoal, markers, pencils, and calligraphy.
Books for coursework and a small selection of general interest books are stocked. Anyone who can’t find what they’re looking for can ask the knowledgeable staff for help placing special orders.
“We welcome suggestions from our shoppers about new items to stock. That’s one of the reasons our selection has grown.”
The store recently started carrying some branded goods (which make great gifts) including phone card holders, tees and sweatshirts, toques, pens, buffs.
Visit the NSCAD Art Supply Store webpage here, or drop in and say ‘Hi’ to Kat, Jenna and Eli at the store located in the lower level of Granville Mall on Hollis Street. The store is open six days a week (Monday to Friday from 9:30-6 and Saturday from 11-5). Mail order is also available by phoning 902 494 8176 or sending an email to store@nscad.ca.
Photo Credits: Wiebke Schroeder (branded goods) and Devon Burquist (general images)