Art Inspired relocates to former Modern Society space

Art Inspired, a division of nonprofit organization Abilities First Inc., relocated last week to the former home of clothing boutique Modern Society.

Manager Jason Mathews said the May 11 move down the street to 331 S. Campbell Ave. was made to gain more foot traffic and exposure at the northwest corner of Campbell and Walnut Street.

“Being on Walnut for things like [First Friday] Art Walk is just a lot better for us,” Mathews said, adding the cost of the move and renovations ran between $500 and $1,000. “A lot of people don’t like to make that north turn on to Campbell off of Walnut.”

Employees at the art store and gallery - which include individuals with developmental disabilities - already have noticed a difference.

“We didn’t get much foot traffic before, but now we definitely are,” said Emily Engebretson, creative consultant. “We used to get maybe 20 people a day; now we get maybe 80.”

Mathews said Art Inspired leases the space from downtown developer Scott Tillman. Costs and terms of the lease were not disclosed. Mathews added although it is smaller than the store’s previous 4,200-square-foot location at 310 S. Campbell Ave., the downsizing hasn’t affected the repurposed-paper art side of the business.

“We kind of scaled down the shredding part of the business,” he said. “We still do Springfield Cardinals’ paper and our own paper at Abilities First, but that’s about all we have left on the shredding companies.”

Mathews said the focus now is offering more art classes and programs through Art Inspired’s sister organization, Art Inspired Academy, at the new Campbell store and other locations including Drury University and the Doling Family Center. The Campbell location also hosts monthly open mic and karaoke nights.

A grand opening for the new location is scheduled in conjunction with the June 5 First Friday Art Walk.[[In-content Ad]]