the art coop, inc. is one of central illinois' largest and finest art supply stores. founded in 1970 by university of illinois art and architecture students, the art coop has managed to survive the intense competition of giant craft store chains, mail order warehouses, and internet commerce, by always striving to bring our customers the highest quality art materials at the best possible prices. although we may not always be the cheapest, we would rather explain our prices than apologize for poor quality or lack of selection.
everyone that works at the art coop is either an art student or working artist, and we are constantly on the look-out for new and exciting products to help you realize your creative vision. when we find products we like, we usually try to carry an extensive assortment, rather than just the best selling portions of a given line. we carry all the colors of prismacolor pencils, artmarkers, chartpak admarkers, nupastels, rembrandt pastels, winton and gamblin oils, liquitex, van gogh, and daler-rowney acrylics, winson newton watercolors, tons of brushes, and a huge selection of fine art papers. we also carry many interesting and unusual items for non artists - journals, pens, toys, t-shirts, to name a few. we always welcome your suggestions for new products to carry or how we might better serve you.
we know you have a mind boggling amount of choice when it comes to buying art supplies, and truly appreciate your support.
our hours are: mon-thurs 9:00 to 9:00, fri & sat 10:00 to 6:00, and sun noon to 5:00, when u of i is in session, and 10:00 to 6:00 mon-sat during school breaks.
we are located in the skylight court mezzanine, on the northwest corner of 5th and green. free parking is available right beneath the store.