Click here for a schedule of our art and education conferences and workshops.

Our partnerships provide valuable community resources to educators throughout the region. More info...

Read articles about United Art and Education that have been published in area newspapers.

See the press releases sent to newspapers, radio and television stations announcing special events and more!

March 6, 2004
South Bend Tribune:
By HEIDI PRESCOTT, Tribune Staff Writer

MISHAWAKA -- Customers at United Art and Education cannot help but feel cramped. There's not much room for carts to pass or for customers to look around without bumping elbows.

But that is going to change.

By late spring, United Art -- formerly known as Creative Teaching -- plans to move to the former Shoe Carnival store at Indian Ridge Plaza in Mishawaka. Actually, United Art will take the shoe store and three other empty adjoining storefronts, said store manager Susie Nobbe.

The move will expand the store to 18,000 square feet from 10,000 square feet, and provide better visibility and foot traffic in a strip shopping center.

"It won't feel like we're busting at the seams. You'll easily get up and down the aisles," she said. "It will be more roomy and make it easier for customers to find us."

The current storefront at 136 E. McKinley Ave. has been too small for all of its products, especially the items suggested by the "Art" in the store name.

When the move is completed, the new United Art will carry a variety of art materials, including oil paints, acrylics, easels, paper, airbrush supplies and printing supplies. There will be thousands of art-related products in the store.

Nobbe hopes United Art is able to pick up business from customers who used to shop for supplies at Makielski Inc. on North Main Street. That store closed in 2002.

Owner Dave Makielski recently opened a custom picture framing, gallery and gifts store at Village Commons Center in Edwardsburg.

"Makielski's had been able to contribute to the community with art supplies for a number of years. It was a loss," she said.

When United Art purchased the Creative Teaching store in 2002 from previous owners, there was always the intention of adding art products, said Frances Brooks, marketing coordinator.

The teaching supplies for area educators, parents, day-care providers and home schoolers will remain intact, Brooks said. A few new teaching products could be added after the move, Nobbe said, including some resource books for educators.

United Arts also carries a number of learning toys for children, including wooden puzzles, blocks and games, the company stated.

"This is the last of our six stores to carry our entire product line to serve fine artists and educators," Brooks said. "This is an addition, an improvement -- a two thumbs up kind of move."

^Top