Take a Step Inside Art Parts, Albury’s Heart for Creativity

In the heart of Albury, Art Parts is a local haven for regional artists to find the supplies, advice and community they need to create, grow and share their love of art. Established in 2021, the business emerged from a blend of necessity and passion, driven by a commitment to support both the local art community and regional artists.

Building a regional arts hub

While Art Parts began as a gallery space in 2018, it has become much more. It’s a family-owned haven for artists across the Border region, specialising in stocking professional, high-quality Australian art supplies and holds regular educational workshops.

The Art Parts journey began with a simple but essential need—providing a local alternative to the long drives required by artists in the area who previously had to travel to Melbourne for their supplies. As Jacinta and Chris, the founders and owners, recount, Art Parts began as a direct response to the closure of other art supply stores during the COVID-19 pandemic. This challenge transformed into an opportunity to create a space to keep the local art community vibrant and thriving.

“Artists are creative people by nature, and they like to touch and feel and have a sense of belonging in them, which we create. Covid trained everybody to buy online. But I think artists, creative people, want to come back into the shops, and we’re seeing that a lot now,” Chris said.

Chris, with a background in farming and consulting, and Jacinta, whose background spans museum and gallery work (as well as farming), channelled their diverse experiences into building Art Parts. Their commitment is evident not only in the curated selection of fine art supplies but also in the personal service that sets their store apart from online retailers. With a focus on Australian-made products and a well-curated range of international supplies, Art Parts has become a go-to for artists seeking quality and reliability.

“Just being able to have stuff locally, you can come in, you can pick stuff up, you can look at it. You don’t have to rely on just ordering online or going, you know, to Sydney, Melbourne, to get what you need,” Jacinta explained.

A drawcard for creativity

Art Parts has carved out a unique niche by offering more than just art supplies. The store is a regional hub for workshops, hosting professional artists from across Australia to share their expertise. These workshops, limited to 10 participants each and perfect for beginner to intermediate artists, cover a range of mediums from acrylics to watercolours, providing hands-on experience and personalised instruction.

The workshops have proven to be a significant draw, attracting participants from far and wide, with travellers frequently stopping in while on their way to Sydney or Melbourne.

“During one of our workshops, we had three ladies drive from Canberra. They arrived on the Friday night, did the workshop on Saturday, stayed on Saturday night, explored and went home on the Sunday afternoon. So that’s a win, win for Albury Wodonga,” Jacinta said.

Supporting local artists and beyond

From workshops for local schools to hosting exhibitions, the store plays a crucial role in showcasing regional talent and supporting the arts. The gallery space, although now secondary to the bustling art supplies section, continues to feature exhibitions, reflecting Art Parts’ ongoing commitment to the local art scene.

Centrally located in Albury CBD, it’s easy to see how Art Parts has become a regional creative hub. This sense of community is integral to the store’s ethos, fostering an environment where creativity thrives.

Looking ahead, Jacinta and Chris plan to develop a canvas stretching service to complement their existing art supplies, ensuring that artists can find everything they need under one roof.

For Jacinta and Chris, Art Parts is more than a business; it’s an artistic way of life that reflects their dedication to supporting the arts and enriching the Border community and beyond.

You can find Art Parts online at artpartsfinearts.com.au, but Jacinta and Chris would much prefer you to stop in and visit them at 488 David St. You can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with everything they have going on.