The Maryland College Institute of Art is getting a new campus store that intends to be much more than a shopping destination for books and supplies.
The MICA Store, presently located in a corner space at 1200 W. Mt. Royal Avenue, is moving three blocks west to 1501 W. Mt. Royal Avenue, closer to North Avenue and further into Bolton Hill. The new location will be 4,500 square feet, larger than its current space, according to an email from school spokesman Derek Parsons.
MICA’s store is a nonprofit operation, according to its website. All money raised goes to student scholarships and other improvements for the college.
The renovated location will have more room to stock art supplies and other goods, including wood, metal, fabric and hardware, as well as items that belong in an average campus store like textbooks and apparel.
The more significant additions are a “rotating art market” that will feature works by MICA students, graduates and faculty, as well as other Baltimore artists, and an additional exhibition space for students and alumni to sell their work.
The expanded store will host workshops for children and adults, as well as speakers, lectures and book signings.
As a whole, Parsons wrote, “the MICA Store will be able to be more inclusive for the MICA and Baltimore communities.”
Renovations of the new space are set to finish Aug. 28, which marks the start of the fall semester.
