A Look at ShopColumbia - Columbia Colleges Storefront to Help Teach Art Entrepreneurship

If you've walked throughout the neighborhood it's impossible to miss Columbia Colleges footprint.  Whether it's initiatives like the Wabash Arts Corridor or interesting buildings like the Columbia Media Production Center  (16th and Wabash) that was designed by high-power architect Jeanne Gang - the institution continues to bring an interesting dynamic to the neighborhood.

We recently read an article from the Chicago Tribune that talks about how the College is teaching entrepreneurship to their art students:

When it opened in October 2008, ShopColumbia was little more than a bold idea, a space designed to promote the artwork of Columbia College students while teaching them the value of entrepreneurship outside the classroom.

Almost 10 years later, the work of more than 150 artists — jewelry, paintings, T-shirts, stickers and more — is available for sale either online or at the gallery and store, which has sold more than $350,000 of work for student and alumni and sees 50 to 80 visitors each day. As students return to campus, ShopColumbia is gearing up for its busiest season.

When it opened in October 2008, ShopColumbia was little more than a bold idea, a space designed to promote the artwork of Columbia College students while teaching them the value of entrepreneurship outside the classroom.

Almost 10 years later, the work of more than 150 artists — jewelry, paintings, T-shirts, stickers and more — is available for sale either online or at the gallery and store, which has sold more than $350,000 of work for student and alumni and sees 50 to 80 visitors each day. As students return to campus, ShopColumbia is gearing up for its busiest season.

We've never been, but it is certainly one of those things we've noticed on Wabash and after reading this have more of an interest in checking it out.