artALIVE

Specialties

artALIVE is a handmade retail shop in downtown Amherst, MA with a focus on our interactive, community Craft Center! While our store features all handmade goods by local artisans, our interactive Craft Center provides the perfect platform for all to enjoy making our rotating $ 5 Craft of the Week, or to pick a Do-​It-​Yourself kit off the shelf and make it on the spot!

We also host series of classes and other events in our store like our popular Wine and Painting Wednesdays, Saturday Night (artA)LIVE music nights, birthday parties and after school programs. artALIVE is also proud to offer in-​house screen printing and embroidery services for any of your custom apparel needs!

History

Established in 2013.

The concept for artALIVE dates back to late 2011, when we noticed a void in the bustling town of Amherst for a community craft space. While our society moves further away from supporting big box stores, artALIVE provides the infrastructure for a community gathering space with our welcoming environment that provides not only unique, handmade goods, but a interactive Craft Center!

Customers have the opportunity to shop the retail portion of the store as well as buying pre-​packaged DIY kits that they can sit down and make on the spot! We also have a large back room for birthday parties, after school programs and community workshops.

In addition to the arts and crafts space, artALIVE provides a store front for our in-​house merchandising company, Soundscape Imaging. Opened in 2010, we gladly provide screen printing and embroidery services to local business, university organizations, sports, nationally touring bands and more!

Meet the Business Owner

Brian and Zeena G.

Business Owner

Brian and Zeena Giggey met in grad school at UMass Amherst, and opened artALIVE in September 2013. The purpose of the store was to create a fun, interactive environment for children and parents; helping to strengthen connections within the Pioneer Valley community.

Upon completion of their studies at UMass Amherst, Brian and Zeena opened Soundscape Merchandise; a full service merchandising company offering screen printing and embroidery services. Working with national and regional touring bands since the businesses opening in 2010, Soundscape was soon housed inside artALIVE in downtown Amherst to help create a «face» for the local business community.

Together, artALIVE and Soundscape Merchandise offer an interactive atmosphere that hosts birthday parties, Wine and Panting Wednesdays, classes and crafts. In need of t-​shirts, hats, hoodies, stickers, banners or business cards? Brian and Zeena would love to help you!

artALIVE also recommends

Soundscape Merchandise

Screen Printing/​T-​Shirt Printing

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Embroidery & Crochet

Brian and Zeena G. says,

«Quality printing, but a local family and their staff.»