ART CARAVAN began as a movement dedicated to bringing the art experience to everyone. Today, it is a creative space that does more than just offer a wide range of art supply products. It is also a safe place to tap into art as a pathway to healing.

Text and photos provided by Art Caravan
March 10, 2023

At the height of the pandemic, ART CARAVAN  founders thought to supply art materials–paints, pastels, canvases and sketch sheets–to hobbyists and aspiring artists looking to cope and heal through the creative process. Their initial clientele was composed of family and close friends, all of whom would reach out through Viber to place orders. On the same group chat, they also began to share their artworks, which would later inspire the concept behind ART CARAVAN. 

Everyone On Exhibit

Francis Lim, who leads the charge for ART CARAVAN remembers, “Our clients would start sending us photos of their works, and we felt that this had to be shared to a wider audience.”

Exhibiting at a gallery is not easily accessible for many local artists and hobbyists. And so, the young and innovative team at ART CARAVAN thought to utilize the wide reach of social media to share the art experience. “We were getting a lot of images of artworks. Because of that, we created the ART CARAVAN Instagram account as a platform for all of us to express ourselves through art. A year later, we also started our own Facebook page.”

Where Art Is For Everyone

Building of the ART CARAVAN space on the second floor of The Forum in BGC soon followed. The team enlisted interior designer Cecil Ravelas, to turn vision into reality. It was a serendipitous meeting of the minds, recalls Francis and the team at ART CARAVAN. “We wanted to build a cozy space that would make everyone feel at home. When you walk into ART CARAVAN it’s like someone’s giving you a hug. It’s warm, engaging, and friendly. It was also important for us that our visitors are welcomed into a feel good kind of space that makes them smile when they walk in.”

The brightly lit 128-square-meter space was designed to convey just that. Instead of utilizing the usual shelves and racks, custom alcoves were built to showcase a wide range of premium, hard-to-find art supplies. They were built not only for display, but clever storage of high quality  inventory as well. Island display tables at the center feature sculptural details that ring in a sense of flow and movement.

Empty tubes painted in white hang overhead like grand chandeliers. They follow a wave-like pattern, enticing visitors to walk towards the back where the creative workshop area lies. Cecil explains: “The paint tubes are like notes to music. You can create different movements and music. Everyone can express themselves differently so I think each of us can have a paint tube and produce beautiful works…That’s what this space is all about.” The installation overhead is regarded as  the piece de resistance that mirrors ART CARAVAN’s ethos for bringing the art experience to everyone. Francis explains, “We’d like to be the Starbucks for artists where there is space for everyone to meet up, connect, create art, share ideas. It’s a safe space and everyone is welcome to linger for free.” 

Free to Connect and Create

From left: Pia Guanio and Kids; Nico and Tili Bolzico; Sylvana and Ramon Diaz

ART CARAVAN welcomes anyone who is passionate, enthusiastic or even just curious about the creative process. “We don’t charge for use of our space. Guests can even bring their own materials and are not required to buy from the store,” clarifies Francis. 

Among the first to utilize the space were members of the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists. “They held their first art tambay at ART CARAVAN shortly after the pandemic lockdowns were lifted. During their workshop, they created artworks using only four colors.” Other activities that have taken place at the ART CARAVAN include demos by the Philippine Pastel Association, private sessions for Chinese painting, and mandala art. 

Most guests have also enjoyed the pleasure of shopping and browsing through ART CARAVAN’s impressive selection of quality art supplies. That they are showcased like artworks themselves immediately elevates the entire shopping experience. The product range includes paints, pastels, papers, canvases, just to name a few. Curating of products and brands, says Francis, are informed by one guiding principle: archival quality. 

Art supply brands carried by ART CARAVAN include: Golden Artist Acrylics, Amsterdam, Gamblin, Rembrandt, Williamsburg, Qor, Daniel Smith, Van Gogh, M Graham, Borciani E Bonassi, Liquitex, Grumbacher, Canson, Fabriano, Frederix, Kelly Art, Hahnemuhle, and Clairefontaine.

Art That Binds And Heals

The ART CARAVAN space first opened in November 2022, operating only during weekends. Today, its doors are open daily from 12NN to 9PM. “People have been coming to the space mostly through word of mouth. Some were invited by friends to hang out. Since we opened, we’ve welcomed beginners, hobbyists, enthusiasts and even experts through our doors. All from the ages of 5 to 90+++.”

As more individuals go through ART CARAVAN’s doors, its online community continues to grow, expand, and create meaningful connections within and beyond the usual creative circles. It’s this synergistic movement for both the physical space and digital platform that allows the brand to cultivate a creative culture bonded by values of inclusivity and community. Francis shares, “From the get go, the goal has always been to bind the community. To get everyone–hobbyists, enthusiasts, and artists–together through a platform or space that upholds and uplifts.”

Outside of its four walls or digital space,  the ART CARAVAN community extends its reach by bringing the healing experience of art through various initiatives. “We believe in giving back in our small little way by  supporting initiatives on sustainability, tree planting, feeding, and women’s empowerment. Every step–big or small–is a start.” Like a master’s stroke of the brush, these acts of random kindness infused with purpose and intention, are what help bring the experience of art closer to everyone. Francis ends, “After all, art heals.” 

ART CARAVAN is located at the 2nd Floor, The Forum, 7th Avenue, Federacion Drive, Bonificatio Global City, Taguig. Follow us on IG @artcaravan.ph