July 18, 2025

The arts scene keeps evolving inside downtown’s Nordic Hall, with a new shop to buy donated arts and crafts supplies and a new business offering a paint-throwing room and tie-dye.

SuFu Creative, a nonprofit that launched about a year ago, is offering the new art supply store beginning this Saturday.

Founder Heather Cain had heard many requests from the arts community for a space like this, following the closure of JAM Art & Supplies in 2019 and the more recent loss of Joann Inc.

“They’ll say, ‘We really need a used art supply store,'” she said. “The money we get from the store is going to help us continue to do what we do. We do art classes for people who can’t afford it, and sometimes we go to nursing homes and do art projects, and then we do our art shows for local nonprofits.”

While there is still some SuFu Creative studio space available, including for small classes, much of it now is being used for the store.

The store, which will announce its name this weekend, is off to a good start with donations — including plenty of crayons, she said.

“We’ve had stuff come in every day since we got the word out,” Cain said.

Bring in a donation this week or next and get a $5 voucher for the store.

Cain is looking for “pretty much anything that can be used for arts and crafts,” she said. “We have fabric, plastic beads you iron; the possibilities are endless when it comes to craft.”

As long as it’s in good condition, almost any donation will be accepted. A half-bottle of paint is welcomed — if it’s almost empty, it’s not a fit.

A grand opening will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and then regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Cain plans to staff the store herself as it’s adjacent to her business, Zenith Art Studios.

She launched Zenith earlier this year but is just now ramping it up. The space, billed as a “creative oasis,” offers everything from a paint-throwing room to tie-dye for individuals and small groups.

Her paint-throwing room has a pendulum swing to use for creating as well as different easels that can be hung on a wall and have paint thrown on canvases. There’s also a spin wheel to spin paint.

Space is rented hourly with upcharges for canvases, paint and protective gear.

In the tie-dye studio, customers can come in individually or in groups to dye clothing, and Cain will take her tie-dye parties on the road for events.

Zenith also includes an artist’s studio and a writer’s den that can be rented hourly to provide space to work.

Nordic Hall, which is at 218 W. 13th, has filled with local businesses, including many with arts and creative elements, plus the headquarters of the Sioux Falls Arts Council.