Ms Gadsden also described claims the store was not making a profit as “blatantly untrue”.
“Almost everyone on an art-based course buys from the shop regularly,” she said.
One of the students behind the Save Our Art Shop petition, who did not wish to be named, said it was “more than just a retail outlet” and had been an “integral part of the creative community” for more than 20 years.
“It provides access to specialist materials not found at other nearby shops, allowing those with a creative vision to learn industry standard skills that you can’t access with hobbyist supplies from other stores,” he added.
The student said the reaction to the proposed closure was “outrage” and he was “disgusted” when he found out.
“Many students have stated that a dedicated shop for arts and craft supplies was one of the reasons they decided to study here,” he said.
