Materials for the Arts

{{update|date=October 2021}}

Materials for the Arts is a program of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs that provides free "new and gently used donated supplies to artists, nonprofit groups, and public schools."{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/nyregion/01warehouse.html?_r=1& |title= For Schools, Free Art Supplies, and Much More |work= The New York Times | author = FERNANDA SANTOS |date= February 28, 2011}} Its current executive director is Harriet Taub.

Established in 1979 by artist [https://www.macdowell.org/artists/angela-fremont Angela Fremont], it was described by The New York Times as "like a Kmart reimagined as Pee-wee's Big Adventure."{{Cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/30/nyregion/warehouse-holds-trove-for-artists-need-50000-buttons-they-re-here-and-free.html |title= Warehouse Holds Trove for Artists; Need 50,000 Buttons? They're Here, and Free |work= The New York Times | author = ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS |date= November 30, 2001}} Located in a 25,000-square-foot warehouse in Long Island City, its shelves are "stocked with things like toaster ovens, rugs, theater curtains, yarn, paint and toothbrushes."{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/14/giving/14whittaker.html|title= From the Trash, a Treasure Chest for the Creative |work= The New York Times | author = BARBARA WHITAKER |date= November 14, 2005}} Considered to be one of the largest reuse centers in the country, the program redistributes more than $6 million in supplies a year, gathering "donations from fashion houses, television production companies and big-name corporations like Estée Lauder."{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29664783|title= Cash for trash: Reuse stores make use of refuse |work= NBC News | date= March 13, 2009}}{{Cite news|url= http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/61185/materials-for-the-arts-distributes-free-supplies-to-artists-and-public-schools|title= Materials For The Arts Distributes Free Supplies To Artists And Public Schools|work= NY1|date= July 20, 2006|url-status= dead|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20130513045516/http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/61185/materials-for-the-arts-distributes-free-supplies-to-artists-and-public-schools|archivedate= May 13, 2013}} According to its website, the program also removes "hundreds of tons from the waste stream every year and [keeps it] out of landfills, which helps sustain our environment, promote reuse, and reduce waste."{{Cite news |url= http://www.mfta.org/aboutus.html|title= Materials For The Arts About Us|work= Official Site |accessdate= November 1, 2012}}