News and Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2021

PRESS CONTACT: Bliss Green-Morehead, bgreen-morehead@culture.nyc.gov, 704-900-9786

MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS HOSTS “BACK TO SCHOOL” CURBSIDE PICKUP FOR DOE ART TEACHERS

MFTA welcomes visual art teachers to start the school year with free supplies during NYC’s recovery from the pandemic

Photos of Materials for the Arts are available here.

Queens, NY–Materials for the Arts (MFTA) - a program of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and NYC’s premier creative reuse program for arts organizations, public schools, and City agencies - is pleased to announce its first-ever Back to School Curbside Pickup, offering free supplies to visual arts teachers in partnership with the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Arts and Special Projects. MFTA’s Back to School Curbside Pickup will be held on Tuesday, August 24 and Tuesday, August 31.

Over the years, MFTA has held an annual Back to School Shopping Spree through in-person shopping at the program’s 35,000 square-foot warehouse, distributing supplies free of charge to educators. MFTA has continued to serve educators during the pandemic through the MFTA Curbside Pickup program, which allows MFTA members to access much needed free supplies in a safe, socially distanced environment. MFTA’s very first Back to School Curbside Pickup will provide visual arts teachers with free supplies, and encourage them to utilize MFTA’s Curbside Pickup program all year long.

During Back to School Curbside Pickup, MFTA welcomes art teachers to choose from a wide variety of donated materials to support their work with students in the classroom. MFTA is particularly excited to be partnering with Colart to offer high quality markers, paint brushes, canvases, charcoal, and other professional-grade supplies for teachers and students. Thanks to Colart’s recent donation to MFTA of more than 200,000 of their prized Winsor & Newton pigment markers valued at $1.2 million, every teacher who participates in the Back to School Curbside Pickup will be able to offer these incredible creative tools to their students.

"The arts bring us all joy and fulfillment and they're essential to the wellbeing of students, which is why we're committed to providing art educators with increased access to supplies during New York City's recovery from the pandemic," said NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Gonzalo Casals. "We encourage our public school arts teachers to join us for MFTA’s Back to School Curbside Pickup, which provides crucial support for arts programming needed to reconnect students, teachers, schools, and communities."

“Arts education and the work of Materials for the Arts is essential to New York City. Although classes will look different this year, I’m excited to see MFTA continue to connect students across the city with recycled materials and the joy of the arts,” said City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer.

“I thank the DOE Office of Arts and Special Projects and Colart for partnering with us on MFTA’s Back to School initiative. We’re thrilled to introduce more teachers to Materials for the Arts and our resources,” said Materials for the Arts Managing Director Tara Sansone. Now, more visual arts teachers across New York City will have necessary supplies for creating artwork, as students and teachers continue to reunite while our city recovers.

"Materials for the Arts has long been a mainstay of free materials and resources for artmaking available to schools and teachers. Creative re-use of materials has inspired countless student artists in classrooms across the city,” said Executive Director of the DOE Office of Arts and Special Projects.

“Colart are delighted to be able to support Materials for the Arts with recent donations of Winsor & Newton Graphic Markers, Paints and Surfaces. Our purpose-driven vision of ‘Inspiring every artist in the world’ really comes to life when we can support such organizations as MFTA, ensuring that creative materials are accessible to all and enable all artists the freedom to express their creativity,” said Colart Marketing Director Sarah Clark.

Media interested in covering MFTA’s Back to School Curbside Pickup are welcome to visit Materials for the Arts during the Back to School Curbside Pickup dates.” Please contact bgreen-morehead@culture.nyc.gov to RSVP.

Tuesday, August 24 – 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Tuesday, August 31 – 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

MFTA’s Back to School program provides an opportunity for teachers to learn about MFTA’s Education Center, which offers professional development classes for teachers, lesson plans, creative reuse field trips, and in-school residencies. Fall professional development classes at MFTA will begin in early October, and teachers may earn P-Credits and CTLE hours for their participation. See more information about MFTA’s educational offerings here.

Art teachers interested in receiving supplies through MFTA’s Back to School Curbside Pickup are required to make an appointment online at MFTA’s website. Teachers of all subject areas are welcome to schedule Curbside Pickup appointments to receive MFTA materials all year long. Educators must be registered with MFTA through an NYC public school. If a teacher has not been added to their school’s MFTA account, they should contact their principal. 

About Materials for the Arts (MFTA)

A program of the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, with support from the Department of Education and Friends of Materials for the Arts, MFTA is NYC’s largest reuse center supporting nonprofits with arts programming, public schools, and City agencies. On average MFTA collects over 1.5 million pounds of supplies each year which it provides, free of charge, to its member organizations. In addition to providing materials, MFTA has an Artist-in-Residence program and holds public events every third Thursday of the month which include gallery openings and community workshops. Learn more at www.nyc.gov/mfta.

About NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life. DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City’s vitality. The Department represents and serves non-profit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City’s five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/culture.

About Colart

Our vision is to inspire every artist in the world. We have a wealth of knowledge about how our tools and services are used around the world, and we are constantly striving to reach anyone and everyone who wants to be creative.

The creative industry is growing, and the opportunity of being able to provide sustainable tools for self expression has never been greater. Our brands, which range from professional fine art to craft, give us a vast offering for the creative industries that gives our customers the ability to inspire creativity throughout the world. Learn more at www.colart.com.

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