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For Immediate Release: September 7, 2023 

CONTACT: publicaffairs@culture.nyc.gov  

MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS KICKS OFF EIGHTH ANNUAL “BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING SPREE," PROVIDING FREE SUPPLIES TO NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS  

MFTA welcomes teachers across subject areas to kick off the school year with free supplies to support their work 

 
Photos of Materials for the Arts 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 nonprofits, public schools, and City agencies - is welcoming public school teachers across the five boroughs for its annual Back to School Shopping Spree. MFTA invites teachers to shop for a variety of donated materials, including paper, office supplies, craft materials, as well as other MFTA staples like fabric, buttons, beads, and even mannequins and theater props, all free of charge. This year, MFTA’s back to school programming will also encompass new initiatives including MFTA After Hours extended shopping hours for teachers, direct supply drop-offs for schools in other boroughs, and new professional development programming offered through the MFTA Education Center.  
 
“We are thrilled to kick off the new school year by welcoming our teachers back to Materials for the Arts where they’ll have a multitude of supplies at their fingertips, free of charge,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Materials for the Arts serves as a phenomenal resource for educators interested in infusing the arts into their classroom by offering up a warehouse full of materials that can be incorporated into any lesson plan. As children return to school, exemplary programs like Materials for the Arts illustrate how our city agencies can partner with one another to enhance each child’s educational experience.” 
 
“Materials for the Arts has always had a strong connection to DOE educators, and during the back-to-school season we’re proud to introduce more teachers to the incredible resources available at MFTA,” said MFTA Executive Director Tara Sansone. “Materials for the Arts is the number one supplier of free materials to our public schools and we want teachers across the five boroughs to know they can pick up supplies at our warehouse now and throughout the school year.” 
 
“MFTA is a boon to our students and a lifeline for our teachers,” said City Council Member Chi Ossé. As long as a need remains present in the classrooms of New York, this program rises to the task and makes learning possible and fun. On this first day of school, I commend DCLA for their efforts and I’m glad to know where MFTA has us covered."
 
To kick off Back to School season MFTA will restart its newly launched MFTA After Hours program, launched toward the end of the previous school year, which extends MFTA’s shopping hours until 7:00 PM every first Thursday of the month in order to accommodate the schedules of more teachers. The first MFTA After Hours of the school year will be held on Thursday, September 7 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and continue on the first Thursdays of every month through June 2024.    
 
Striving to deliver materials to support as many schools as possible, during September, MFTA will also host supply drop-offs for schools in the Bronx and Brooklyn this month.  
 
MFTA is also offering new professional development courses for teachers to earn P-Credits and CTLE Hours for salary increases. MFTA’s courses show educators how to incorporate creative reuse, art, and interactive, sustainable projects into lesson plans across the curriculum. MFTA’s professional development courses begin September 30 (educators can sign up here). On October 4, MFTA will host Back To School With MFTA & Snug Harbor, a special event for Staten Island District 31 and District 75 teachers, which will include a professional development workshop and provide truckload of MFTA supplies to Snug Harbor for teachers attending to ‘shop’ for free supplies (eligible DOE educators on Staten Island can learn more and register here). 
 
While MFTA welcomes teachers to visit its 35,000-square-foot warehouse in Long Island City all year long, the Back to School Shopping Spree provides an opportunity for them to start the school year with fresh supplies.   
 
Media interested in covering MFTA’s 2023 Back to School Shopping Spree are welcome to visit the warehouse located at 33-00 Northern Boulevard, Long Island City, Queens during the following times on “shopping days.” To RSVP, send a message to publicaffairs@culture.nyc.gov: 
 

  • 9/7 – 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM (MFTA After Hours 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM)
  • 9/12 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • 9/14 – 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • 9/19 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • 9/21 – 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
  • 9/26 – 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
  • 9/28 – 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
     

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 about 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. 


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