Materials for the Arts

I recently attended a public tour at MFTA & I’m really happy I discovered this place existed! It is such a great cause. FREE materials available to public schools & nonprofit organizations with a arts programming. They have so much stuff and it is organized well by area and color. Staff are really friendly too. Companies such as Marc Jabobs & Mac donate their products here! From fabric to paper to wood, with some imagination some great art could be made!
You can also donate items yourself and MFTA can arrange collection. Anyone who takes advantage and uses anything you donate will then write to you to let you know how your donation was used.

Really amazing resource for arts groups in NYC. They have this giant warehouse in Long Island City filled with «gently used» materials, from computers to furniture to blank paper to fabric, all FREE for the taking.
The catch is that it is not for individuals, but only groups (either teachers or nonprofits, though projects at places like a theater can go there as a representative of that nonprofit). You can also request items online and pick them up yourself directly from donors (usually for bigger things like a bicycle or printer, or whatever someone didn’t want to travel all the way to Queens to donate).
Great facility, warm and friendly staff, amazing resource.

There’s no place like MFTA, There’s no place like MFTA. I wish I could click my ruby slippers and get there now — I looooove Materials for the Arts.
You have to be a non-​profit or a school to or a special circumstance to go shopping at MFTA. Everything is donated by corporations and individuals — usually stuff they have extra of like postcards, ornaments, ribbons, could be anything. You can get fabric, beads, zippers, paper, office furniture, specialty items, paint, wood, frames, building supplies — you never know what you’ll find.
I’ve been shopping here through several different organizations and projects — mostly involving kids. It’s the best treat in the world to share the treasures I collected for students to help them create their costumes, sets, and props for school productions. Unfortunately the shopping hours rarely run after school time so there aren’t children there (which is nice for shopping) — but I always think it would be great to take student designers on a field trip to MFTA. They are often much more inspired that I can be — luckily by the time I go shopping for them their designs are completed and its just a matter of gathering supplies to help them achieve their concepts as creatively as possible.
My theater company has also benefited greatly from simple things like folders, binders, and even desks. All you have to do is write thank you notes to the donors. Its the best place ever. Always very friendly and helpful staff. I am so grateful this place exists — the materials have had a huge impact in artistic projects I’ve worked on with students and professionals in the last several years. Amazing company and concept.

This place is amazing! I am a middle school teacher in Queens, and I recently did a PD there, «Games and Game Boards for ELA Teachers.» It was fun, interesting, inspiring, and helpful. This place/​group seems like an amazing resource for teachers! I can’t wait to go «shopping» there to enhance my classroom and lessons. And the people there are fabulous!

Everyone there was super nice and helpful, great fabric and props to help us with our play. Our production never would have been able to happen without the help of this place, thanks so much.