Materials for the Arts

MFTA is a program of @NYCulture, which collects surplus materials and redistributes them, for free, to public schools and nonprofits with arts programming.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

Step into the rich tradition of quilt making! Co-taught by Joy Suarez and our former Designer-in-Residence Daveed Baptiste, MFTA’s summer class takes a deep dive into the historical progression and cultural significance of padded fabric throughout the ages.

August 10-15 | Register: https://t.co/6S77La3rCx

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

Today marks 250 years since a small group of newspaper editors, farmers, and soldiers signed a document declaring our nation’s independence — a truth that feels self-evident now but was revolutionary then.

What a privilege us Americans have, to live in a nation that every one of its inhabitants can shape. What an honor us New Yorkers have, to look out over our city’s waters from the shores where so many Americans bravely entered their country for the first time.

Today and all days, let us remember that patriotism is not pretending our nation is without flaws. Patriotism is every act of righteous dissent — because loving our country means fighting for the best version of it.

Happy Fourth of July, New York City.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

New Yorkers! This heat is no joke! 

To provide some relief from today’s heat wave, MFTA staff helped our members stay cool by offering popsicles and keeping our fans running. 

If you’ve checked the weather forecast, you know this heat is not letting up anytime soon. High temperatures are the deadliest weather hazard we face, so it’s important to prepare now. And when temperatures hit 90°F or higher for two or more days in a row, conditions become especially dangerous for older adults and people with health conditions.

That’s why we advise you to: 

✅ Stay in air conditioning. 
✅ Drink plenty of water.
✅ Avoid being outside. 
✅ Make sure your neighbors are okay. 
✅ Know your Cool Options, which are safe, air-conditioned spaces you can go to during extreme heat:
• A friend’s or family member’s air-conditioned home
• Libraries, museums, senior centers
• Malls, theaters, coffee shops
• NYC Cooling Centers, open during heat emergencies and free to the public

Learn more at https://t.co/gd7mJy54gj and stay informed with @Notify_NYC by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692.

[Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @NYCMayor]

On June 19, 1865, African American communities in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom from slavery — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

For 161 years, Juneteenth has been a day of remembrance for the freedom that was delayed. It is also a celebration of the joy and resilience that flourished despite that delay.

The contributions of African Americans, whose struggle for freedom shaped our nation, are immeasurable. Yet too many Black families continue to bear the brunt of an affordability crisis that has pushed them out of the neighborhoods and communities they've built.

True freedom has a tangible impact on daily life: the ability to afford housing, earn a living wage, put food on the table, support a family, and create a future for generations to come.

As we celebrate today, we must recommit ourselves to ensuring this freedom is fully realized.

Happy Juneteenth, New York City.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

Materials for the Arts is closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of #MemorialDay, and we will not be accepting donation drop-offs. We will resume our regular hours of operation on Tuesday, May 26. 

Though we won't see each other in the warehouse, we hope you'll join us in honoring and remembering the individuals who gave their lives in service to our country.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

We're incredibly grateful to help @NYCSanitation paint the town (or shall we say, trucks!) red along with every other color on the ROYGVIB spectrum! Trucks of Art is made possible in part with paint from MFTA. From our warehouse to the streets of NYC, we’re proud to help bring creativity to every corner of the city.

[NYC Sanitation @NYCSanitation]

Michelangelo. Van Gogh. Kusama. And now.....Trucks.

Trucks of Art reveal is TOMORROW!

Come see the winning designs for Trucks of Art tomorrow, May 19th from 9am-5pm in Union Square North Plaza, where we and the Sanitation Foundation will be unveiling all 5 hand-painted DSNY collection trucks with the artists present and activities all day, including a Big Spring Clean. Don't miss it!

[NYC Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment @MadeinNY]

MOME and @nycgov work to make NYC's media productions sustainable, and this includes our partnership with @NYCulture's @mftanyc to donate recycled props, furniture, and costumes from local sets to cultural nonprofits, public schools, and more.

Through our expanded partnership last year, MFTA's distributed 3.2 million pounds of free items donated by film, television, theater, and entertainment productions valued at a total $7.4 million to its members.

The program’s allowing the industry to give back to local communities, reduce unnecessary waste, and fuel creativity in classrooms and cultural organizations throughout the five boroughs.

MOME production coordinators actively encourage the productions they support to donate to MFTA, pushing for more sustainable practices across the industry.

Thanks to Tara Sansone, Executive Director of @mftanyc for inviting @NYCMOMECommish and @NYCulture commissioner Diya Vij on site and spotlighting these free items available to New Yorkers.

For more info on how to become a recipient, visit: https://t.co/dOPcXQW2rn

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

MFTA is hosting a FREE screening of I LOVE BOOSTERS @MovingImageNYC! See an early preview of Boots Riley’s new visionary work and help support NYC arts and artists by bringing any gently used or new art supplies to donate. 🎨✨

Watch I LOVE BOOSTERS and let’s come together to champion the colorful world of arts and culture in one special night.

Get your tickets at https://t.co/PFmFu8rWxy. 💫

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

Every day, materials come and go
Passing through various hands
Forever they flow
Even travelling across lands!

Like many a good thing
Some feel an item's usefulness must come to an end
So, they give us a ring
So that we can attend

And find a creative purpose for their donation
At MFTA, it will be a sensation!

#PoemInYourPocketDay #PocketPoem

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

❄️ Due to the blizzard warning, MFTA will be closed on Monday, February 23, and donation drop-offs will not be accepted.

For the latest safety alerts, stay informed with @NotifyNYC by texting NotifyNYC to 692-692 for real-time updates across the city. 📱

📷: Courtesy of Anthony Sertel Dean.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

In observance of Presidents' Day, our warehouse is closed on Monday, February 16 and will not be accepting donations. Our regular hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, February 17, 2025. 

See you on Tuesday! 💫

[NYC Cultural Affairs @NYCulture]

At ⁦@fountainhouse⁩, a new exhibition created in partnership with ⁦@mftanyc⁩ features work by New York City artists living with mental illness. https://t.co/UVPKqtef6L

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

❄️ Due to the winter snowstorm, MFTA will be closed on Monday, January 26, and donation drop-offs will not be accepted. 

For the latest safety alerts, stay informed with @NotifyNYC by texting NotifyNYC to 692-692 for real-time updates across the city. 📱

📷: Courtesy of Anna Droddy.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

Looking to earn some miles? 👀✈️☁️ Victor Pearlman's "AIRPLANE" collection lands at the MFTA warehouse this Thursday from 6:30 — 8:30pm. Don't take our word for it, check it out on @hyperallergic's latest newsletter. 🤩

https://t.co/szrhYFnMl1

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

MFTA is closed today, January 19,  in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we are not accepting donations. We will be open and ready for shopping on Tuesday, and will resume accepting donations on Wednesday.

We hope to see you all in the warehouse soon! 💫

Photo courtesy of Sam Urdang.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

New Yorkers! Looking for Thursday evening plans? Head over to the MFTA warehouse tonight for an artist talk with co-curators Kendal Henry and Sara Reisman for the formal opening of "The Useful Life of Objects" at 6:30pm—as featured in this week's @hyperallergic New York newsletter.

https://t.co/WnItXAkrxH

[Ahmed Tigani @AhmedTigani54]

@mftanyc @NYC_Buildings @NYCSchools The gear still travels with me! @mftanyc swag is built to last, just like the staff ✊🏾

[Ahmed Tigani @AhmedTigani54]

Thank you, @mftanyc! So much of what I learned about community engagement, and the importance of supporting the creative sector through strong public policy and responsive operations, came from the work we did and the people we served.

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

@AhmedTigani54 @NYC_Buildings @NYCSchools We love to see it! 💛🥹

[Materials for the Arts @mftanyc]

We're thrilled that MFTA alum @AhmedTigani54 will be leading the team at @NYC_Buildings!! He is one of the many all-star public servants who got their start right here in the warehouse.✨

[NYC Housing @NYCHousing]

For years @AhmedTigani54 showed up for every New Yorker as an HPD public servant. We couldn’t be prouder to send him off to @NYC_Buildings where we know he’ll keep serving the City with dedication and heart.