Donations

What We Accept

We prioritize professional and student-grade art materials that still have a meaningful working life.

Paint & Pigment

Acrylic, oil, watercolor, gouache, ink, encaustic blocks
(Usable condition only — no hardened, moldy, or separated paint.)

Tools & Equipment

Brushes, palette knives, brayers, rollers, drafting tools, printmaking tools, sewing machines and related supplies.

Drawing & Mark-Making

Graphite, charcoal, pastels, conte, professional markers, dip pens, technical pens, colored pencils.

Paper & Surfaces

Sketchbooks (new or gently used), loose paper, watercolor and printmaking paper, canvas, wood panels, clean mat board.

Mixed Media & Specialty

Collage papers, fabric and fiber, embroidery materials, resin (sealed), gesso, mediums, varnishes, archival adhesives.

Printmaking & Specialty Practices

Blocks, etching tools, screen printing screens and inks, photography equipment, stained glass equipment, pottery equipment.

Jewelry Making

Beads, wire, stamps, tools, sheet metal (brass, copper, silver)

Studio Miscellaneous

Portfolios, frames, scissors, working hot glue guns, usable studio tools.

All materials must be clean, usable, and safe for redistribution.

What We Do Not Accept

  • Dried, moldy, or unusable materials

  • House paint, spray paint, craft paint

  • Children’s craft kits or dollar-store supplies

  • Broken tools beyond repair

  • Hazardous or unlabeled chemicals

  • Non-art office supplies

  • Home décor, clothing (except quality aprons), painted canvases

  • Glitter, slime, stickers, styrofoam

If you’re unsure, feel free to ask before donating.

Safety Standards

  • Items must be clean and mold-free

  • Liquids must be sealed and clearly labeled

  • Sharp tools must be wrapped

  • We reserve the right to decline items that do not meet safety or usability standards

Donation Process

Small Donations
Bring during scheduled drop-off times.

Large Donations
Please contact us in advance with photos, approximate quantity, and material type so we can prepare.

Pay-What-You-Can

Everything in the Exchange operates on a simple philosophy:

Take what you’ll use. Pay what you can.

Contributions support storage, organization, and continued community access to art materials. Some give more. Some give less. It balances.

Our Values

We prioritize reuse over perfection.
We believe access to materials fuels creativity.
We support artists, educators, and emerging creatives.
Materials stay within the Exchange — we do not resell for outside profit.