This April, celebrate sustainability and environmental stewardship with us at Utica Creative Reuse! As the snow melts into spring, Earth Month is a time to recommit ourselves to the work of coming together to ensure that everyone has access to a safe and clean environment.
We will be kicking off the 3rd Annual Trash to Treasure Art Challenge with a Community Cleanup during Earth Week, and a drop-in workshop where you can learn how to clean objects you find so they can be used in art. Join us on Saturday April 25, from 1-3pm! Details on our events page.
If you are getting ready to garden, we still have free seeds for growing all kinds of flowers and vegetables left over from our seed swap in March, while supplies last! Check out the “Free Stuff” section in the front of the thrift store.
Upcoming Events at Utica Creative Reuse
- Pop-Up at MUNSON Saturday 4/11, 1-4pm: Visit us at the Munson Art in Bloom Event where we will be crafting floral masks. All ages are welcome!
- *Please note Art in Bloom is free for Munson museum members and children ages 12 and under, admission is $5 for the general public*
- *Please note Art in Bloom is free for Munson museum members and children ages 12 and under, admission is $5 for the general public*
- Saturday 4/18, 2-4pm: Art Club An open and welcoming space for artists of all ages to create together! Activity: Drawing, painting or collaging clowns, jesters, fools & the like!
- Saturday 4/25, 1pm – 3pm: Earth Week Community Cleanup Join us to clean up litter in celebration of Earth Week, and to kick off our annual Trash to Treasure Art Challenge!
- VOLUNTEER at this event
- VOLUNTEER at this event
- Saturday 4/25, 1pm – 3pm: Finding and Cleaning Objects for Art Stop by this drop-in workshop to learn how to clean any objects you find during the Earth Week Community Cleanup so they can be used in your artwork!
- Thursday 4/30, 6pm-8pm: Repair Café Bring something that is broken or needs mending. Sign up to volunteer, or register to get something fixed!
- Saturday 5/2, 11am – 1pm: Sensory Play Group Explore multiple stations of sensory play spaces made of upcycled materials. This event is geared towards 2 – 5 year olds, but kids of all ages are welcome!
Snapshots from March
Here are a few photos of what folks created, shared, mended, or repaired with us in March!
Opportunities at UCR
- Call for Artists: Create artwork for Trash to Treasure 2026! Selected works will be shown in a group exhibition on view at Utica Creative Reuse, July 2026. Exhibiting artists will receive an honorarium for their work.
- Teach a Class: Contact us about teaching a class a Utica Creative Reuse. Instructors are offered an honorarium for their time, and class materials are supplied by Utica Creative Reuse. Classes are free for the public to attend!
- Volunteer Opportunities: Check out current volunteer opportunities at uticacreativereuse.org/volunteer. Sort donations, repair items at a Repair Café, or join us for the Earth Week Community Cleanup!
Updates and FAQs
Utica Creative Reuse has been operating since September 2023. In that time, with your support we’ve diverted 15,588 lbs of materials for the arts from the landfill!
Your donations and thrift store purchases fuel our free creative programming and enable us to continue to operate our creative reuse center. Utica Creative Reuse is a place where unwanted art supplies can find new homes, and neighbors can find community through sharing skills and ideas.
Donations of Materials and Supplies
Donations of arts and crafts materials and supplies are accepted on Fridays at Utica Creative Reuse! Please check our list of accepted materials before donating!
Donation Hours: Fridays, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Address: 734 Columbia Street, Utica, NY 13502.
Art Supply Thrift Store Hours
Wednesdays: 3 – 6 p. m.
Thursdays: 3 – 6 p.m.
Fridays: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturdays: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thank you for your support!
Utica Creative Reuse 
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