The Chattery Launches Art Supply Thrift Store with Community Donation Drive

Graphic Courtesy of The Chattery

In The Know with Gino…

Chattanooga’s community education hub, The Chattery, is gearing up to expand its creative offerings with the opening of a new art supply thrift store scheduled for later this summer. The nonprofit organization, dedicated to fostering arts and crafts education, announced plans for the store following a community-driven process and extensive research.

To kick off the new venture, The Chattery will host a donation drive on Saturday, May 30th, from 10am to 2pm. During the event, attendees can drop off art supplies they wish to donate and participate in hands-on craft activities such as watercolor painting and collage sessions. Donors are encouraged to either leave their donations and leave or stay to enjoy the creative stations.

The idea for the thrift store emerged from the organization’s founders, who recognized a need within Chattanooga’s arts community. After gathering input from locals and studying similar stores elsewhere, The Chattery decided to move forward with opening a dedicated space for gently used art supplies. The announcement was made on Earth Day, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to environmental sustainability by promoting reuse and reducing waste.

The store will be named Creative (Re)Supply, a title that reflects its mission to replenish local artists’ supplies while encouraging reuse. The name was chosen after a social media poll garnered nearly 700 responses, with community members rallying behind the chosen name.

Although specific store hours have not yet been finalized, The Chattery plans to host classes and workshops that utilize the supplies available at Creative (Re)Supply. Future events will include additional donation opportunities and creative programming designed to inspire local artists and makers.

Current donations are accepted on Saturdays during the drive, with larger contributions requiring prior arrangements via email. Interested individuals can find detailed donation guidelines and RSVP for the event at THECHATTERY.ORG. The organization looks forward to engaging the community in this new chapter of creative reuse and artistic exploration.

SOURCE: Chattanooga Pulse