F.U.E.L (Free Utensils for Expressive Living) is a community art supply project which aims to create access to art-making and encourage resource sharing by redistributing donated art supplies to folks that can use them.
WHO IS IT FOR?
F.U.E.L. is open to all, no matter your artistic background.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
TAKE WHAT YOU NEED
There is no cost to access the available art supplies.
While there are no restrictions to how many supplies you can take from F.U.E.L., we ask that you consider only taking what you can reasonably use in the foreseeable future. This way, we can make sure that everyone who accesses F.U.E.L. has the opportunity to obtain the materials that they need. You are always welcome to come back for more when needed!
LEAVE WHAT YOU CAN
F.U.E.L. is sustained almost entirely by donations of gently used art supplies from our community. As artists ourselves, we are acutely aware of how easy it to accumulate an excess of materials in our desks, closets, and studios. We also know that, for a lot of artists, the cost of art supplies is a huge barrier to creating new work, taking artistic risks, and securing new career opportunities. By donating the supplies that you no longer use, you can help our local artistic community to thrive (and get some much-needed studio reorganization done, too)!
ART SUPPLY DONATIONS
Art supply donations can be dropped off at TRUCK any time during regular open hours. Donations are accepted at the discretion of staff. Due to space limitations, we may not be able to take large or bulky items.
If you are unsure if your items are acceptable, please contact us to confirm.
All donations must be:
- Gently used or new
- Clean
- At least one third full
- In working condition
Please also make sure that:
- Used pages in sketchbooks/notebooks are removed
- X-acto knives and other cutting tools are appropriately sheathed
- Caps on liquid/powder materials are properly closed
- Materials with health hazards are appropriately labelled
- Yarn, thread, and other string materials are untangled and nicely wound
- Any niche or specialty items that may not be immediately recognizeable by the general public are labelled with their name and intended use (providing instruction manuals for such items is greatly appreciated!)
OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT F.U.E.L.
Financial contributions in the form of cash/credit, cheques, and gift cards are also welcomed and greatly appreciated. Funds donated to support this program are used to purchase high-demand art supplies to be redistributed. Note that monetary donations of $10 or more are eligible for a chartiable tax receipt.
To donate online, please click here. Donations can also be made by cash or card in person at the gallery.
Cheques can be addressed to the Second Story Art Society (our society name) or TRUCK Contemporary Art (our operating name). To ensure that your contribution supports F.U.E.L. specifically, please write “F.U.E.L. donation” in the note. Cheques can be mailed to:
TRUCK Contemporary Art
2009 10 Ave SW
Calgary, AB, T3C 0K4
Local businesses to consider purchasing a gift card from include, but are not limited to:
- Sunnyside Art Supplies
- Mona Lisa Artist Materials
- Inglewood Art Supplies
- Kensington Art Supply
- Swinton Art Supplies
- STASH Lounge
- Recess
HIGH-DEMAND ITEMS
- Sketchbooks (all sizes, all paper-types)
- Stretched canvas (all sizes)
- Acrylic, tempera, gouache, oil, and watercolour paints (must be at least half full)
- Painting mediums
- Embroidery hoops
- Clear coat sprays (workable and finishing)
- Printmaking supplies (screens, inks, linoleum, various printing tools)
- Beading supplies
- Archival ink pens/markers
GENERAL ART SUPPLY WISHLIST
- Stretched canvas, canvas boards, wood panels, MDF panels, etc. (all sizes)
- Art kits
- Paintbrushes and painting tools
- Painting mediums
- Scissors and x-acto knives
- Printmaking supplies (screens, inks, linoleum, various printing tools)
- Pencils and pencil sets, sharpeners, erasers
- Pens and markers
- Drawing inks
- Charcoal, pastels (chalk, oil)
- Clear coat sprays (workable and finishing)
- Media arts supplies (raspberry pi’s, etc)
- Stamps (rubber, metal, etc)
- Fiber arts supplies (yarn, embroidery floss and hoops, needles of all kind, etc)
- Notebooks, sketchbooks, and drawing pads (all sizes and types)
- Specialty papers (all sizes and types)
- Paper rolls (all sizes and types)
- Acrylic, tempera, gouache, oil, and watercolour paints (must be at least one third full)
- Tape (duct, painters, scotch, washi)
- Clips (paper, foldback, bulldog)
- Sculpting tools
- Leather and leatherworking materials
- Woodworking tools
- Air-dry, oven-bake, and kiln-fire clay
- Ceramic glazes
- Glue (craft, archival quality, superglue, etc)
- Larger items such as easels, sewing machines, throwing wheels, and power tools may also be accepted.
Specialty materials and other supplies not mentioned here can also be donated. If you are unsure if your items are acceptable, please contact us to confirm.
ITEMS WE CAN’T ACCEPT
- Linens (rags included)
- Clothing and costumes
- Batteries
- Large technology (computers, printers)
- Large household items and building materials
- Household Recycling (yogurt containers, cardboard boxes, etc)
- Artistic reference books
- Magazines, newspapers, etc
- House paint
- Sponges
- Broken glass or ceramics
- Tiles with adhesive residue
- Unlabeled substances
- Unhoused x-acto knives and blades