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In partnership with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Friends of Materials for the Arts (FOMA) works to design and support programs and services for the nonprofit arts community. This model public/private partnership brings together personnel and resources to enhance MFTA's services to the field. FOMA furthers MFTA's mission of reuse, arts education, and support for artists in the following ways: The Education Center at MFTA: FOMA's largest initiative, the Education Center offers a variety of programs both onsite at our Long Island City warehouse, and offsite at schools and outreach events throughout the city. Arts education programs focus on creative reuse and incorporating items found at Materials for the Arts or in any household recycling bin into meaningful art projects and lessons. Outreach programs aim to educate the general public on reuse, recycling, and its value for reducing our overall waste production. Volunteer Initiative: MFTA volunteers and interns work in our warehouse, classroom, and office. Volunteer groups from YAI (National Institute for People with Disabilities), AHRC (Association for the Help of Retarded Children), Goodwill Industries, and New York Cares regularly help out in the warehouse. High school and college interns build skills in general office maintenance, customer service, and job preparedness. Interns and volunteers also assist in the classroom, prepping for workshops and aiding teaching artists during class trips. Volunteers help out on shopping days, providing support to our members and staff. Last year, interns and volunteers provided hours equivilant to over two fulltime staff positions; they dramatically increase the overall efficiency of our office and warehouse operations. Sponsored Evening Shoppings: Staff members of recipient organizations often have difficulty scheduling visits to the warehouse during regular daytime hours. MFTA hosts two to three shopping evenings each month to provide the opportunity for teachers and other recipient members to visit the warehouse after school hours. Because these hours fall outside of normal operating hours, support of Sponsored Evening Shopping enables MFTA to keep the elevators operating, the lights on, and the doors open to the staffs of public schools, theater groups and non-profit organizations who are unable to visit the MFTA warehouse during regular business hours. |
