The California Art Supply Mutual Aid Network aims to foster solidarity in our changing world, and highlight the vital role of art in the human experience.
We believe that effective methods for preserving, organizing, and equitably distributing art supplies are crucial for our communities and the planet, especially during times of crisis. We recognize that personal circumstances and limited access to resources can often lead to an increased dependence on expensive or unobtainable materials.
Our conscious effort is to support our state, so that anyone can access the creative information or materials that they need.
In 2023, the nonprofit studio Broad Room launched the California Art Supply Mutual Aid Training Program. Its goal was to shape a sustained network of people working with their communities to provide art supplies at no cost. The training included individuals, groups, and pre-existing organizations from areas such as Long Beach, San Francisco, Truckee, Chico, etc. By providing mentorship, and focusing on community building with participants, more art supply mutual aid projects have developed in California.
Today, participants from the training program are working together as the California Art Supply Mutual Aid Network. Our aim is to create new channels of communication between neighboring counties and strengthen pre-existing bonds to facilitate resource sharing, redistribute art supplies, minimize waste through sustainable practices, and provide online assistance to each other as needed.