For 20 years, The Art Resource Center (ARC) has worked to provide supplies for teachers and nonprofits that work to encourage artistic endeavors. Sherrie Zeitlin founded the Tempe organization in after working in schools and seeing funds for art programs decline. Today, the organization estimates it serves 250,000 each year with 4,000 square feet of supplies to shop.

“We pack a lot of punch for a small organization,” Zeitlin says.

All the items at The ARC are donated, and the organization seeks traditional art supplies “as well as the odd and unusual,” Zeitlin says. Community members are also invited to volunteer at the center or to shop there – those who are not arts educators may donate for their items.

Zeitlin shares more about how the organization got started, what they offer and how people can get involved to support The ARC.

Tell us about The Art Resource Center—what it is and how it got started.

The ARC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) and a clearinghouse where nonprofit organizations and teachers can acquire the art supplies they need free of charge.

Our main objective is to collect reusable materials for artistic purposes and redirect them to projects and organizations working with at-risk populations, schools, shelters, youth and adult programs and charitable organizations.

I was working in the schools as an artist in residence during the 1990s and funding for art programs were already significantly reduced. I decided that when I could I would open a facility and give away supplies to those in need. I went hot in 2004.

Everything we have at The ARC has been given to us by others. We buy nothing. We are all volunteers and no one makes a penny.

What kinds of supplies are available at The ARC, and who can shop there?

Everyone is welcome to come to The ARC. Teachers and nonprofits secure supplies for free. Artists and makers and anyone who is interested may select materials and donate money according to what the materials are worth to them.

We have over 4,000 square feet of supplies and they are as diverse as one could imagine. I remember a few years ago when someone offered us corks and it turned out to be 92 five-gallon buckets and approximately 47,000 corks. They were gone in less than a year. There is fabric galore of all kinds, yarn, traditional art supplies such as paint, brushes, paper and pencils, stickers, wood, tile, frames, framing materials, glass and plastic jars, boxes of all sizes, easels, looms, beads and the list can go on and on and on.

How can people get involved with The ARC?

I suggest that one like us on Facebook and follow on Instagram or look to our website, where one can see lots of pictures. We are always in need of traditional art supplies as well as the odd and unusual.

We welcome volunteers anytime we are open – come for an hour, stay for the day, set your volunteer goals. Organizations are welcome to volunteer as a group with prior knowledge of when and how many would like to come. Many high school students volunteer on Saturdays.

Tell us about your artist-in-residency program.

We started an artist-in-residence program in 2023 and continue to bring in a diverse group of artists to interact with the public. We are in the selection process now for 2025. We have had artists so far who worked in college, mixed media and fiber arts.

Anything else you’d like to share?

About a year ago a theater teacher came in from out of the area and traveled one and a half hours to get supplies. One of our volunteers came to tell me he was crying in the back and I said “No. he’s just being dramatic.” She said, no it’s real and he can finally stage his play because he finally had the “supplies” he needed. That’s why we exist! The need is real and many programs (including our public schools) could not fulfill the creative process without The ARC.

We currently estimate our community outreach assists over 250,000 people each year who have been touched by the creative hands and minds of those who regularly come to The ARC for supplies. The list of organizations we help is long and keeps growing. We pack a lot of punch for a small organization.