ReCreative Denver

Background Statement

ReCreative Denver, established in 2016, is an arts-focused 501(c)(3) organization that stands at the unique intersection of creativity and sustainability. Our mission is to cultivate creativity, community and environmental sustainability through creative reuse and arts education. We operate a thriving thrift store for art materials, offer diverse art workshops taught by local artists, provide studio space to twelve resident artists, and manage a member-run community woodworking workshop.

As a creative reuse center, ReCreative operates a thrift shop for creative materials. In this reuse store, we collect and resell items ranging from oil paints and easels to bottle caps, yarn, fabric and scrap lumber at 50-75% off of retail value. Proceeds from the resale of these goods help us provide free-to-use facilities and affordable arts programming, while also enabling us to donate creative materials to deserving community groups.

In our unique space, we also offer a variety of low-cost art classes and workshops and host community events, which provide local artists with opportunities to display their artworks.

When we opened our doors eight years ago, we expected many things, but what we did not expect was how profoundly connected and accepted people would feel when they come here. Every day, we have many low-income regulars who drop by in search of the inspiration, advice, connection and affordable goods they aren't finding elsewhere in our community. This unanticipated opportunity to provide social support and a sense of belonging for the most marginalized members of our community is what many of our volunteers have come to love most about what we do. The activities that occur at ReCreative enable us all to be our best and quirkiest selves. It's impossible to quantify the value of instilling a sense of self-worth in another person by fostering their creative work, but we firmly believe that this is the work of humanity.

We are so proud to boast that, in our first eight years here in Denver, we have:

-served over 60,000 customers

-hosted events attended by 34,000 community members

-utilized over 14,000 volunteer hours

-provided arts education for 1,700 students

-supplied workspace for 70 resident artists & community workshop members

All on a shoe-string budget! With your support, we can do so much more. Please join!