Haha I was an art student some time ago and I still have all my art supplies.

Maybe check local Facebook de-stash groups for people who dabbled during Covid and moved on?

That stuff isn’t cheap so I’d imagine most students don’t give it away since they need it. Seconding destash and decluttering groups where crafty people who hoard supplies might be unloading them.

I would go to the RISD website and look at the academic schedule. It should list last class/final crit and possibly move out dates for the freshmen.

RISD used to (still does?) have a yard sale. Mostly clothes, but also some odds and ends donated like drawer sets. Don't recall any art supplies themselves, but I'd give it a shot if they hold the yard sale this year.

RISD Christmas! Usually the week the kids move out for the summer

They don't throw them out they use them up.

Garbage Christmas! Should be in a few months. There's one at the end of May and a big one end of June with smatterings throughout

Not sure but I used to get cheap pads of paper and canvases at Ocean State Job Lot. I really liked some of the paper they had. You could probably get everything you need for under $20.

It’s been a long while since I went through RISD move out trash (2006-ish) but I’m pretty sure late May. (Maybe do a google for when graduation ceremonies are…) I remember I got a dozen + artBins one year, two Wacom tablets and all the charcoals/drawing pencils/pastels I needed for several years.

I know that many students will keep their supplies but anyone international (and many on the west coast) likely won’t be taking anything large back with them.

@notsecondlife on Instagram is somewhat of a reincarnation.

Also worth trying the List Arts building at Brown. Public access to the building during business hours and some semesters they have signs advertising a date by which projects and materials must be removed. After that but before it actually happens is a great time

Join the east side buy nothing group on FB. People donate art supplies occasionally.

Next week is spring break, marking mid-semester, and graduation is the first weekend of June, so probably the last week and a half of May?

It completely changed when Providence gave everyone trash bins. Very sad day in my life. That, and when they turned the old Hospital Trust Tower into a RISD dorm.

Do u just walk in and take stuff

Do you know where it’s mostly art supplies? When I went last year it was just furniture and clothes on the curb but I’m not sure if I was looking in the right areas

I remember going to some campus student housing. Unfortunately it was so long ago I’m not sure I could tell you where it was, but I think it may have been brick… maybe Nickerson or Homer hall?

Edit: looking at a map I’m now thinking maybe it was off congden, but I’m not sure.

Thank you!

yes, confidence is key! if you look remotely college-aged you should be fine. If not come in with some kind of plausible excuse. it will be the end of the semester so maybe you're a relative visiting a student graduating

That’s great! Do u know when would be a good time to start going? Like should I wait until closer to the end of the semester or do they just have stuff out all the time and I could go now?