Our Story
History
Austin Creative Reuse started in 2009 when a group of like-minded individuals gathered to discuss creating a new, sustainable community organization. Our group was a mix of artists, art enthusiasts, teachers, marketers, and community experts. In 2011, we received our 501(c)3 nonprofit status and in 2015, we opened Austin’s first creative reuse center.
Our first center was a small, 1,600 square foot suite at the Linc Shopping Center and was initially 100% volunteer run. We were open Thursdays from 6PM-8PM and Saturdays from 10AM-2PM for a whopping total of 6 hours a week!
In 2020, having long outgrown our original space, we moved to an 11,000 square foot building in the Windsor Park Neighborhood. We now welcome the public to shop six days a week and have a paid staff that contributes over 50% of our labor hours. It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come, and we’re looking forward to what the future has in store for Austin Creative Reuse!
What Drives Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to foster conservation and reuse through creativity, education, and community building.
Our Vision
Our vision is a community that consciously consumes and chooses reuse as a first choice when evaluating the need for personal or project materials. Through the discovery of the reuse of an object, a person will learn to evaluate use and purchase decisions based on the whole lifecycle of the object.
Core Values
Every object has impact: All material items have a social, economic, and environmental impact that influences our relationship with Stuff; nothing is free.
Reuse creates awareness: Reusing items sparks creativity, awareness, and exploration, fostering inspiration and engaged learning.
Communities are powerful: It’s more fun to play together and collaborate with the experts in our area to conserve vital resources.
Action is advancement: We believe in experimenting with new ideas and taking incremental steps to work towards goals.
Our people make it possible: Staff and volunteers who are valued and engaged make ACR a joyful place to work, shop and create.
