The Art Market

Our Project

Indiana University students in the Fine Arts department are frequently required to purchase expensive materials in addition to their course tuition. These supplies often outlast their course use, which leaves students with an abundance of supplies that are wasted or underutilized. If students can more appropriately source and discard their art materials, then they will reduce unnecessary waste and save money. Existing vendors such as the Eskenazi Art Shop or chain supply stores sell many required materials, new and at full cost. However, there is currently no university-supported platform for students to recycle, resell, or exchange art supplies. Therefore, our team has created a student-centered digital marketplace that grows a sustainable and cheap resource for accessible supplies in the art community. If students have a centralized system to buy and sell unused art materials, they may save money, strengthen their academic and professional work, and contribute to a more sustainable community.

We have prioritized growth in three main aspects: growth of accessible student work, sustainable practices, and financial tools and assets.

Research supports that having the necessary resources to build a strong, competitive creative portfolio is one of the main contributing factors for future job placement. It is our goal to encourage the sharing of resources amongst students with creative studies.

Indiana University has an ongoing goal of promoting sustainability across all of its campuses, including through the purchasing of goods, both by the university and its students and faculty.

Finally, our research has revealed financial concerns to be the highest priority for university students, and art students face higher financial barriers than other majors. We have emphasized a focus on art departments as a way to uplift a single sector of university students, as university trading systems are shown to capture more long-term engagement over a smaller community

Big Points

• Build a stronger creative community with authenticated IU login and profiles.
  
• Explore cost-effective alternatives to retail art supplies by browsing and searching through supplies posted by current and previous FA students.
  
• Reduce material waste by giving your old supplies a new home.