Sept. 9, 2026
Sunshine Creative Reuse, a nonprofit dedicated to creativity, affordability, and sustainability, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new permanent location, 60 West Main in downtown Brevard, on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 11 a.m.
Community members toured the new space, learned more about creative reuse, and celebrated Sunshine Creative Reuse’s move from pop-up events to its first physical location.
Founded in 2024 by community member Jamie Oulton, Sunshine Creative Reuse was designed to make creativity more affordable while keeping useful materials in circulation. The new space will also provide opportunities for workshops, crafting, community gatherings, and hands-on creativity.
For Oulton, the idea of turning something old into something new began long before Sunshine Creative Reuse had a name. Her mother was an elementary school art teacher, and her father was a residential home builder.
Growing up, Oulton was surrounded by materials that had the potential to become something else. In 2015, Oulton visited a creative reuse center for the first time and the concept immediately resonated with her.
By making donated materials available at affordable prices, Sunshine Creative Reuse strives to lower the barrier to trying something new. Someone who has always wanted to try collage, painting, knitting, or another craft can experiment without purchasing new items and get an opportunity to rethink what they consider waste.
More than 100 creative reuse centers operate nationwide to connect reusable materials with people who can repurpose them.
Sunrise Creative Reuse previously promoted creating creative reuse communities throughout western North Carolina through pop-up art supply thrift events, workshops, supply donation drives, festival activations, and volunteer opportunities, but opening a permanent location on Main Street will allow Oulton and her staff to expand that work and provide a consistent place for people to connect with creative materials and with one another.
“We set out from the very beginning to build Sunshine Creative Reuse as a community-centered organization,” said founder and executive director Jamie Oulton in a news release. “We want this to be a place where anyone can co-create with us – by sharing their ideas and skills, volunteering their time, donating materials, or simply showing up and having fun with us. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive in Brevard. People are excited to shop, volunteer, donate supplies, take classes, and bring our vision to life. I see Sunshine as a place for people to create, connect, and play in a way that doesn’t break the bank and does something good for our planet at the same time.”
Community members were quick to sign up to volunteer and donate materials as soon as Sunshine Creative Reuse announced its upcoming opening. Volunteers and donors are not only supporting a cause in their community, they are building connection and personal fulfillment.
“From my first volunteer day at Sunshine Creative Reuse, I knew this was a place I was meant to be,” said Krista Conners. “I love to craft for my mental well-being and I love to thrift for the environment. This is the perfect destination for creativity, connection, and sustainability in Brevard.”
One rescued box of crayons, one donated paintbrush, one idea at a time, Sunshine Creative Reuse is giving new life to materials and providing opportunities for connection and creativity in Brevard and the surrounding community.
Sunshine Creative Reuse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More information about store hours, events, and donations accepted is available at www.sunshinecreativereuse.org.