Reimagining discarded materials as creative resources.
LIAA, in partnership with Toasted Oysters, is making cleaned and sanitized recycled oyster shells available for creative use across Long Island’s arts and cultural community. The initiative supports artistic, educational, environmental, and public-facing uses that advance sustainability and creative reuse.
About the LI Creative Reuse Project
LIAA Corporate Partner Toasted Oysters (toastedoysters.com) is expanding its commitment to sustainability by partnering with LIAA to make recycled oyster shells available for creative use across the arts community.
As Co-Founder Mike Miezianka shared:
“We are dedicated to sustainable farming in all ways, and that includes repurposing what is normally discarded into beautiful art pieces here on Long Island.”
Through this initiative, shells are cleaned, sanitized, and prepared for reuse, creating new opportunities for artists and organizations to incorporate natural materials into their work and programming.
Who Can Use This Resource?
This initiative is intended for a wide range of creative and community-based uses, including:
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Artists incorporating natural or reclaimed materials into their work
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Arts organizations developing workshops, exhibits, or public programs
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Educators and museums creating hands-on learning experiences
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Community-based programs exploring sustainability, ecology, and the arts
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Public-facing projects that connect creativity with environmental awareness
How It Works
Please complete the request form so we can review your needs and follow up with next steps.
When submitting a request, it is helpful to share:
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How you plan to use the shells
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Approximately how many you may need
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Your timeline
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Whether the use is artistic, educational, environmental, or public-facing
LIAA will review requests and follow up with additional details based on availability and fit.
Our Partner: Toasted Oysters
Toasted Oysters is a veteran-owned oyster farm offering authentic Blue Point oysters harvested from the Great South Bay on Long Island. Their oysters are cultivated and grown in their original waters, delivering the clean, balanced flavor that made Blue Points famous.
As a New York State Grown & Certified farm and a Homegrown by Heroes producer, Toasted Oysters is committed to sustainable, environmentally responsible practices that support local ecosystems while producing exceptional shellfish.
Oysters are harvested daily so they reach customers as fresh as possible, reflecting the character of the bay they come from. Toasted Oysters brings that same focus on quality, sustainability, and community to this partnership, helping transform what is normally discarded into creative materials for Long Island’s arts and cultural sector.
More at ToastedOysters.com
Program In Action
LIAA Member, Long Island Children’s Museum, is already taking advantage of this initiative, incorporating more than 500 shells into their 2026 STEM Weekend program with local artist Christie Jones, who guided young participants in creating watercolor paints from earth and mineral pigments. Participants then used them to paint oyster shells while exploring how natural materials connect to color, landscape, and local ecosystems.
The program blended art, science, and environmental awareness in a hands-on learning experience.
Shell Distribution to Date
schools & organizations served
6
shells distributed
1,260
Participating Schools & Organizations
Long Island Children’s Museum | 500 shells | 2026 STEM Weekend
Great Neck Public Schools | 100 shells | Classroom Project
Gold Coast Arts Center | 100 shells | SummerArts Camp Project
National Junior Art Honor Society | 100 shells | Program Fundraiser
Fire Island School District | 400 shells | From Tide to Treasure Art Project
Long Island Children’s Museum | 60 shells | Mother's Day Project
LI Creative Reuse Shell Tracker
See where oyster shells are being distributed across Long Island schools and arts organizations.
View the Live Tracker →