Community Access to the Arts

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) is an innovative nonprofit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities. For over 30 years CATA has been a trailblazer in artistic inclusion. Poised to continue our exciting growth, CATA boasts a beautiful new building, robust community partnerships, dynamic programs, strong equity initiatives, exceptional financial planning, and loyal donor retention. In CATA’s powerful arts programs, children, teens, and adults with disabilities explore new interests and express themselves creatively, developing personally and artistically through dance, theater, singing, drumming, juggling, painting, yoga, creative writing, and more. Their vibrant work is showcased in CATA’s public events– performances, readings, and art exhibits, presented in collaboration with premier cultural institutions in the Berkshires including The Clark Art Institute, Shakespeare & Company, and The Mount. Located in Great Barrington MA, CATA has an annual budget of $2.6M. CATA has been recognized for its groundbreaking work through the Massachusetts Cultural Council Commonwealth Award, NEPR Arts & Humanities Award, Mass Nonprofit Network Excellence Award, 1Berkshire Trendsetter Award, and the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative. ​​In 2024, CATA received a highly competitive grant from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving Open Call. CATA is led by a dedicated team of 19 full-time staff with 20 part-time teaching faculty and a 22-member board of directors.