Executive Summary

CATA was founded in 1993 to spark social change by amplifying the voices and abilities of people with developmental disabilities, among the most marginalized members of our community. CATA provides dynamic programs for youth, adults, and elders with disabilities in painting, dance, acting, songwriting, drumming, creative writing, and more—then shares their creativity with the community in performances and art exhibits. CATA provides 2,500 arts workshops annually to 1000 artists with developmental disabilities.

More than 85% of CATA artists are low-income, and 90% of adults live in assisted living or group residences, suffering social and cultural isolation compounded by our rural community’s lack of transportation and accessibility.

A powerful tool for individual growth, our programs nurture our artists’ physical and emotional well-being, aid their recovery from trauma, and help them discover new talents and express their unique perspectives.. CATA artists gain practical, workplace, and interpersonal skills that enable them to develop independence and work toward individual goals. Many achieve a sense of profound personal identity through their art, as dancers, actors, or painters.

CATA’s public events, attended annually by over 15,000 people, enable our artists to claim their public role in the community as creative art-makers and to express their unique perspectives, transforming public perceptions of disability and promoting a culture of equity and inclusion.

CATA has developed an innovative, community-centered model by nurturing partnerships with 60 local disability agencies, day-habilitation programs, and schools across 16 towns. Staff co-create programs with caregivers, agency partners, families, teachers, and CATA artists themselves to meet artists’ needs and goals.

Organizations may provide budget and employee data based on this proposal or the organization as a whole. For more information on this proposal or organization, please email us.