Community Access to the Arts

Community Access to the Arts Community Access to the Arts nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities.

✍️ Join CATA at The Mount for a reading of poetry and prose written by CATA artists! You'll hear heartfelt, thought-prov...
09/01/2026

✍️ Join CATA at The Mount for a reading of poetry and prose written by CATA artists! You'll hear heartfelt, thought-provoking, and humorous work by CATA writers with disabilities—read by a wonderful cast of guest readers. And stick around after the reading for a reception with the readers and artists!

Join us on September 29 at 5pm at The Mount in Lenox!

🎟️ Tickets are $25, and seats are limited — buy your tickets now: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/areadingofcatapoetryproseatthemount/event/themount26/

Thank you to the wonderful photographer and CATA super-friend Julie McCarthy for these stunning portraits of CATA artists Scott, Eric, and Cathy!

Image description: black and white photos of CATA artists, and photos of CATA's poetry reading last year.

08/31/2026

📸 Go behind the scenes of CATA’s Annual Art Show with CATA artist Sami Church (Stanton Home)!

Sami created this photograph, “Cloud’s Skylight,” during CATA's photography workshop led by our resident faculty artist Lucie Castaldo. Sami says she was moving through CATA’s studios when inspiration stuck through a cloud-filled skylight. She then edited the colors to create this beautiful & otherworldly blue-green effect. And congratulations to Sami — her photo SOLD during CATA's exhibit celebration at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts!

In addition to her photography, Sami dances in CATA's Moving Company dance ensemble and participates in our CATAdirect craft cooperative.

📲: Find more from artists with disabilities AND CATA's summer exhibits in the Community Access to the Arts digital guide on Bloomberg Connects!
📅: Until October 12, 2026
📍: The Clark (Williamstown, MA)
🖼️: "Cloud’s Skylight" by Sami Church

🎨 We’re still glowing from our CATA exhibit celebration at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts—and loving these photos ...
08/21/2026

🎨 We’re still glowing from our CATA exhibit celebration at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts—and loving these photos by Maru Studio & Art! More than 200 CATA artists, families, art lovers, and community members came together to celebrate an incredible collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, animations, and more, all created by CATA artists with disabilities.

Congratulations to all of our artists—and thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate their creativity and talent! ❤️

🎨 Missed the celebration? There’s still time to see the artwork! CATA’s exhibit at the Lichtenstein is open through August 28, and our exhibit at The Clark is open through October 12. Artwork is available for purchase, with CATA artists earning a commission on every work sold.

📲 Find more information about CATA’s exhibits in our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects.

📍 Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, Pittsfield & Clark Art Institute, Williamstown

❤️ Thank you to our lead exhibit sponsors Acrisure and Berkshire Life Charitable Foundation for helping make CATA's Annual Art Show possible!

Image description: CATA artists, including artists from Berkshire County Arc, Leander House, and many other CATA program partners enjoying CATA’s art exhibit at the Lichtenstein gallery.

We are saddened to learn about the passing of Susan “Boothie” Booth, a beloved resident of Riverbrook Residence and long...
08/21/2026

We are saddened to learn about the passing of Susan “Boothie” Booth, a beloved resident of Riverbrook Residence and longtime CATA artist. Boothie was part of CATA from the very beginning, taking part in our first workshops in 1993. Her creativity, kindness, and joyful spirit shone through her artwork and her many years with CATA.

We are grateful to have shared so many creative moments with Boothie. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her.

https://theberkshireedge.com/susan-boothie-booth-76-of-stockbridge/

Image descriptions:
1) Boothie with her framed artwork at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in 2022;
2) Boothie in a CATA workshop with our founder Sandy Newman in 1993;
3) A painting of two fish on an orange background by Boothie from 2008;
4) Boothie painting outside in a CATA workshop in the 1990's;
5) A painting of a purple flower on a green background by Boothie from 2021

TODAY! Join CATA at The Clark to "Meet the Artists" behind CATA's Annual Art Show! 🎨 Enjoy vibrant paintings, chat with...
08/18/2026

TODAY! Join CATA at The Clark to "Meet the Artists" behind CATA's Annual Art Show! 🎨 Enjoy vibrant paintings, chat with CATA artists, and create your own art inspired by the exhibit.

Drop in for as long as you like for this free, family-friendly event. Refreshments and art supplies will be provided. This joyous event is a highlight of CATA's Annual Art Show — we hope you'll join us!

📲 Find more info about CATA’s exhibits in the Community Access to the Arts digital guide on Bloomberg Connects!
📍: Clark Art Institute (Williamstown, MA) & Lichtenstein Center for the Arts (Pittsfield, MA)

Image description: CATA artists and community members enjoying art at CATA's exhibit and creating new artwork together.

We were deeply honored to welcome U.S. Representative Congressman Richard Neal to CATA last week! Congressman Neal toure...
08/13/2026

We were deeply honored to welcome U.S. Representative Congressman Richard Neal to CATA last week! Congressman Neal toured our studios to learn about CATA's inclusive arts programs—and spent time with CATA artists and families to hear firsthand what makes CATA so meaningful in their lives.

James shared how proud he is of his growth as an artist—and how CATA gives him the freedom to be himself. Nikki (Berkshire County Arc) shared how CATA painting and dance workshops have helped her "feel whole again" after a life-altering injury. Carlos, a parent of a CATA artist, shared how CATA helped their family find a sense of community and belonging. And Katherine presented the Congressman with an original painting she created at CATA!

We're grateful to Congressman Neal for his advocacy for people with disabilities and for spending time with our community to celebrate the creativity, connection, and joy that make CATA so special. ❤️

PS: Check out the story in The Berkshire Edge --> https://theberkshireedge.com/u-s-rep-neal-visits-community-access-to-the-arts-meets-artists-with-disabilities-and-families/

Photos by Marina Dominguez (Maru Studio & Art)

Image description: CATA artists and family members speaking with Congressman Richard Neal at CATA's studios

08/12/2026

We're thrilled to announce our new year of CATA workshops—and registration is already filling up! We've got an exciting roster of 30+ weekly arts workshops for artists with disabilities here in the CATA studios, including new classes in ballet, sensory-friendly drumming, and more.

Stretch your acting skills, create your own comics, express your ideas through poetry or painting, discover the joy of singing, grow your confidence as a dancer, and SO MUCH MORE!

CATA sets workshops fees intentionally low—typically half the true cost—and fundraises in the commiunity to cover the difference. We never want cost to be a barrier and no one will be turned away because of financial need. Contact CATA today to learn more and start signing up for programs!

➡️ Pick up a workshop brochure at CATA studios or check out all our workshop offerings online: cataarts.org/workshops

Join us Tuesday 8/18 at The Clark to meet the artists in CATA's Annual Art Show! Drop in from 1-3 to chat with CATA art...
08/11/2026

Join us Tuesday 8/18 at The Clark to meet the artists in CATA's Annual Art Show! Drop in from 1-3 to chat with CATA artists, enjoy their amazing paintings & drawings, and even create your own piece inspired by the exhibit! 🎨 Free refreshments and art supplies will be provided.

More details at CATAarts.org/iapoa2026

🎥 Can’t wait to hear from the artists? You can watch interviews and listen to audio guides led by CATA artists right NOW through CATA’s guide on Bloomberg Connects! Go behind the scenes with CATA artists at CATAarts.org/digitalguide

Image description: CATA artists and community members at the Clark Art Institute.

👋 Thanks to iBerkshires.com for this lovely article on CATA’s exhibit celebration at the Lichtenstein Center for the Art...
08/10/2026

👋 Thanks to iBerkshires.com for this lovely article on CATA’s exhibit celebration at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts! 🖼️ Hundreds of CATA artists and community members came to the Lichtenstein to celebrate CATA’s Annual Art Show, enjoying a vibrant variety of works by CATA artists with disabilities — including Sami Church! Sami displayed her photography in the exhibit and said in the article, "This was my first piece that got sold, and I'm very happy about it!"

Catch this stunning work by CATA artists with disabilities at the Lichtenstein through August 28—artwork is for sale, and CATA artists earn a commission on each piece sold!

https://www.iberkshires.com/story/83510/CATA-s-I-Am-a-Part-of-Art-Exhibit-Celebrates-Creativity-and-Inclusion.html

Image description: Photos of CATA artists at CATA’s Lichtenstein celebration and a headline from iBerkshires

📷 Photos by Sabrina Damms

08/07/2026

CATA artists on the Arts & Assembly team at Blue Q are bringing their creativity to life through original animated films🎥 For this project, CATA Faculty Artist Caitlin Langstaff shared a traditional lullaby, and CATA artists in a workshop led by Faculty Artist Adam Gudeon responded by crafting their own illustrated and animated interpretation of the song.

Address

420 Stockbridge Road, Suite 2
Great Barrington, MA
01230

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14135285485

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