CATA Awarded 2018 CFF Grant

23 May CATA Awarded 2018 CFF Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2018
Contact: Chris Watford
(413) 528-5485
Digital images available

COMMUNITY ACCESS TO THE ARTS AWARDED 2018 CULTURAL FACILITIES FUND GRANT– Joins Elite Group of Berkshire Organizations to Win CFF Grants

Great Barrington, MA—Community Access to the Arts (CATA) has been awarded its first-ever Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF) grant from MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The $26,000 award allows CATA to define options for expansion and to assess long-term facilities needs. Other 2018 awardees in the Berkshires include Jacob’s Pillow, Shakespeare & Company, the Clark Art Institute and The Berkshire Botanical Garden.

Since 1993, CATA has brought over 20,000 life-changing arts workshops to more than 2,000 people with disabilities throughout Berkshire County. The CFF grant will allow CATA to plan for the expansion of its facilities in order to grow programming for a greater population of people with disabilities.

Margaret Keller, CATA’s Executive Director, comments:

“This grant from the Cultural Facilities Fund comes at a pivotal moment in CATA’s history as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and look ahead at ways to expand the reach and impact of our programs serving people with disabilities–and our larger community. Now is the perfect time for us to take a close look at our facilities, explore options for expansion, and engage in strategic business planning to guide future growth. We’re thrilled to join the cadre of impressive cultural organizations that have received CFF funding. ”

The highly competitive CFF grant is administered through a partnership between MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), and is overseen by a nine-member CFF Advisory Committee. The CFF allows nonprofit organizations to plan for and implement the construction or maintenance of facilities, while expanding access and education in the arts and improving the quality of life across the Commonwealth.

About Community Access to the Arts: Now in its 25th year, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities through shared experiences in the visual and performing arts. Our programs take place in partnership with 49 residences, day programs, schools, and community settings, serving 700 people with disabilities throughout Berkshire and Columbia counties. To learn more about CATA programs and events, visit CATAarts.org.

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