Program Associate

Organization

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) is an innovative nonprofit that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of people with disabilities through the arts. In CATA arts workshops, teens, adults, and elders with disabilities explore new interests and express themselves creatively in dance, theater, singing, drumming, juggling, painting, yoga, creative writing, and more. CATA showcases its vibrant work in public events- dynamic performances, readings, and art exhibits, presented in collaboration with premier cultural institutions including The Clark Art Institute, Shakespeare & Company, and The Mount.

CATA has cultivated robust partnerships with 50 community-based organizations, including disability agencies, residences, and schools, to serve over 800 artists with disabilities through 1,500 annual arts workshops. Programs focus especially on people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, autism, and brain injuries and are taught by a professional faculty of teaching artists. Located in Great Barrington MA, CATA has an annual budget just over $2M and is led by a dedicated team of 12 full-time staff with 25 part-time teaching faculty and an 18-member board of directors. CATA prizes its organizational culture, which is characterized by collaboration, inclusion, respect and a shared commitment to innovation, bold thinking, and excellence. 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.

Opportunity

As Program Associate, you will join an innovative arts organization on the rise. This is an exceptional opportunity for someone with excellent administrative skills, interest in the arts, and a commitment to inclusion to use their talents to create broad community impact. CATA has a strong track record for nurturing employees’ growth and promoting from within. Staff members are highly dedicated self-starters who share a passion for CATA’s mission and genuinely enjoy working together. The organization is at an exciting stage in its growth, with a beautiful new building, robust partnerships, and expanding programs for artists with disabilities.

Description:

Full-Time and on-site. Reports to the Program Director Team. 40 hours a week. Applications are accepted until the position is filled.

Salary range: $40,000 – $50,000

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CATA seeks a highly motivated, organized individual ready to make a difference at our innovative, award-winning arts organization. As Program Associate, you will apply your skills to support CATA’s mission of art and inclusion. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented and self-motivated with excellent project management and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities:

● Support program directors in coordinating a robust series of arts workshops in partnership with social service agencies, public schools, residences, and nursing homes;

● Correspond with artists, families, and partner organizations to communicate program logistics and details; support artists and families in registering for workshops; create invoices and process program payments;

● Work closely with teaching artists to help schedule workshops and follow up on time-sensitive correspondence; maintain workshop calendar and communicate with faculty and partners about changes;

● Maintain contact information for CATA artists, families, and program partners and keep database records up-to-date;

● Under the supervision of program directors, help plan and coordinate public arts programs and participate hands-on at events; assist in curating and installing art exhibits at local museums and galleries and create price lists, labels, signage and other materials as needed;

● Help supervise interns and volunteers, with direction and support from supervisors;

● Track art supply inventory and oversee studio organization, cleaning, and upkeep;

● Draft correspondence and written materials as assigned, with scrupulous attention to proofreading;

● Other duties as assigned including filing and modest schlepping.

Qualifications:

● Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience;

● 2 or more years of relevant work experience; experience in the arts a plus;

● Excellent computer skills. Must be highly proficient in MS Office Suite, MS Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Zoom;

● Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail;

● Excellent English communication skills both verbal and written;

● Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and juggle multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and shift direction when needed;

● Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to problem-solve and meet deadlines;

● Ability to take direction and to exhibit growth in response to feedback on your work;

● Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a team member;

● Demonstrated relationship-building skills and ability to relate to a diverse range of people, exercise cultural competence and inclusion, and commit to deeper learning and professional development on racial and social justice;

● Must have reliable transportation to Great Barrington, MA and be available to work in person;

● Must be fully vaccinated against Covid, in accordance with CATA’s health and safety protocols.

How To Apply:

CATA is an equal-opportunity employer with a mission rooted in equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage candidates who contribute to the diversity of our organization. Non-local candidates must include plans and a timeline for relocation to Berkshire County in a cover letter.

This search is being conducted by Insource Services in partnership with CATA. Interested candidates should submit
materials via this link. Please email a resume and cover letter explaining why you’re interested in this position and how your past experience and accomplishments make you qualified for it.

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Compensation:

The Program Associate is a full-time non-exempt position. Local travel is required to meet with partners and observe CATA programs on-site. Salary is commensurate with relevant experience, within the framework of the organization’s operating budget, and in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 annually. An excellent benefits package includes:

● 100% employer-paid health & dental insurance premiums for employees (retroactively effective to hire date)

● Family health and dental packages

● Retirement savings program of Safe Harbor 401(k) plan with an employer match of up to 4%

● Generous paid vacation (80 hours in the first year increasing to 120 hours after the second year) plus separate sick time

● Paid holidays including all federal holidays plus days before and after Thanksgiving; three extra December days, two floating religious holidays, and a birthday holiday

● Short- and long-term disability coverage

● Life insurance

● Paid family leave

● Paid professional development opportunities

● CATA is a qualified employer under the PSLF federal student loan forgiveness plan

● Active participation in a mission-driven organization with a positive and inclusive work culture and a strong impact on the community

CATA employs highly skilled visual and performing artists who can use their artistic passion, talents, and skills as teachers to nurture the creativity of our artists with disabilities. 

CATA Teaching Artists work throughout Berkshire and Columbia counties leading arts workshops for over 800 artists with disabilities and collectively teaching 1,500 workshops annually. Workshops take place in residential settings, day programs, schools, and community centers throughout our region, as well as in CATA’s Great Barrington home, featuring two professionally-designed studios for visual and performing arts. Current workshops encompass a wide array of art forms and disciplines including painting, drawing, singing, songwriting, drumming, modern dance, tap dance, hip hop, creative writing and poetry, and acting. CATA artists participating in these workshops include people of disabilities across a wide span of ability and ages, including children, teens, adults, and elders. Most CATA workshops are designed for a specific age group (for example, a painting workshop for adults with disabilities, or a dance class for high school students in special education programs). 

CATA invites qualified local Teaching Artists to apply to join our faculty roster. Applications will be reviewed periodically by CATA staff, with new faculty being chosen based on the applicant’s qualifications and our areas of need.

We believe every human being has a deep well of creativity inside them, along with an innate desire to express who they are and what they feel, think, and believe. We see our faculty as fundamental to our mission and programs, and we strive to create a vibrant, active, creative community with and through our faculty. We invite you to learn more about CATA and to consider joining our team.

CATA offers

• A generous rate for compensation: $85 for each individual workshop including one hour of instruction, plus setup, break down, and curricular development. Note that workshops are provided in series typically made up of 8 – 30 weekly workshops per series, making compensation for each full series much higher ($85 x # workshops).
• Dedicated trainings for our faculty to further develop teaching skills across different areas, including trauma-informed teaching, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, with compensation provided for your time.
• Stipends for reimbursement for round trip travel exceeding 42 miles
• Benefits for part-time staff include: sick leave, birthday bonus, bereavement leave, Massachusetts Paid Family & Medical Leave, opportunity to participate in Simple IRA retirement plan with 3% employer match from CATA for employees making more than $5,000 annually.
• CATA supplies all non-durable materials for programs and workshops, including general art supplies, props for music, dance, and theater. CATA will also consider the purchase of durable supplies and equipment for specified purposes in conversation with faculty artists.
• The opportunity to apply for additional funds to support your individual professional development
• Invitations to special events and programs

Faculty Artist Responsibilities

• Working closely with CATA staff: Develop, plan, and teach compelling workshop series in  particular art forms or disciplines to nurture the creativity of CATA artists with disabilities. Workshops are typically provided in weekly, one hour classes, with at least 8 workshops per series, with date and time coordinated by CATA staff in conversation with our program partners and artists.
• Identify and articulate learning objectives and goals for each series you teach and where possible, connect curriculum with CATA’s annual theme.
• Work with staff to evaluate and assess your classes and the outcomes for CATA artists, and refine and adjust classes as needed to meet the need of CATA artists with disabilities
• Communicate consistently, reliably, and effectively with CATA staff about scheduling, your availability, supply needs, challenges, and insights related to the classes you are teaching.
• Attend quarterly meetings, trainings, and annual faculty retreat. We welcome and encourage  collaborations between faculty artists, and we intend these trainings and meetings to not only help you further develop as a Teaching Artist but also to help you meaningfully engage in the CATA community of creative professionals.  You will be compensated for your time.
• Determine materials needed for your classes in advance and communicate these needs to CATA staff.
• Set-up and clean up for each workshop.
• Fill out bi-weekly time cards in our Paychex system so that you can be paid.

Qualifications

• Working artist in your specified field with a minimum of 3 years of teaching experience
• Excellent time management and communication skills
• Ability to adapt and modify learning experiences for people of all abilities
• Ability to successfully engage with people who are diverse by race, class, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, and ability; exercise cultural competence and inclusion; and commit to deeper learning and professional development in areas including racial and social justice and disability rights.
• An empathetic and intuitive personality
• Reliable transportation and willingness to travel throughout Berkshire County, MA and Columbia County, NY

Acceptance to the CATA Roster does not guarantee employment. When CATA has opportunities for growth, the roster will serve as our primary source for new faculty.

To apply: Email a cover letter, CV/resume, work samples (photos, videos), and lesson plan examples to Jeff Gagnon, Program Manager ([email protected])