SNOW UPDATE: CATA Studio Programs cancelled Monday 2/23
SNOW UPDATE: CATA Studio Programs cancelled Monday 2/23
Get Involved
Come get creative with Community Access to the Arts this July! Join us for fun, community-based arts programs, designed for people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities, including people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, brain injuries, and autism.
CATA Summer Studio Workshops take place at the CATA art studios at 420 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington, MA. Programs are FREE to attend, but registration is requested. To Sign up, contact Kara Smith, Program Director, at (413) 528-5485 or email Kara@cataarts.org.
Explore our Summer Studio Workshops below, along with details about Accessibility and more. CATA’s Summer Studio Workshops are made possible thanks to the generosity of CATA donors.
“Adventures in Music & Sound”
with Wes Buckley
10am-11am | July 7, 14, 21, (no workshop July 28)
Have fun exploring music, singing, and playing instruments in this three-week series. In each session we will try out different styles and approaches to making music together. No musical experience required!
Week 1: Making a Soundtrack: Learn how the music in your favorite movie was made! We’ll improvise with musical instruments to tell a story with sound, using images and movies for inspiration.
Week 2: Composing Songs: Together we’ll experiment with drums, keyboard, and adaptive instruments to make a tune with friends. Everyone is invited to play a role in shaping an original song.
Week 3: Sing-a-long: We’ll learn new songs, sing familiar favorites, and jam with instruments in a fun and welcoming environment. Experience the joy of making music together!
“Printmaking: Roll, Press, Create!”
with Lucie Castaldo
11:15am-12:15pm | July 7, 14, 21, 28
Make your mark with inks, paints, stamps, and more! Discover the colorful world of printmaking where we’ll create our own unique prints using a variety of fun techniques. With simple and adaptive tools we’ll explore patterns, textures, shapes, and designs, as we build confidence in our own artistic ideas. We’ll print “cardboard collages” to make collagraphs (fun prints using 3D materials!), cut foam to make block print patterns, and explore overlapping colors with Gelli plates. No experience needed!
“Every Body DANCE!”
with Beth Liebowitz
11:15am-12:15pm | July 7, 14, 21, 28
This is an inclusive, easy-going, and FUN dance workshop that will get you moving and feeling great! Each class will start with a movement exercise to wake up, strengthen, and stretch different parts of the body. Then, we’ll explore a variety of dance styles and have fun in a welcoming, judgment-free zone. Everyone is invited to move in their own style, at their own pace. We’ll adjust the sensory environment based on the needs of the group, including a shift in lighting, music volume, and tactile opportunities such as dance props.
Sing for Joy
with Katie Herbst
10am-11am | July 8, 15, 22, 29
Let’s make music together! This upbeat workshop welcomes artists of all experience levels. We’ll explore music using both our individual and collective voices. Through playful games and group activities, we’ll experiment with rhythm and melody. Together we will use our voices to build confidence, express ourselves, and connect with others. Join us in this free-flowing, joyful space, and ignite your musical creativity! All vocal expression is welcomed and incorporated.
Act It Out!
with Caroline Calkins
11:15am-12:15pm | July 8, 15, 22, 29
Act it Out! is a fun, sensory friendly workshop for anyone who is curious about theater. Through acting exercises and improv games, we’ll explore storytelling using all the senses — sound, sight, taste, touch, and smell — as we bring scenes and characters to life. Together, we’ll practice collaboration and problem solving, while building confidence and discovering new modes of creative expression. Open to all levels of experience — great for those who are totally new to theater and those who love the stage!
“Painting & Drawing at Berkshire Botanical Garden” with Lucie Castaldo
10am-11am | July 9, 16, 23, 30
Spend the morning at Berkshire Botanical Garden experimenting with watercolors, inks, and oil pastels, while exploring the many flowers in bloom. In this relaxing, playful workshop we’ll take inspiration from the beautiful natural landscape to create art on paper with a variety of materials. Artwork made in this workshop will be included in CATA’s exhibit at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Spring 2027!
We will be outside so come prepared with sun protection, such as a hat and sunscreen, and a water bottle. In case of rain, we will work inside the Berkshire Botanical Garden Center House classroom.
How to Sign Up: CATA Summer Programs are FREE to attend, but registration is requested. To Sign up, contact Kara Smith, Program Director, at (413) 528-5485 or email Kara@cataarts.org.
What Does it Cost?
These special CATA summer workshops are completely free of charge—thanks to generous CATA donors.
Who is CATA for?
CATA programs are designed for people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities — including people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, autism, and brain injuries. Our summer studio programs are geared towards teens and adults of all ages. No prior experience is necessary!
Where Do Programs Take Place?
Programs take place at the CATA Art Studios at 420 Stockbridge Rd in Great Barrington, MA. (Please note that “Painting and Drawing” takes place at Berkshire Botanical Garden at 5 West Stockbridge Rd in Stockbridge).
Accessibility at CATA
Every CATA workshop is designed with accessibility and inclusion at its core. Visit our “Accessibility at CATA” webpage for an overview of accommodations in CATA’s building and workshops.
CATA’s free summer studio programs are made possible thanks to the generosity of CATA donors.
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the Safe Unsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
