Community Arts
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Community Arts
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Community Arts
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Community Arts
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Community Arts ✳︎ Community Arts ✳︎ Community Arts ✳︎ Community Arts ✳︎
Our Programs
Following strategic planning by the CAT Institute’s staff, board, and constituents, the new organization will roll out programs such as:
Annual Community Arts Training (CAT) Institute
The signature intensive education program is the oldest sustained training ground of its kind in the country. The primarily tuition-free training is designed for community-focused artists of all disciplines and their partners, including social workers, educators, grassroots organizers, and civic leaders who are committed to collaborative community building through the arts.
National and Regional Convenings
With support from the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts, the CAT Institute hosted national convenings in 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 while operating as a program of the Regional Arts Commission. Plans call for virtual and in-person conferences that will build networks across the region and the country to share ideas, strategies and platforms for powerful arts-based community work and partnerships.
CAT Alumni Engagement
The CAT Institute will support more than 350 alumni by promoting opportunities, hosting networking gatherings, and establishing new partnerships. Continuing education for alumni, piloted in 2012, will offer advanced workshops that deepen skills and expand the core curriculum, strengthening the CAT Institute network over time. Alumni engagement activities will benefit the broader community by strengthening the CAT Institute’s public-facing network.
Arts + Community Workshops
The CAT Institute will offer seminars that will invite individuals and organizations to explore participatory practices and creative community engagement.
Neighborhood and Affinity-Based CAT Programs
Building on the success of prior successful neighborhood-based cohorts, the CAT Institute will bring customized training directly to urban and suburban neighborhoods. Affinity-based cohort training will focus on specific challenges, such as food insecurity and empowering youth in recovery from substance abuse.
Research + Reports
The CAT Institute will continue documenting the scope and impact of local community-based arts programs. The findings will provide important insights about the arts, artists, and communities. Through presentations, conferences, publications, and academic partnerships, the CAT Institute will share knowledge that advances the field.
“I learned so much! I am just amazed at how much I learned in a short period of time and I feel blessed from the experience and the lifetime support system that I have gained from the CAT program.”
CAT Cohort Member, 2023