RAC’s Town Hall Announcement

Did you attend RAC’s virtual town hall today? Vanessa Cooksey, RAC president & CEO, shared updates on what’s on the horizon in 2026 for the Regional Arts Commission. One of those updates was that the Community Arts Training program will be spinning off from RAC and becoming its own independent non-profit organization: The Community Arts Training Institute.

Since its inception, the CAT Institute’s home has been within the Regional Arts Commission, where CAT reaped the benefits of convening space, leadership, administrative support, and tuition-free training. This tenure is marked by supportive executive leadership, including Commissioners, who contributed to CAT’s success and reputation as a national training model.

As RAC prioritizes it’s role as a grant-maker, a new chapter for CAT begins. This strategic move will allow CAT to amplify its role as a vital training ground for community-rooted artists, social workers, educators, community organizers, and civic leaders committed to social change through the arts. 

You can find out more about the legacy of CAT with the Regional Arts Commission on their website: