The arts are an important vehicle for expressing creativity and building self-esteem. Berkshire County ARC and Community Access to the Arts (CATA) have a special collaborative partnership that brings visual and performing arts to the lives of participating BCARC individuals.  CATA offers creative arts programs - singing, dancing, crafts, painting, juggling, puppetry - at the Center for Development in Gt. Barrington, The Habilitation Center in Pittsfield, and the Social Development Center in Pittsfield.
     Every Wednesday night at the residential program at West Street, many individuals and staff get together for an hour-long art class. From November, 2002, through February, 2003,  individuals and staff enjoyed projects in  painting, picture frames and mosaic art.

     Everyone participating would like to thank Marlene Marshall, their creative CATA art teacher. She showed us all many ways to express ourselves.     
     Many of the CATA participants will be performing  or exhibiting their artwork at the CATALive Annual Performance and Art Exhibition on May 9th and 10th at the Founder's Theater at Shakespeare and Company.
     For more information about Community Access to

the Arts programs and events, please call 413-528-5485 or visit www.communityaccesstotheARTs.org.

     Are you considering a rewarding community service opportunity? If so, then you may want to contact the Pittsfield Adult Learning Center to help teach people reading, English, computer and math Skills.

     BCARC individual Michael Kuvent, student at the learning center, "loves to go to class on Fridays because I'm learning things I never knew before, including using a computer."                                         

     If you wish to volunteer, but are not sure of your skills, training is offered.
     If you're interested, please call Deborah, Volunteer Coordinator, at 499-9530.

Winter 2003         VISIONS     PAGE 10