The Cotuit Center for the Arts is the Upper- and Mid-Cape’s home for all things art, serving both artists and audiences.
The center features painting and sculpture galleries, theater, concerts, film screenings, art classes and other special events.
Founded in 1993 and located at 4404 Rte 28 in Cotuit, the center continues to expand its diverse programming every year.
Typical hours of operation for the gallery: 10 to 4 Monday through Saturday, 10 to 4 on Sundays from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. The office is open 10 to 5, Monday through Friday.
Call (508) 428-0669 for ticket information.
Programs at Cotuit Center for the Arts
The Cotuit Center for the Arts is likely best known for its theater productions. They have a main stage on which they show six or seven major productions each year, and a smaller, “black box” setting for a dozen or so smaller shows.
On the second Wednesday of each month, CCA offers staged readings in various genres of work. The center focuses on involving the community as much as possible, and heartily welcomes suggestions for future productions.
A typical year’s theater roster includes musicals, one-acts, playwright retrospectives, adult-themed shows and plays geared for younger audiences.
In addition, CCA sponsors and hosts many concerts throughout the year, including the Provincetown Jazz Festival, coffeehouse events, and Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival. Retrospectives on famed 20th century musicians like Bob Dylan and the band Pink Floyd are also offered.
Full painting, photography and other core fine arts courses are offered throughout the year, as well as some musical workshops. The center hosts a regular drum circle, ukulele course and dancing instructor, to name a few.
The center’s program lineup is always updated on their website.
Getting Involved at Cotuit Center for the Arts
Though the public is welcome to attend most events at the center, becoming a member brings with it some insider benefits.
A $60 basic membership gets you discounts on produced events and classes, as well as a free concession and voting rights at an annual meeting. It also grants eligibility to submit works for a members-only gallery. Members may also receive discounts at participating stores, businesses and restaurants.
Higher levels of membership reflect the CCA’s mission to involve the community in its productions by providing local businesses opportunities to advertise.
A number of volunteer opportunities are available at the Cotuit Center for the Arts, as these productions require quite a few attendants. Ushers, publicity and office volunteers are needed each month. But the center is also a great place to learn creative and technical skills in costume and set design, lighting, props, and event coordinating. The center’s volunteer page is updated regularly with new and exciting opportunities.
The Cotuit Center for the Arts also offers the community a set of year-round and seasonal jobs – something not all Cape organizations can provide in the region’s seasonal economy. Check out their jobs page here.
History of the Cotuit Center for the Arts
The Cotuit Center for the Arts began in a former mechanic’s garage in 1993, focusing primarily on art exhibition and music space. The first theatrical performances weren’t produced until 1996, when Hamlet, Macbeth, Fool for Love, The Gift of the Gorgon and Terra Nova all premiered in the same year.
The center had a huge setback in April of 2000, when the main building burned to the ground. From that point through 2004, all productions had to be hosted in several other locations around town.
A new 9,000-square-foot performance facility opened in May 2004. The space is 7.5 times larger than the original structure and took two years to complete.
