Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Inc.
All the Arts for All of Us
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Barnstable County, otherwise known as Cape Cod, is widely perceived to be a wealthy resort community, but it is also home to many middle- and lower-class residents who struggle to cope with a seasonal economy. The Cape’s problems include a suicide rate well above the state average, wages estimated at 67% lower than the state average in several industries, and a lack of affordable housing and childcare, transportation, and healthy nutrition according to a 2017 Community Assessment Report by the Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and Islands. That report, along with another conducted by Barnstable County Department of Human Services, found that opioid addiction is at “crisis” levels in the region and that 64% of overdoses were blue collar workers such as carpenters, fishermen, homemakers, wait staff, and cooks.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Rise and Shine
RISE AND SHINE
Rise and Shine is a program that offers classes, workshops, and mentoring in the arts to youth and young adults at risk followed by opportunities to celebrate their work through exhibits, readings, and performances at the Cultural Center. Hundreds of students from all over the Cape have taken part in this program, one of the Center’s finest contributions to the region.
Thanks to funding by individuals, corporations and foundations as well as the Massachusetts Cultural Council and Local Cultural Councils, the Cultural Center is able to pay qualified artist-teachers to lead workshops at the Cultural Center and in schools , as well as one-on-one mentoring throughout the year.
For more information about Rise and Shine — how to book a workshop, engage a mentor, or donate to the program — please contact our Director of Learning Diane Giardi at [email protected]
Hands-on Learning
IT IS MOST EXCITING to witness individuals engaged in their
passions in the Cultural Center’s learning environment. Whether
it is one of our Rise & Shine students learning rhythms on a hand
drum, someone in the Makerspace turning a bowl for the first time,
or a painter deciding to take an illustration class, each individual
is pursuing their interests, taking creative risks, and exploring and
developing new skills.
Ranging in age from five to ninety-two, our students create and
express their individuality in numerous ways. In addition to our
visual arts classes, there are a wealth of educational offerings.
learning.
We look forward to adding a class in yoga breathing and a certification
in Reiki to our growing wellness program, which now includes Yoga,
Meditation, Tai Chi, Stretching, and Mindful Journaling.
In our Simoneau Culinary Arts Center, we are adding more and
more hands-on cooking classes with multiple chefs.
Live Music
With 65+ concerts in 2023 from Jazz to European brass bands, world-class Celtic fiddlers to genrebending classically trained pianists and string quartets, the Cultural Center concert series continues year-round, inspiring the community. Albino Mbie returns in February 2023 after blowing the audience away this past year with his incredible band. We’ve watched him tour globally and rise even more in the New England music scene. We can’t wait to have them back again with their global rhythms and virtuosity. Making their Cultural Center debut in February, the Rasa String Quartet brings their unique classicalfolk music to the Cultural Center In May, world-renowned Scottish fiddler Hanneke Cassel brings her star trio, including Jenna Moynihan and Keith Murphy, to the debut at the Cultural Center. We have amazing pianists performing – from Berklee faculty member Laszlo Gardony and the virtuosic folk-pianist Ben Cosgrove, to the Yale School of Music piano professor Melvin Chen.
World-Class Visual Art Exhibitions
2023 Season
STRIKE A POSE
A portraiture and figurative exhibition
02.07.23-03.04.23
KINETIC
03.06.23–04.08.23
BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THE PLANET
C.A. Stigliano
05.01.23–05.27.23
In an exhibition of three-dimensional and relief woodcarving, Stigliano presents work with political and social implications. With public discourse degenerating into open warfare, we believe that all of us can do better.
STORM BY LUBA
05.29.23–06.24.23
An exhibition of large-scale oil paintings that orchestrate color, space, and movement.
FOR PASTELS ONLY
06.26.23–07.22.23
"For Pastels Only on Cape Cod" is the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod's (PPSCC) premier juried show.
MEMORY VS. STORY
Multi-disciplinary art and science installation
07.24.23–09.09.23
INNOVATIONS
09.12.23–10.07.23
The International Society of Experimental Artists (ISEA) will co-host INNOVATIONS 2023, its 32nd annual international open-juried exhibition, partnering with the Cultural Center.
Where we work
Awards
Adaptive Reuse Award 2007
Massachusetts Historical Commission
Community Impact Award 2010
Yarmouth Area Chamber of Commerce
Community Leadership in the Arts Award 2011
Arts Foundation of Cape Cod
Affiliations & memberships
Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year 2019
External reviews

Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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Who are the people you serve with your mission?
Our calendar of events, exhibits, and educational opportunities engages people of all ages, abilities, and incomes. And we support both emerging and established artists in all media and genres.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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What significant change resulted from feedback?
In response to our community and through the work of our new Head of Music and Events, we have moved from 80% male performers and 90% white to a 50/50 split of men and women and at least 25% racial/cultural diversity.
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Cultural Center of Cape Cod, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 03/16/2023
Ms. Beatrice Gremlich
Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation
Term: 2017 - 2024
Larry Thayer ,Clerk
Retired non-profit executive
Jason Lilly ,Treasurer
Cape Cod 5
Virginia Hoeck
Suzanne Reid
Evans Arnold , Vice Chair
Artist / Entrepreneur
Marlene Marrocco
Entrepreneur
Darijan Suton
Employee Wellness Manager
Jeff Watson
Owner, Captain Farris Inn
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 04/13/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.