CapeCodCan! (Cape Cod Collaborative Arts Network)

Cape Cod Collaborative Arts Network – CapeCodCAN! is dedicated to providing people with disabilities on Cape Cod access, inclusion and active participation in the literary, visual and performing arts. Through collaboration with Cape Cod agencies, organizations and individuals we are proud to say that that we have served hundreds of people with disabilities on the Cape over the last year and exposed many more via audiences to the wonderful talents of this population.

Cape Cod Collaborative Arts Network – CapeCodCAN! (www.capecodcan.org) is dedicated to providing opportunities for access, inclusion, and active participation in the literary, visual, and performing arts for people with disabilities on Cape Cod. Specific efforts are currently focused on inclusive art, music, theater, and writing programs. It has been proven that such an approach has tremendous benefits to the participants as well as the community as a whole. The Cape Cod Collaborative Arts Network is under the fiscal sponsorship of VSA Massachusetts (www.vsamass.org), which allows CapeCodCAN! to be treated as a charitable, non-profit 501©3 corporation, and receive tax deductible donations.

The genesis of Cape Cod Collaborative Arts Network – CapeCodCAN! dates back to Valentine’s Day 2005, when a little boy named Roan, 6 months old at the time, endured a brain and eye injury which changed his life and the life of his family forever. However, Roan was born with an indomitable spirit and a love of music which have endured and transcend his injury (he is now 7 years old). That spirit infects everyone whom he meets. It inspired his retired grandfather to look for volunteer opportunities here on the Cape. Attending a Brain Injury Association of MA meeting, being held at the Cotuit Center for the Arts, and asked what he would like to do, he mentioned outreach as a possibility, having both a theater and business background. When a young man at the meeting, recovering from a brain injury, heard the word theater, he said that he had been in a production at Cape Cod Community College several years before and that it had helped his memory, speech, and self esteem. This was the “AHA” moment, when sitting in a building dedicated to the visual and performing arts and hearing the impact such arts can have on people with disabilities, the idea of CapeCodCAN! was born.

Activities to Date include:
1. Broadway and Beyond – January 11, 12, 13, 2013, Cotuit Center for the Arts – a musical revue of song, dance, poetry and beyond…. Three sell out shows featuring nearly 90 performers representing 8 different Cape organizations. The show itself exceeded all our expectations and dreams. The warmth, joy, inspiration, and just wonderful entertainment from the show were felt by everyone in attendance: audience, performers and crew alike. 
2. The Beatles at Riverview – April 18, 2013, Riverview School – Co-Sponsored by Riverview School – Two performances, one during the day for Riverview students, one in the evening for CapeCodCAN! Associates, Families, and Friends featured Tom Kelley noted entertainer and Beatles’ expert, who provided new insights nto the FAB Four with stories, videos and song.
3. Broadway and Beyond Revisited – June 7th, Sandwich Town Hall – Co-Sponsored by Friends of Sandwich Public Library – combined video and live performance recreated the show that received such high acclaim in January. Sponsored by CapeCodCAN! and Friends of Sandwich Public Library.
4. Veterans Program of Video and Writing – One of CapeCodCAN!’s volunteers is working with the Barnstable VA in developing a writing group. We are also collaborating with a veteran and a videographer in a possible documentary or stage performance combing writings and videos of veterans.
5. Art is for Everyone – Fall 2013 – an 8 week program of art lead by Cape Artists at different locations around the Cape with all participants working to a common theme culminating in a unified exhibit.
6. 2014 Musical Revue – May, 16, 17, 18, 2014, Cotuit Center for the Arts – we have been invited back to CCFTA to produce another musical revue after our very successful Broadway and Beyond show.