About Us

Arlington Center for the Arts (ACA) is a community arts center devoted to the mission of inspiring joy, nurturing growth, and building community through a dynamic mix of classes, camps, exhibits, and special events. ACA provides opportunities for people to discover and express their own creativity and to appreciate the expression of others.

ACA was established in 1988 by a visionary group of artists, writers, musicians and educators as a place where artists could share their work with the community through educational and outreach programs.

Today, ACA is a vibrant community arts center and a cornerstone for the creative community in Arlington. ACA offers opportunities for people of all ages to discover and express their own creativity and to appreciate the creativity of others through a dynamic mix of classes, workshops, exhibits, performances and special events.

If you're new to ACA, we hope you'll visit sometime soon - you'll find a vibrant community of artists, arts lovers, and arts advocates dedicated to keeping the arts alive and accessible in our community.

ACA's Vision + Values

Vision Statement

ACA envisions itself as the heart of a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone has access to the arts and opportunities to create, connect, and celebrate in a safe and respectful space.

Organizational Values

The arts are essential to quality of life in Arlington and its surrounding towns, providing social, educational, economic, and aesthetic benefits that make our community a great place to live, work, and visit.
The arts must be diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible.
ACA plays an important role in developing and sustaining meaningful partnerships that are essential to the well-being of our community.
The arts create connections that foster joy and facilitate the exchange of perspectives, ideas and resources.
The arts are a powerful means of expression that encourage learning, compassion, and self-awareness, and can provoke change.
ACA has a responsibility to be a creative and dynamic leader, serving constituent needs with the training, resources, and support necessary to grow and evolve.

An Arlington Center for the Arts banner positioned outside of the ACA building.

Two campers smile while painting a cardboard box

Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion at ACA and In Our Community

Arlington Center for the Arts recognizes the importance and urgency of strengthening our commitment to social justice, as well as amplifying the work of organizations which are actively engaged in work that advances diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in Arlington and beyond. Recent developments in the fight for an equitable society reinforce our continued introspection and inform our practices moving forward.

Just in the past few years, ACA has made many strides towards DEAI at all levels of our organization, including but not limited to:

Joining the Mass Cultural Council’s Card to Culture program and Universal Participation (UP) Initiative
Increasing scholarship funding for participants in ACA’s paid programs
Making 10% of camp seats across all programs available for scholarship recipients
Expanding our free offerings
Assembling a 10-member Access Advisory Council in order to develop and implement best practices regarding accessibility in all ACA programs
Overhauling our hiring practices with Arlington’s DEI coordinator
Creating identity and activism centered programming for all ages
Hiring our most diverse cohort of new teaching artists
Increasing training and professional development for our administrative staff and semester/seasonal staff, including youth mental health safety certification
Hiring an Inclusion Specialist to serve the social-emotional needs of our campers throughout the summer camp season
Expanding our network to include collaborations with other community arts organizations in areas of need, such as free programming for seniors at the Arlington Housing Authority

However, ACA is also aware that this work is ongoing and requires constant introspection, humility, and a willingness to listen and retool based on the evolving needs of some of our most vulnerable community members. Additionally, ACA recognizes the important contributions of many local cultural and community organizations and offices which are directly engaged in DEAI work.

As such, below you can find a number of organizations working in Arlington with a focus on increasing access and inclusion within our community and beyond. We hope you’ll consider learning more about (and even partnering with and participating in) the important work being done by these organizations.

Local Partners in Access and Inclusion

Arlington Disability Commission
The Arlington Disability Commission works to raise awareness of the rights and needs of people with disabilities, and works for full inclusion in all aspects of community life in Arlington. Disabilities and impairments can include physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual, and other types of chronic disease.

Arlington EATS
Arlington EATS is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity by providing nutritious and culturally appropriate food in a respectful and compassionate manner. Arlington EATS Market (food pantry) is open every Wednesday and offers staple pantry items as well as fresh produce, dairy and meat to any Arlington resident in need.

Arlington Housing Authority
The Arlington Housing Authority operates several housing assistance programs which provide direct housing in government-owned developments or subsidized housing in privately-owned dwellings for persons of low or very low income.

Arlington Human Rights Commission

The Arlington Human Rights Commission's work is focused in three distinct areas: Responding to incidents of hate, bias and discrimination; Educating the community on issues through programming and events; and Community Building by partnering with groups in and around Arlington and encouraging community members to learn about common ties that connect individually to the people who make up our community.

Arlington, MA Rainbow Commission
The Rainbow Commission is a volunteer group of residents, appointed by the Town, to promote full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals and groups through affirming policies and programs, resources, advocacy and community building. The Town works to have Commission membership be equitable and inclusive. All are welcome to apply. Applicants who can bring experience and knowledge from communities not currently represented on the Commission would help the Commission better represent the wonderful diversity within Arlington’s LGBTQIA+ community.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Division of the Town of Arlington
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Division works to advance the Town’s
commitment to valuing equity, diversity and inclusion, and build a community where everyone is heard, respected, and protected. The DEI Division is a part of the Health and Human Services Department and includes three staff members: DEI Division Director, Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator, and ADA Coordinator. The DEI Division coordinates and supports the work of the Human Rights Commission, LGBTQIA+ Rainbow Commission and Disability Commission; facilitates training and educational opportunities for employees; provides guidance in advancing equitable policy changes; collaborates with Town departments to promote access and equitable engagement; and delivers community programs focused in racial and social justice.

Food Link
Food Link is an Arlington-based food rescue non profit that alleviates hunger, reduces food waste, and contributes to environmental sustainability. With the help of over 80 volunteer, we collect nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste from local grocers and cafés and deliver it to community organizations serving people in need.

League of Women Voters of Arlington, MA
The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization of people of all genders. We study and support issues, not political parties or candidates. The League encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We are fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice, and provide a forum for both sides to present their points of view.

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network
A young adult (nonprofit) resource center in Arlington that is open to any young adult from the ages of 18-26. A free resource and place to go. The Center was created by young adults for young adults and offers support groups, hot meals, and many resources.

The Children’s Room
The Children’s Room offers grief support services for children and families, for schools, and for community organizations. Services include peer support groups, parent groups, teen programs, and Family Night. Consultations and referrals are also provided. Groups and services for families are provided free of charge so that families have no financial burden.