Connecticut Center for Arts and Technolo

About Connecticut Center for Arts and Technolo

Bill Strickland built the Manchester Bidwell Corporation (MBC) in Pittsburg on the philosophy that “Every human being, despite the circumstances of his or her birth, is born full of potential, and that the way to unlock that potential is to place individuals in a nurturing environment and expose them to the kind of stimulating and empowering creative experiences that feed the human spirit.” From this vision, the National Center for Arts & Technology (NCAT) was born.  In 2012, Connecticut’s non-profit affiliate, Connecticut Center for Arts & Technology (ConnCAT) opened its doors in the Science Park neighborhood of New Haven.  The center provides market relevant career training programs in the health sciences and culinary arts to the under-employed and unemployed, as well as after-school arts programming for low- to moderate-income urban youth at risk of dropping out of school.  ConnCAT’s mission is to inspire, motivate, and prepare youth and adults for educational and career advancement, through after-school arts, and job training programming.   Organizational goals reach far beyond ConnCAT’s educational programs, fostering creativity and teaching job skills. Focusing on the whole person is the primary goal. Beyond providing practical knowledge, ConnCAT aims to foster individual growth, encourage confidence, and equip all graduates with the expertise and tools needed for long-term careers, to disrupt the cycle of poverty—and better lives.