Chicago Center for Arts & Technology

Chicago Center for Arts & Technology (CHICAT) is a nonprofit organization that provides free arts, technology, and career training programs to youth and adults on Chicago’s West Side. Founded on the Manchester Bidwell model, CHICAT empowers individuals through creativity, mentorship, and skills-based education that leads to personal and economic advancement. Youth programs engage teens in digital media, design, and fabrication—cultivating 21st-century skills through creative problem-solving and collaboration. Adult programs offer workforce training in high-demand fields such as medical coding, manufacturing, and digital design, promoting career pathways and stability. CHICAT’s Gallery 1701 showcases emerging BIPOC artists and connects community voices through exhibitions and civic engagement. By partnering with CLX, CHICAT expands its mission to bridge opportunity gaps, advance equitable access to creative technology, and amplify Chicago’s collective impact in arts education and innovation.