Funding Opportunity: Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery National Endowment for the Arts Deadline: Part 1 July 9 Disaster preparedness, response, and recovery work in the arts can take many forms, from readiness planning and training to community healing, memorial projects, technical assistance, and recovery support. The National Endowment for the Arts supports arts projects related to disaster relief, emergency response, and preparedness for artists and arts organ

March 12 marks the twentieth anniversary of the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER). NCAPER was founded in 2006 in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, when a group of arts leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. to address a critical gap. At the time, there was no coordinated safety net to support artists and arts organizations facing disasters. Cornelia Carey, Former Executive Director, CERF+ Led by Cornelia Carey, then Executive Direct

April 29, 2021 By Chris Soliz In these unprecedented times, with emergency situations seemingly occurring more than ever before, it is important for performing arts organizations and outdoor festivals to maintain an all-hazards focus when it comes to emergency and disaster preparedness. To stay ahead of the risk, it is useful to engage in continual risk assessment and mitigation projects accordingly. As the summer months are right around the corner, this means the wildfire r

February 14, 2025 By Performing Arts Readiness (Presenters from the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting’s Public Health Education and Health Promotion session on Health Innovative Practices to Improve Population Health) The Fires On August 8, 2023, historic wildfires devastated the island of Maui, Hawaii. Sparked by dry conditions, strong winds and aging infrastructure, the fires spread rapidly, leaving residents with little time to escape. The flames devastate

November 6, 2025 By Steve Eberhardt Weather hits. Power fails. Performers, staff and audiences get sick. When that happens, a simple plan saves time and money. Performing arts organizations are vulnerable to a variety of natural and human-caused disasters that can threaten their sustainability through harm to people, financial loss and damage to assets. Many have not developed emergency plans due to lack of capacity or uncertainty about how to start. New artificial intellige

A Steadfast Champion for Artists and the Arts With great sadness, NCAPER honors the life and legacy of Theodore S. “Ted” Berger, a visionary leader, trusted mentor, and tireless advocate for artists and arts organizations. Ted was a founding member of NCAPER’s Steering Committee at our inception in 2006 and remained a guiding presence throughout the Coalition’s growth, helping to shape our values and direction for nearly two decades. From the very beginning, Ted ensured that

Big News for Arts Preparedness: PAR Joins NCAPER We’re heading into a new year, approaching NCAPER’s 20th anniversary, and we get to share some genuinely exciting news: Beginning January 1, the nationally respected Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) project officially became a flagship program of NCAPER , and that’s a big deal for the arts preparedness community. Since 2017, with support from the Mellon Foundation and in partnership with arts and cultural leaders across the cou

NCAPER’s core activity is hosting Response Facilitation Calls for communities after disasters. These calls are initiated at the request of leaders in the affected area and help gather local arts and cultural responders, connect them with Steering Committee members and subject-matter experts, and lift community needs to the broader arts sector. They also serve as a hub for resources and service providers that can support those directly impacted. Over the years, we have facilit

December 7, 2025 By Steve Eberhardt Generative AI tools are becoming increasingly capable at helping people organize, analyze, and make sense of complex information. For many performing arts organizations, low-cost AI-powered tools are now within reach and unlock features that mak emergency planning more efficient and consistent. This article is the second in a two-part series on using AI for emergency preparedness. I wrote the first article, Enhancing Emergency Readiness in

Wrath of Katrina’ by Jonathan Hodge (Photo courtesy The Ogden Museum of Southern Art) This week marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane...

August 22, 2025 By Grace Albertson Say you've spent hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars to attend a music festival. You’ve either driven or flown hours, taken time off work, gathered and coordinated your friends, and likely been planning outfits for months to attend your favorite event of the year: Bonnaroo. Held on the idyllic location of a formerly family-owned farm in the luscious state of Tennessee, Bonnaroo represents a lot more than music to many of the attendees. For

Celebrating A Legacy As I prepare to retire from my role as Executive Director of the National Coalition of Arts Preparedness and...

Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes fresh resources to help artists and cultural organizations strengthen their...

Launching BAARN and Supporting Artists Through Crisis Recovery

November 12, 2024 By Leah Hamilton and Arden Barnes Introduction: Within seven months, Kentucky’s arts communities experienced two federally declared disaster events. On the evening of December 10, 2021, 18 reported tornadoes swept through Western Kentucky. One tornado tracked across 11 counties and was deemed one of the longest in US history. Then, in late July 2022, days of rainfall led to a thousand-year flood that devastated the Eastern Kentucky region. Credit: Eastern K