Arts, Culture, the Story

A post-Katrina community recovery model and emergency preparedness tools

Tuesday, October 23, 10:00am – 11:30am

Organized by Janet Newcomb, executive director, National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response; and Tom Clareson, senior consultant for Digital & Preservation Services, LYRASIS.

Moderated by Tom Clareson, senior consultant for Digital & Preservation Services, LYRASIS. Presented by Janet Newcomb, executive director, National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response; Malcolm White, executive director, Mississippi Arts Commission; and Abigail Choudhury, program associate, Arts and Cultural Heritage, Andrew W. Mellow Foundation.

No community’s recovery from disaster (natural or human-caused) is whole without the complete recovery of its arts, culture, and story. The post-Katrina recollections of Malcolm White describe how the Mississippi Arts Commission listened and responded to their artists and cultural community members; it was these stories that became the driving force and mantra for recovery and healing, and that are evident to this day. Funders, public and private, are critical players in the emerging practice of arts preparedness and recovery. Above and outside of financial investment, grantmakers must learn how to advocate for the needs of artists and arts organizations during community preparedness planning; to insist that their constituents improve their resiliency; and to be ready to lead community recovery through arts and culture. Hear Malcolm’s story first-hand, and how and why The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has funded a national collaborative model that supports cultural communities during the recovery phase - and currently assists areas impacted by 2017’s “perfect storm” of disasters. The model includes online planning tools for building the capacity of arts and cultural organizations in preparation for emergencies, crises, and disruptions – tools ready for you and your constituents to begin using immediately.