Arts Disaster and Crisis Preparedness Conference 2026

The arts are increasingly recognized for their role in supporting disaster readiness, response and recovery. Beyond their contributions to economic recovery and tourism, arts and cultural programming can also play a meaningful role in communities’ social and emotional recovery. The arts can bring people together, restore a sense of normalcy, and offer offer ways to express experiences that may be difficult to put into words. They can also create space to share stories, honor loss, and reconnect with cultural identity and community strengths. In recent years, the National Endowment for the Arts has broadened its focus on disaster programming. This work includes community-based projects, cross-sector collaboration with state and local partners, and the development of a toolkit designed to help artists, cultural organizations, community leaders, and military-connected organizations integrate the arts into their communities’ cultural, social, and emotional recovery. Much of this work has occurred in partnership with Creative Forces: NEA Military Healing Arts Network, which brings expertise from over a decade of trauma-informed work with military connection populations, both in healthcare and in the broader communities where they live.


This panel will share insights from these initiatives, including Creative Forces’ disaster pilot, which is being explored in multiple communities. The discussion will highlight work from the Appalachian region, and particularly Western North Carolina, to illustrate how these approaches supported communities following Hurricane Helene. Panelists will discuss lessons learned from implementing arts and culture initiatives in rural disaster-affected communities, including building local partnerships, supporting cultural continuity, and creating spaces for connection and collective meaning-making. Panelists will also discuss key lessons learned, including the importance of building relationships across sectors, working in ways that align with local culture and strengths, and adapting approaches to community contexts. The discussion will highlight how creative engagement can complement existing disaster efforts and contribute to more connected, responsive systems of care. Together, this panel will explore how arts and culture can move from being viewed as an optional addition to disaster work toward being recognized as an integral part of how communities support one another through disruption and change.