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Webinar Series: Emergency Preparedness for Artists + Arts Organizations

by Arts Midwest

A group of adults stand in a circle in a bright meeting room, listening to a facilitator in the center who gestures as he speaks.
Photo Credit: VillaNovak Creative
Creative Writing Workshop warm-up with musician Harry Mann and attendees before public sharing of new work at an NEA Big Read event.

Join Arts Midwest and a group of field leaders for a free webinar series helping artists and arts organizations prepare, respond, and rebuild from disaster.

From fires to floods, emergencies can strike at any time. Being prepared can make all the difference when the unexpected happens.

In our free, four-part webinar series, Arts Midwest brings together experts in arts emergency readiness to help you strengthen your preparedness.

You’ll learn how to respond effectively and recover more easily so your creative work can keep moving forward, no matter what comes your way.

All sessions will be recorded and emailed out to registered attendees following each webinar, and added to this page.

Explore the Series at a Glance:

  • Disaster Response for Arts Organizations

    Wednesday, September 3 | 3:00 p.m. Central Time
    Featuring Professor Donia Conn of Simmonds University

    Click Here to Register 

  • Risk Assessment for Arts Organizations: An All-Hazards Approach

    Wednesday, September 10 | 6:30 p.m. Central Time
    Featuring Tom Clareson of Performing Arts Readiness

    Click Here to Register 

  • Emergency Preparedness and Business Insurance for Artists

    Wednesday, September 17 | 3:00 p.m. Central Time
    Featuring Cameron Baxter Lewis of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+)

    Click Here to Register 

  • Rebounding from Disaster for Artists

    Wednesday, September 24 | 5:30 p.m. Central Time
    Featuring Cameron Baxter Lewis of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+)

    Click Here to Register 

Disaster Response for Arts Organizations

A group of dancers in colorful costumes perform on a dimly lit stage, stepping forward with arms crossed tightly over their chests

Wednesday, September 3, 3:00 p.m. Central Time

Emergency response can be a daunting prospect for performing arts organizations. This webinar featuring Professor Donia Conn lays out the basic tenets of responding to an emergency, focusing on safety, assessment, and support. Participants will also learn about helpful resources for emergency planning.

Click Here to Register

Featuring

  • Headshot of a smiling woman with a light skin tone and shoulder length blond hair, wearing a blue polo shirt.

    Donia Conn

    Associate Professor, Simmons University

    Donia Conn is an associate professor at the Simmons University School of Library and Information Science and an independent preventive conservator for small and mid-sized cultural institutions, with over 30 years of experience.

Risk Assessment for Arts Organizations: An All-Hazards Approach

woman in a red hoodie speaks animatedly while seated on a gym floor with a circle of attentive high school students.

Wednesday, September 10, 6:30 p.m. Central Time

Learn about tools and activities that can help your organization prepare for all types of risks. Tom Clareson of Performing Arts Readiness will explore the full spectrum of disasters, from natural, human-made, and technological crises to “administrative emergencies” like funding cuts and succession or other staffing issues.

Click Here to Register

Featuring

  • Headshot of male with light skin tone and brown hair wearing a grey suit and blue shirt

    Tom Clareson

    Project Director, Performing Arts Readiness

    Tom Clareson is Project Director for Performing Arts Readiness, helping arts organizations protect assets, sustain operations, and prepare for emergencies, and for the Bay Area Arts Readiness Network, providing San Francisco-area disaster networking services.

Emergency Preparedness and Business Insurance for Artists

An artist wearing a blue bucket hat and patterned shirt paints bright colors onto a large abstract mural outdoors under a sunny blue sky.

Wednesday, September 17, 3:00 p.m. Central Time

This interactive session is for artists looking to protect the health and safety of themselves, their studios, and their art businesses. Whether you’re recovering from a recent disaster or looking to prevent one in the future, this training from CERF+ will help you secure your studio and get back to your craft as soon as possible.

Click Here to Register

Featuring

  • Headshot of a smiling person with light skin tone and short dark brown hair, wearing a blue blazer and checkered blue and red shirt.

    Cameron Baxter Lewis

    Director of Grants, Programs, and Training, CERF+

    With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit, volunteer, and disaster management, Cameron Baxter Lewis currently serves as the Director of Grants, Programs, and Training at the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), where he oversees emergency response and readiness initiatives.

Rebounding from Disaster for Artists

A dance instructor in a yellow shirt leans to the side with hands on hips, smiling at a small group of ballet students who mirror her pose in a studio with a wood floor.

Wednesday, September 24, 5:30 p.m. Central Time

Recovering from a disaster can feel overwhelming, especially for artists who may have lost tools, artwork, or their customers. Join CERF+ for a conversation on what to do in the immediate aftermath and how to plan your recovery in the weeks and months ahead.

Click Here to Register

Featuring

  • Headshot of a smiling person with light skin tone and short dark brown hair, wearing a blue blazer and checkered blue and red shirt.

    Cameron Baxter Lewis

    With nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit, volunteer, and disaster management, Cameron Baxter Lewis currently serves as the Director of Grants, Programs, and Training at the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), where he oversees emergency response and readiness initiatives.

Thank you to our series funder!