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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.

Disaster Response for Arts Organizations

An announcement for a webinar entitled "Disaster Response for Arts Organizations" featuring Donia Conn on September 3, 2025. It is accompanied by an image of five dancers performing on a stage wearing flowing earth tones and crossing their arms in front of their chests with the audience behind them.

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. Watch to learn about helpful resources for emergency planning.

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

An announcement for a webinar entitled "Risk Assessment for Arts Organizations: An All-Hazards Approach" featuring Tom Clareson on September 10, 2025. It is accompanied by an image of a person with shoulder-length brown hair kneeling in a circle of youth, gesturing with their hands as they speak.

Watch to 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.

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

Cover slide for Emergency Preparedness and Business Insurance for Artists

This 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.

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

An announcement for a webinar series entitled "Rebounding from Disaster for Artists" featuring Cameron Baxter Lewis on September 24, 2025. It is accompanied by a photograph of a young woman with long hair moving her hips as she teaches youth in a dance class.

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.

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!