Emergency Preparedness Consultant/Circuit Rider Program 2020-2022

The Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) project seeks to improve emergency preparedness among performing arts organizations through advocacy and outreach. As part of Phase 2 of this project, the Emergency Preparedness Consultant/Circuit Rider program supports EPC/Circuit Riders working directly with performing arts organizations on a local level, providing expertise, training, consulting, and mentoring to staffs and Boards regarding effective emergency preparedness.

Following an application process, four organizations were selected to host EPC/circuit riders and receive funding support at the equivalent of a 50% FTE for 12 – 18 months during 2020 through 2022. These individuals supported all aspects of emergency preparedness for their area’s performing arts organizations, including risk and needs assessment, creation/updating of continuity of operations plans (CoOP) and other disaster response plans, on-site training, and response assistance.

The work of the EPC/Circuit Rider occurs simultaneously with other PAR project activities and makes use of PAR outputs, such as training programs and information resources. Typical duties of the circuit rider include the following:

• Communications with performing arts organizations in the area to raise awareness of the need for and value of emergency preparedness, including such activities as: presentations; site visits; conference participation; written communications through social media, listservs, blogs, newsletters, and/or other relevant sources.
• Provision of training programs for local organizations.
• Provision of locally relevant information resources to support emergency preparedness for performing arts organizations.
• Consultations with performing arts organizations about emergency preparedness, formally and informally, in-person and via email and telecommunications. Work may include facilitation of planning meetings, risk assessment, making recommendations about process and/or plan contents, and reviewing draft plans.
• Assistance when possible in local response and recovery efforts when emergencies happen that affect performing arts organizations.
• Encouragement and support for development and/or engagement of performing arts organizations in local emergency support networks.

The 2020-2022 EPC/Circuit Riders and their host organizations are:
- Melissa Amundsen ([email protected]), Midwest Art Conservation Center
- Jenny Filipetti ([email protected]), Folk Alliance International
- Nicole Grabow ([email protected]), Midwest Art Conservation Center
- Coco Kelly ([email protected]), World Arts West
- Daniel Ramirez ([email protected]), Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture

The project’s EPC/Circuit Riders for 2017-2019 were hosted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Intermuseum Conservation Association (ICA) - Art Conservation, International Association of Blacks in Dance, Houston Arts Alliance, and the Northeast Document Conservation Center.

For a look at the type of work the PAR Circuit Riders are doing, see Sean Ferguson’s article "Emergency Preparedness in the Arts: A Team Approach." Sean served as a consultant during 2018-2019 for the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, MA.