Disaster Preparedness and Recovery: How Arts Organizations Can Re-Engage the Community Through Arts-Driven Initiatives After a Natural or Human-Made Disaster

Abstract

This thesis explores the impact of large-scale natural and human-made disasters primarily on communities across the United States, and how arts organizations can use arts-driven initiatives as a tool for disaster relief. Included in this analysis, is the look at some current relationship between arts leaders and administrators within nonprofit arts organizations and their communities, strategies for resilience, interviews with arts leaders who responded to disasters within their community by using the arts, and survey results with arts leaders and emergency personnel across the United States. These sources provide evidence to show that arts organizations and those living in the surrounding area(s), often experience multiple layers of loss because of large-scale natural and human-made disasters, including emotional loss. The research shows that arts organizations, through collaborative relationships across different sectors, can provide additional help by leveraging the power of the arts through comprehensive creative placemaking and proactive emergency disaster planning. This thesis discusses areas where arts-driven initiatives can be used as a relief tool to aid in the recovery of impacted communities. I have detailed key takeaways from arts leaders, nonprofits, and emergency relief personnel who have experienced and responded to disaster.M.S., Arts Administration -- Drexel University, 201