National Council on the Arts Public Meeting-May 2026

The 219th meeting of the National Council on the Arts took place on on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts. This meeting focused on the impact of natural disasters, such as Hurricane Helene, on the arts sector as well as how the arts can be incorporated into recovery and revitalization efforts, strengthening local economies and supporting the health and well-being of impacted individuals. In addition to remarks by National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter, the meeting includes several presentations: a panel discussion about federal, state, and local efforts around disaster preparation and recovery for artists and arts organization; a conversation about Clay & Camaraderie, ceramics workshops at Veterans Healing Farm for veterans and military-connected individuals affected by the hurricane, supported by Creative Forces®: NEA Military Healing Arts Network; and a demonstration on LEAF Global Arts’ artist residencies, supported by the Arts Endowment. The National Council on the Arts advises the chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Mary Anne Carter, who also chairs the Council, on agency policies and programs, and reviews and makes recommendations to the chair on applications for grants, funding guidelines, and leadership initiatives. Learn more about the National Endowment for the Arts' support of disaster readiness and recovery for the arts and culture sector at arts.gov/ReadinessAndRecovery