Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Mary Anne Carter and members of the National Council on the Arts (NCA) will gather in Asheville and Marshall, North Carolina, May 5-6, 2026, for their next meeting. Through site visits and a public meeting, the council will explore the impact of natural disasters 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 and communities. In addition, the Arts Endowment will host a grants workshop for potential applicants to learn more about federal, regional, and state opportunities.
“The National Endowment for the Arts has a long history of supporting communities in preparing for and recovering from natural disasters, recognizing that artists and arts organizations are often some of the most vulnerable populations in that situation,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “We look forward to visiting Western North Carolina to further understand the impact of Hurricane Helene, see firsthand the enormous strides they have made in their recovery, and learn how we can continue to support long-term efforts. This experience will help inform our agency’s ongoing commitment to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities.”
Public Meeting of the National Council on the Arts. This meeting is open to the public; reserve seats on the Wortham Center’s website. The meeting will also be available through a live webcast at arts.gov (no advanced registration required).
In addition to remarks by Chairman Carter, this meeting will include 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.
Location: Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, Diana Wortham Theatre, 18 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
About the National Council on the Arts
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.
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the Arts Endowment fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Visit arts.gov to learn more.