Kentucky Heritage Emergency Response Network

PAR Abstract Submission Project Title: Kentucky Heritage Emergency Response Network Abstract The Kentucky Heritage Emergency Response Network (KHERN), is a network that formed in response to the severe weather-related disasters in Kentucky over the past 2 years. The network is made up of representatives from Cooperative Extension, the Kentucky Arts Council, the Kentucky Heritage Council, UK Libraries, UK Arts Administration and the Kentucky Council on Archives to establish a comprehensive network of resources across state agencies to support individual communities, artists, and arts and culture organizations in Kentucky to address disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. KHERN’s mission is to provide resources and training to both Kentucky cultural heritage entities as well as arts organizations and individual artists, including the performing arts. As the network is in its infancy, this is an opportunity to create network goals and action plans that specifically include the performing arts. We are requesting $25,000 from Performing Arts Readiness/Lyrasis to launch this network and set measurable outcomes, goals, and trainings for the initial 18 months of network formation. Two core positions that will support the majority of the network’s development, include a faculty member in the Arts Administration department that specializes in emergency preparedness for arts organizations. Her position is stable on a contract basis with her academic unit, however, these funds will support a "buy out" of a portion of her teaching time from her department to invest effort into our first year to do the logistical work to launch and establish the network. This includes one-time efforts like drafting mission/vision statements, goals, and co-facilitating a strategic plan for the network to follow for the next 3 years. The other core position supporting this network is UK Cooperative Extension’s Community Arts Program Leader, who has worked closely with organizations in Eastern Kentucky recovering from the drastic flooding in July 22. This position is fully funded through Cooperative Extension, but a portion of these grant funds will be used for the time, technical support of the network, like purchasing the website domain and contracting website design for the initial buildout. The funds will also go toward marketing and advertising to artists and arts organizations across the state. After KHERN finalizes its mission/vision/goals and defines its network actions plans and network membership criteria, a series of trainings as well as targeted marketing and promotion events will be initiated. These efforts will communicate the network’s presence to arts and cultural communities across the state. As part of the targeted marketing, KHERN has a goal of increasing performing arts organizations on the core membership of the network by 20%. These initial network forming efforts are designed to take place over an 18 month period.