Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) Project (2017–2025)

The Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) project was a national initiative to strengthen emergency preparedness and disaster resilience among U.S. performing arts organizations. Launched in 2017 with funding from the Mellon Foundation and concluding in 2025, PAR has been hosted by Lyrasis in partnership with a consortium of arts and cultural heritage organizations across the country. PAR’s mission was to provide training, resources and support so that theatres, dance companies, orchestras and other groups could develop effective emergency plans and recover more quickly after disruptions. The project emphasized that readiness is key to resiliency: better-prepared organizations can respond to emergencies faster, resume performances sooner and minimize operational disruptions.

PAR Logo

History and Funding

  • Planning (2015–2016): The PAR initiative began with a planning phase after a Mellon Foundation-convened meeting in 2015. Lyrasis and its partners surveyed the field and confirmed that most performing arts groups lacked emergency or continuity plans. This research, supported by a Mellon planning grant, led to a 2016 white paper recommending a national preparedness program.
  • Launch (2017): Mellon provided a $2.5 million grant to launch the full PAR project in January 2017. During its initial 2017–2019 phase, PAR established core programs and assembled a steering committee of partner organizations (see list of Organizational Partners below).
  • Expansion (2020–2025): The Mellon Foundation continued its support with additional grants in late 2019 and 2022. A $2.3 million grant (awarded December 2019) enabled PAR to expand and extend its programs through 2022. A final $1.5 million grant (awarded December 2022) funded the project’s “Final Phase” from 2023 to 2025. These grants allowed PAR to broaden its offerings (adding new components like archival site visits and festival safety audits in 2023) and to continue serving the performing arts field up to its planned conclusion on December 31, 2025.

Major Programs and Services

  • Training and Outreach: PAR offered free webinars and classes for arts administration students, and shared conference presentations to raise awareness and teach emergency preparedness skills tailored to performing arts contexts. Topics ranged from risk assessment and crisis communication to active shooter response and pandemic planning, with on-demand recordings available.
  • Planning Tools and Resources: PAR developed tools to assist organizations in creating or refining their emergency plans. This included an online planning platform (dPlan.org), sample disaster plans, and a pocket-sized template for emergency contacts and procedures.
  • Mentoring (“Circuit Riders”): PAR deployed experienced emergency preparedness consultants as mentors to selected cities and states. These mentors provided on-site training, consulting and support for emergency planning and forming local networks.
  • Grants and Networks: PAR provided institutional emergency planning grants (up to $7,500) and network grants ($5,000–$25,000) to support the development of emergency plans and regional preparedness networks. These grants removed financial barriers and helped expand access to disaster readiness efforts across communities.

Organizational Partners

PAR was developed and carried out in collaboration with a national consortium of arts and cultural heritage partners. Key organizational partners included:

These partners contributed expertise, outreach and programmatic support to strengthen the project’s reach and impact.

Impact and Legacy

From 2017 to 2025, the PAR project significantly increased the disaster resilience of performing arts organizations. It delivered 314 free training sessions, awarded 149 grants and helped form preparedness networks in 22 communities nationwide. In 2023–24 alone, 38 organizations received emergency planning grants. The project also reached thousands of professionals through its website, training archive and tools. It emphasized equitable access to resources, especially for small, rural and BIPOC-led organizations.

  • The PAR project concluded on December 31, 2025, but its resources and lessons continue. Key tools, sample plans, and case studies were transitioned to the National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER), one of PAR’s founding partners. NCAPER will carry forward PAR’s mission, ensuring that U.S. performing arts organizations remain supported in emergency planning for years to come. Resources are available at the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER) website. Webinar recordings remain available through the Lyrasis Learning Library. 

Continuing the Work Through Lyrasis

While the PAR grant formally concluded in 2025, its influence endures across Lyrasis’ expanding support for libraries, archives and museums. The tools, training models and field-tested practices developed through PAR now inform Lyrasis’ consulting and grants administration expertise for members in areas of disaster preparedness, planning and resilience. Beginning in 2026, Lyrasis will adapt and extend this work, integrating PAR’s methodologies into our consulting services and related programming for Lyrasis Learning (free to members). This transition ensures that the knowledge built continues to benefit a wider set of organizations, helping Lyrasis members strengthen their own emergency readiness, continuity planning and community resilience. In this way, PAR’s legacy evolves into a sustainable, sector-wide resource that advances Lyrasis’ mission, enhances our value and supports cultural memory institutions long into the future.

Image of violinist