In 2022-2023, Kentucky found itself reeling and attempting to recover from weather-related disasters across the state; first, from tornado damage in Western Kentucky and just a few short months later, unprecedented flooding in Eastern Kentucky. Both disasters, only a few years after the economic impacts from COVID-19 caused devastating effects to rural areas and especially artrepreneurs and art and cultural institutions across our state. With offices in every county, UK Cooperative Extension was poised to step up during and after these disasters to meet needs in those communities. One need that cannot be understated or overlooked is the preservation of a community’s heritage, culture and the objects and history that give people a sense of pride and hope as they rebuild.

CEDIK staff with University of Kentucky’s Community Arts Extension program used its reach within UK and KSU Cooperative Extension programs and through digital media to deploy a new publication series to guide a community’s arts and heritage organizations through disaster recovery.

The Community Arts Disaster Recovery Series compiles targeted information and resources for Kentucky's creative industries as they prepare for the unexpected, navigate the storms of disaster and wade through the aftermath of the recovery process.

Released in August 2022, the first article in the series, “Damage Assessment, Claims and Relief Aid”, de-mystifies the process of applying for disaster relief by collecting resources applicable directly to the arts sector in one place.

“Arts Preparedness” delivered in September 2022, focuses on preparing community institutions for the unexpected by encouraging disaster-readiness. This publication seeks to impress upon arts communities the need for emergency planning as part of their rebuilding process, encouraging a proactive, rather than reactionary approach to disaster recovery.

The third publication in the series issued in November 2022, “Arts in Health Disaster Recovery”, tends to the mental health and wellness of communities after disasters through art. Describing examples of artful ways of coping with the feelings that can arise in stressful situations, this publication informs communities how they can integrate creative solutions in disaster recovery to increase it's people's overall wellness.

These articles have resulted in a collaboration between CEDIK staff and UK Libraries Archivist on a 4^th publication, “Document and Artifact Recovery”, to be released in the coming months, that documents processes for triage, stabilization, salvage and repair of items. Additional collaborations on future disaster-related documents are planned.

The Community Arts Disaster Recovery Series articles result in better informed and prepared artists and art/cultural institutions across the state and Extension Agents that are better equipped to help guide their communities through the logistical and emotional difficulties of rebuilding after disaster.