September marks the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Preparedness Month (NPM).
The goal of NPM is to increase public awareness about the importance of emergency planning. Simple steps include: obtaining an emergency supply kit; establishing a home or work emergency plan; understanding potential threats; and assisting in community preparation efforts.
The NPM's Coalition membership is comprised of a host of regional, state, and local organizations including Wal-Mart Stores, Target, The Home Depot, American Red Cross, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Environmental Protection Agency. You can learn more, view instructional videos, obtain sample marketing materials, and get great ideas at http://www.ready.gov.
Make time and take time as a gift to yourself or your institution to step away from the daily drive to produce art, market art, attend fairs, submit art to competitions, etc. Do you have an emergency plan? I mean, really? Your art, your studio supplies, your client's work, your years of curating records, or your gallery's lifeblood are all simply irreplaceable. Beyond recognizing the immediate impact of a disaster, let's also celebrate the tremendous opportunity to help the community of our art world before one strikes.
