Calling all culture vultures: The National Council on the Arts is set to kick off its 212th meeting on March 27, 2024, starting at a crisp 11 a.m. ET, with the doors wide open to the public. A livestream of the event will also be available for those who can't make it to the NEA Headquarters in Washington, DC, as detailed on arts.gov.

The Council, playing advisor to NEA chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, wears a big hat tasked with pouring over policy recommendations and funneling through grant applications, all this while Jackson runs the show. At the core of the meeting are two panel discussions aiming to dissect the beating heart of the nonprofit performing arts sector.

Under the moderation of NEA Theater and Musical Theater Director Greg Reiner, the first squad of panelists, featuring talents like Austin Opera's CEO Annie Burridge and American Repertory Theatre's Managing Director Kelvin Dinkins, will trawl through the murky waters of the sector's current challenges, some which have stuck around like a bad cold since before the pandemic. NEA Dance Director Sara Nash will meanwhile push the second panel to gaze into the crystal ball wondering where the future of live performance is headed, with insights from leaders including the Executive Director of the Chicago Sinfonietta, Blake-Anthony Johnson.

It's not only about tackling the now, though; the NEA, hitching a ride with the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, is playing the long game, as they look at ensuring the nonprofit theater and performing arts sectors aren't just a one-hit wonder but can hold their own on the sustainability stage. More tidbits on their strategies will be dropped in the coming months, signaling that the behind-the-scenes work is as gripping as what unfolds in the limelight – just without the fancy costumes and dramatic lighting.