National Council on the Arts Public Meeting

The National Council on the Arts holds its 220th public meeting at the Perelman Theater on Thursday, October 29, 2026, starting at 11 AM. It's a session convened by the National Endowment for the Arts, and the agenda centers on NEA-supported projects and initiatives honoring America's 250th anniversary. There's also a conversation about how the arts can improve care for children with chronic illnesses, featuring the directors of two NEA-supported Research Labs: Girija Kaimal from Drexel University and Nicole Robinson from Akron Children's Hospital. NEA Chairman Carter will also give remarks.

The musical highlight is a presentation and educational performance of Our Jazz Story by the Keystone Jazz Septet, directed by drummer Marko Marcinko. The lineup includes Duane Eubanks, Nelson Hill, Bill Smith, Steve Rudolph, John Shannon, and Paul Rostock. The septet's appearance comes as the Keystone Jazz Orchestra is mounting a five-city fall tour celebrating Pennsylvania's jazz legacy, so this fits right into that broader push.

Between the jazz, the talk on arts in healthcare, and the discussion of the 250th anniversary projects, it's a morning that pulls from a few different directions. The Perelman Theater is in the Kimmel Center at 300 South Broad Street, and admission is free. The meeting starts at 11 AM on Thursday, October 29.