Grassroots Arts Program Grant Recipient Asheville Music School’s Fiddle Squad Arts AVL to Receive $75,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts Federal Support Strengthens ArtsAVL Grant Program for Local Arts Nonprofits May 15, 2024 | (Asheville, NC)—ArtsAVL is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $75,000. This grant will be regranted by ArtsAVL through the Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) grant. In total, the NEA will award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $37 million as ..read more

Arts for Schools Grant Now Open Buncombe County Nonprofit Arts Organizations and Teaching Artists Invited to Apply for 2024-25 Arts for School Grant May 14, 2024 | ArtsAVL announces that the Arts for Schools Grant is now open for applications. The grant supports nonprofit arts organizations and qualified teaching artists in Buncombe County providing arts-focused performances, workshops, residencies, and field trips for students in public schools from grades K-12. For a limited time, this grant will also include support for arts focused afterschool and camp programs. Grants range from $500-5 ..read more

ArtsAVL Executive Director presents report findings at Town Hall on May 10 Arts AVL Releases the Creative Spaces Report The comprehensive report details creative workspace challenges – and possible ways forward May 13, 2024 | The results of ArtsAVL’s comprehensive Creative Spaces study are out now. Over the last year, ArtsAVL has surveyed and interviewed over 500 arts professionals and businesses to better understand the space challenges facing the local arts sector. “ArtsAVL is constantly listening to the needs of our creative community, and over the last few years we have heard growing ..read more

Rock Pyle rehearsal space, mural by Kathryn Crawford | Courtesy of RadHaus Studios RadHaus Studios Brings Affordability and Aesthetics to Rehearsing and Recording The founder of the new space envisions an incubator for area artists April 30, 2024 | As part of our continuing series profiling pioneering creative spaces in Buncombe County, we are highlighting RadHaus Studios, a new visual and audio recording and rehearsal space located in East Asheville on the grounds of Highland Brewing Company (12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Ste. 10). RadHaus opened on March 30, 2024, offering affordable spaces fo ..read more

Photo of Partially Completed Renovation, Courtesy of Asheville Community Theatre Asheville Community Theatre Opens Up to Possibility A major renovation of the theatre’s lower level creates more opportunities for education and rehearsal space – and has a ripple effect April 22, 2024 | As part of our continuing series profiling pioneering creative spaces and the challenges faced by artists in Asheville and Buncombe County, we are highlighting Asheville Community Theatre (ACT), which opened its newly renovated lower level in December of 2023, creating additional rehearsal and education space ..read more

Photo courtesy of White Horse Black Mountain Black Mountain’s Collaborative Creatives In the town of Black Mountain, arts organizations are innovating to ensure sustainability and cooperation over scarcity and competition April 15, 2024 | As part of our continuing series profiling pioneering creative spaces and the challenges faced by artists in Asheville and Buncombe County, we are highlighting Black Mountain. Located east of Asheville, Black Mountain is home to just over 8,000 residents, and is a top travel destination in Western North Carolina. The area’s connection to the arts runs de ..read more

Photo courtesy of River Arts District Artists The River Arts District Reckons with Sustainability Booming development and rising rents are displacing the artists who call the RAD home – but the creative community is working together to ensure its future April 10, 2024 | As part of our continuing series profiling pioneering creative spaces and the challenges faced by artists in Asheville and Buncombe County, we are highlighting the River Arts District (RAD). A draw for locals and an estimated 12.5 million visitors a year, the RAD counts almost 300 artists across 23 buildings and 2 square ..read more

Symphony in the Park, photo by Madeline Womack courtesy of Asheville Symphony Mark Your Calendars for these ArtsAVL Grant Supported Events ArtsAVL’s grants provide crucial funding for arts programs across Buncombe County March 19, 2024 | ArtsAVL is proud to support many local events and initiatives through our five grant programs in partnership with the City of Asheville, Buncombe County Government, the North Carolina Arts Council, and other private sponsors. These represent a diverse cross-section of offerings from our local creative community, including historic walking tours, dance and ..read more

Blue Note Junction rendering | Alliance Architecture Blue Note Junction’s Sustainable Community Vision Asheville’s first community-owned real estate project supports BIPOC artists and entrepreneurs March 19, 2024 | What does a successful, sustainable creative space look like in Buncombe County? As part of the Creative Spaces Report, ArtsAVL is excited to showcase profiles of local creative spaces responding to a critical lack of affordable living and work space in Buncombe County. The first in the series is Blue Note Junction, a community health and business incubator dedicated to BIPOC en ..read more

Select FY24 grant recipients from left to right: Wortham Center for the Performing Arts’ All for Kids program; Shiloh Community Association’s Pollinator mural; musician Hannah Kaminer’s new studio album, “Heavy on the Vine;” Umoja Health, Wellness and Justice Collective’s “Hope 4 the Future: Transforming Lives through Hip-Hop and Healing” documentary; and Asheville Downtown Association’s Downtown After 5 series. Photos courtesy of grant recipients. ArtsAVL Announces the Grant Cycle for Fiscal Year 2025 Multiple funding opportunities available for arts organizations and individual artists M ..read more