Keeping the Arts at the Heart of Our Community

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 and enabling the expansion of its Education Department – a key piece of its mission and vision.

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.

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

As part of our continuing series profiling pioneering creative spaces in Buncombe County, we are highlighting Lexington Glassworks, a nationally-acclaimed center for glassblowing and lighting design that opened in January 2015.

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, and the North Carolina Arts Council.

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 entrepreneurs and artists.

Mark your calendars – ArtsAVL is thrilled to announce its 2024- 2025 grants cycle. This fiscal year, ArtsAVL will manage five grant programs: Arts for Schools, Arts Build Community, Artist Support, Grassroots Arts Program, and Event Support Grant.