Keeping the Arts at the Heart of Our Community

Arts & culture are often mistakenly seen as a “nice to have” extra instead of a vital part of the region’s ecosystem. And, it’s attitudes like this that will be detrimental to western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.

GBX Group, AIR, and ArtsAVL Launch ‘WNC Tip It Forward’ to Provide Relief Grants to Asheville’s Culinary and Creative Communities Following HurricaneNovember 25, 2024 | Asheville N.C. – In the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on Asheville and surrounding...

Our local arts sector has been decimated by Hurricane Helene, but is still showing up for the community we love in many creative ways. Our artists have turned rubble into public art, distribution centers into concert halls and concert halls into distribution centers, captured the beauty in our devastation, and given us the words to express our grief.

Monday, October 14, ArtsAVL launches its Emergency Relief Grant to meet the immediate needs of artists impacted by Hurricane Helene. The grant provides $500 relief stipends to arts professionals living in the 25 counties of Western NC impacted by Hurricane Helene. The grant is intended for individual artists working in craft, literary, media, performing, visual, and interdisciplinary arts. WNC Artists can go to artsavl.org/aid to view full grant guidelines and apply.

Between September 9 and October 14, eligible nonprofit organizations can apply for financial support for events that are free, open to the public, and permitted within Asheville’s streets, parks, and outdoor public spaces. Grants typically range from $3,000-$10,000, but the amount can vary depending on the organization’s needs.