Image from the 2022 State of the Arts Brunch
State of the Arts Brunch returns to The Orange Peel
This year’s State of the Arts Brunch celebrates Asheville’s arts community
September 12, 2023 | Asheville N.C – Local arts advocates can now reserve tickets ($75) for the 2023 State of the Arts Brunch, taking place Monday, October 30 from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. at The Orange Peel in downtown Asheville. Hosted by ArtsAVL, the brunch provides a critical snapshot of the current state of our creative sector. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate and activate our local creative community.
The brunch offers not only the opportunity to connect with area artists and arts organizations, but also to learn and share resources and information at a critical time for Asheville and Buncombe County. ArtsAVL’s Executive Director Katie Cornell will share the State of the Arts Address – a report on the present and future of the arts in Asheville and Buncombe County. The update will highlight topics including the 2023 Creative Economy Report and the just-released Arts and Economic Prosperity Report, an impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in the U.S. conducted approximately every five years. This report gauges the economic impact of spending by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and the event-related spending by their audiences.
City of Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and Buncombe County Commissioner Vice Chair Terri Wells will also share remarks about how the City and County support arts and culture. The Mayor will share an update on the path forward for the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. That space was the topic of ArtsAVL’s first Town Hall on Monday, August 21. Check out ArtsAVL’s coverage of the event here, and watch the recording of the presentation and panel here.
Brian and Gail McCarthy, founders of Highwater Clays and Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts and key members of the River Arts District, will be presented with the John Cram Arts Leadership Award (the “Crammy”), honoring their contribution to the arts in Asheville. The McCarthys will also announce their choice of local arts-based nonprofit organization or community project to receive an ArtsAVL grant of $1,000.
Attendees will enjoy a hearty, family-style brunch spread from 67 Biltmore. This year, the brunch returns to the Orange Peel (101 Biltmore Ave.), one of the premier performance venues in downtown Asheville.
“If you care about the arts in our area, this is the event for you,” said Katie Cornell, Executive Director of ArtsAVL. “This is Asheville’s creative pulse check with exciting announcements, a delicious meal, and great conversation – you won’t want to miss it!”
Ticket sales will support the ArtsAVL’s mission to keep the arts at the heart of our community. Table sponsorship is available beginning at $2,500. Other opportunities to support ArtsAVL and, by extension, the local arts community, are available as well.
Reserve your ticket here. The early bird ticket price ($75) will be available through Sept. 30. On Oct. 1, general admission tickets will be available for $100.
If you are interested in reserving a table, and/or have dietary restrictions or other questions, email us at hello@artsavl.org.