Now Available: City Council Candidates Respond to ArtsAVL Survey

Seven candidates shared their stances on key issues for Asheville’s creative economy

February 19, 2024 | In advance of the 2024 primary elections, ArtsAVL surveyed the candidates for Asheville City Council on the local creative economy, asking them to share their thoughts on a range of topics and indicate their stances on key issues for local creatives. The full survey responses are now available as a resource for voters interested in candidates’ priorities for the creative community.

This year’s candidates for City Council are: Taylon Breeden, CJ Domingo, Kevan Frazier, Bo Hess, Tod Leaven, Iindia Pearson, Kim Roney (incumbent), and Sage Turner (incumbent). All candidates except Breeden responded to the survey.

Respondents rated their stance on each issue from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree, and had an opportunity to expand on their answers with additional comments. Survey questions included:

Would you support a local food and beverage tax to provide additional funding for the City’s arts and cultural services?
Context: While the City does have a 1% for the arts policy that provides some support for facilities, programming, and grants, these services are failing to reach their full potential due to maintenance and operation costs and understaffing. A food and beverage tax is a common funding stream many cities have in place to support arts and culture.

Would you support an initiative to create affordable artist housing and/or studio space in the River Arts District?
Context: Cost of renting is higher in Asheville than in any other North Carolina city, and residents are facing an ongoing affordable housing crisis, forcing many arts professionals to live and work outside of the city and county. ArtsAVL advocates for affordable live/work spaces for artists, and is currently conducting a Creative Spaces study to be released this May.

Based on your knowledge of this issue and the information that is available, do you believe it is time for the City to finally address this issue by fully renovating or replacing Thomas Wolfe Auditorium?
Context: Asheville City Council directed staff to explore two major redesigns of the historic space after it shut down in July 2023, resulting in an estimated economic loss of $20 million. Staff is expected to come back to Council with more fleshed out recommendations for renovation early this year.

Based on your current understanding or prior knowledge of Business Improvement Districts, do you believe Downtown Asheville would benefit from the establishment of a BID?
Context: BIDs are designated areas within cities or towns where local property and business owners collaborate to enhance the economic or physical environment, funded through self-imposed tax or assessment on property owners in the district. BIDs improve and promote areas through initiatives like beautification, cleanliness, enhanced security, marketing, and events.

Would you support the creation of Asheville-Buncombe County’s first Cultural Plan to support the preservation of our cultural assets, and the equitable and sustainable growth of the creative sector? Is there anything else you would like to share about a Asheville-Buncombe cultural plan?
Context: A cultural plan would provide a necessary roadmap to support Asheville’s continued growth for the social and economic benefit of the community. There has never been a cultural plan in place for Asheville or Buncombe County.

The survey also asked candidates to share their personal experience with the arts, including their artistic practices and recent arts events they have attended or with which they have been involved.

Full survey results and links to each candidate’s campaign are now available at artsavl.org/vote. Primary elections will be held on March 5, with in-person early voting happening now. Six candidates for City Council will advance to the general election on November 5.