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Advocacy Update: Local Progress, State Stalemate, and Federal Setbacks for Arts Recovery

May 27, 2025— As Western North Carolina continues its long road to recovery from Hurricane Helene, recent decisions at the local, state, and federal levels are shaping the future of arts and culture in our region—for better and worse.

Local Progress

There are promising developments at the local level that reflect our community’s ongoing commitment to cultural recovery:
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  • The City of Asheville’s CDBG-DR Action Plan has been approved, unlocking federal disaster recovery resources for targeted use.
  • The Arts & Culture Block Grant—a crucial funding stream supporting creative sector initiatives—is included in Buncombe County’s proposed budget and is now secure.
  • Community voices are urgently needed to shape long-term recovery efforts. Buncombe County’s Envision Buncombe planning process is underway, and it’s vital that the arts are part of the conversation.
Take the Envision Buncombe Survey

State Stalemate

At the state level, the outlook remains uncertain:

  • Governor Josh Stein’s proposed Hurricane Helene relief package includes $10 million for arts recovery, recognizing the essential role of the creative sector in regional recovery.
  • However, the North Carolina House passed its version of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 (H1012) last week, and it does not include any dedicated arts recovery funding.
  • The House bill does include $5 million for grants to repair and renovate local parks, libraries, and museums, capped at $250,000 per award. While this support is welcome, it excludes the majority of nonprofit arts organizations and creative businesses, many of which were significantly impacted by the storm.

The bill now heads to the State Senate for consideration, and a formal call to action is coming soon to urge legislators to reinstate the proposed $10 million for arts recovery in the final relief package.

Act Now

Federal Setbacks

At the federal level, critical arts funding has already been cut:

  • All National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants to Western NC have been terminated, including a major grant awarded to ArtsAVL.
  • The NEA’s staff has been reduced by 50%, significantly limiting its capacity to support rural and disaster-affected communities.
  • In more hopeful news, Mary Anne Carter has been officially nominated as NEA Chair, which could signal future stability for the agency.

Read more:
BPR: Terminated Grants Leave WNC Arts Orgs in Limbo
Mountain Xpress: Local arts organizations hit by NEA grant terminations

Why This Matters

Arts organizations are still reeling from property damage, lost revenue, and disrupted operations. They are economic engines, cultural anchors, and key players in regional recovery. We must ensure they are not left behind.

The arts are essential to Western North Carolina’s comeback—and now is the time to act.