ARTS ADVOCACY

The arts are at the heart of what makes Western North Carolina (WNC) an extraordinary place to live, work, and visit. Creative industries in the region generate over $1 billion in economic activity, support thousands of jobs, and contribute to the vibrant cultural fabric that attracts both residents and tourists.

However, recent challenges, including the devastating impact of Tropical Storm Helene, have significantly disrupted the region’s cultural sector. Nearly half of Buncombe County’s cultural assets have been temporarily or permanently affected, along with substantial damage to arts infrastructure across WNC. These losses echo the experiences of other disaster-struck communities, where the arts have proven critical to both economic recovery and community resilience.

Now more than ever, the arts need our advocacy. Together, we can ensure that WNC’s creative industries not only recover but thrive, contributing to regional revitalization and economic growth. Explore our ongoing initiatives, strategic recovery plans, and ways you can support this vital cause.

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Arts AVL Initiatives

Western North Carolina Arts Recovery

ArtsAVL continues to advocate for the recovery of the arts sector in Buncombe County and across Western North Carolina through a number of different ongoing initiatives. Some of these include:

  • Representation: ArtsAVL staff lead and participate in a number of recovery focused meetings, including the ArtsAVL Directors’ Roundtable, Arts Coalition, City & County Recovery Support Groups, County Business Recovery Response Group, Riverfront Leadership Roundtable, Asheville Chamber’s Policy & Advocacy Committee, Land of Sky Creative Manufacturing Project, WNC Arts, WNC Arts Recovery Team, Western NC Response Working Group
  • Assessments: Multiple surveys and reports have been completed for WNC and Buncombe County since the storm. Results are available at artsavl.org/reports.
  • Relief Grants: 
    • $500 Artist Stipends- ArtsAVL awarded 1,500 grants totaling $750,000 to WNC artists
    • $5,000 Arts Business Grants- ArtsAVL awarded 136 grants totaling $680,000 to WNC arts business (nonprofit and for profit)
  • Support Services: Mountain BizWorks’ Craft Your Commerce program is currently offering free one-on-one support, workshops, and other support series for WNC creatives.

CDBG-DR Funding Request

On April 8, Asheville City Council approved the City of Asheville’s CDBG-DR Action Plan, following extensive community engagement that elevated the urgent need for arts recovery. As a result of sustained advocacy, arts and culture were explicitly included as a priority, and ArtsAVL submitted multiple funding requests to address ongoing impacts to the sector.

One year after Hurricane Helene, the Western North Carolina Business Feedback Survey shows that Arts & Entertainment businesses remain the most likely to require recovery support. Many continue to operate below break-even and are experiencing ongoing revenue loss.

In response, ArtsAVL has applied to serve as a subrecipient of the City of Asheville’s CDBG-DR Small Business Support Program to help stabilize artists and creative small businesses as recovery continues.

A thriving arts sector is essential to Asheville’s economy, cultural identity, and long-term resilience.

Arts & Culture Block Grant Adjustment Request

In 2022, Buncombe County established the Arts & Culture Block Grant, providing $129,788 annually to support ArtsAVL’s grant programs and arts data reporting initiatives. Since its creation, this investment has supported 242 grants through ArtsAVL’s Grassroots Arts Program and Arts Build Community grants, while also funding ongoing arts and cultural sector reporting conducted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Riverbird Research.

The original block grant amount was based on a $0.50 per-capita investment, using Buncombe County’s 2022 population of 259,576 residents. Since then, the county has experienced significant growth. As of 2025, Buncombe County’s population has increased to 283,020 residents.

To remain aligned with the original intent and impact of the Arts & Culture Block Grant, we respectfully request that Buncombe County update the grant to reflect a current-year per-capita calculation, rather than a fixed amount. Adjusting the grant annually based on population would preserve the County’s commitment to a $0.50 investment in arts and culture per resident, ensuring that funding keeps pace with growth and continues to meet community demand.

Maintaining this per-capita approach will allow ArtsAVL to sustain and expand equitable grantmaking, support local artists and organizations, and provide the data and reporting needed to guide effective arts and cultural policy as Buncombe County continues to grow.

Buncombe County Arts Recovery Plan

Starting in July 2025, ArtsAVL in partnership with Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, Explore Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, and other arts partners will launch a countywide arts recovery planning process led by Lord Cultural Resources. The planning process will be completed by June 2026 and provide a 5 year roadmap for arts recovery across the county. The plan will focus on:

  • Arts & Cultural Districts – Develop models for zoning, governance, funding, advocacy, and potential district locations.
  • Public Art – Clarify multi-agency roles, recommend sustainable funding, and improve public art processes.
  • Arts, Parks & Community Facilities – Integrate artists and arts programming into parks and community centers.
  • Live & Work Space for Creatives – Advance affordable housing and workspace solutions for creatives.
  • Arts & Entertainment Facility – Identify community benefits for the arts from a new arts & entertainment facility.
  • Creative Economies (Music & Craft) – Provide targeted support for hardest-hit sectors and define ArtsAVL’s role.
  • Financial Support for Arts Businesses – Assess the local funding landscape and recommend sustainable funding strategies.

Arts NC Statewide Initiatives

Visit Arts NC’s Arts Action Center for all current calls to action. 

$10 million for the Arts in Western NC impacted by Hurricane Helene

Strategic investment grants prioritizing impact, ROI, and community health.

  • $1.2 billion in sales generated by Creative Industries in the 26 impacted WNC counties in 2022
  • 17,500 creative jobs, plus thousands of “gig” workers or extended proprietors in the 26 impacted WNC counties in 2022
  • Nonprofits have been excluded from many aid programs available to other small businesses.
  • Prioritizing the arts is essential for recovery as it was in Puerto Rico & New Orleans, which also rely heavily on tourism like WNC.

All Grassroots Arts Program Funding to All 100 Counties

  • 7 counties (including Buncombe) are excluded from a share of 40% of funds for Grassroots Arts as Tier 3 counties with populations over 250,000.
  • 5 counties were excluded over the last two years.
  • Johnston & Cabarrus will lose $70,000 each this year.
  • Forsyth and Guilford could be excluded soon if economic stress in
    WNC counties moves them into Tier 3 status.
  • This funding should be reliable, not based on shifting factors.

Close $6 million funding gap for NC Arts Council General Grants

  • $10,000,000 to fully fund statewide need.
  • Current state funding is less than $4,000,000, leaving a large gap.
  • 15 years without increased funding has hurt programs.
  • General Grants reach 96 counties through organizations & artists.
  • All General Grants are open to applicants in all 100 counties.

Make recurring $750k A+ Schools allocation from the last 2 years

  • Up to $500k match from a private foundation. (public-private partnership)
  • Recurring funding is needed to sustain the program.
  • Whole-school arts-integration-based reform model.
  • Increased teacher retention, grade-level proficiency, and school performance (especially for historically marginalized students).

Stop Fraudulent & Misleading Ticket Sales Practices

  • Require third party ticket resellers to be transparent, identifying themselves as resellers and no longer pretending to be the venue, promoter, or authorized by the seller.
  • Ban speculative ticket sales (selling tickets you do not possess).
  • Ban the use of “bots” to circumvent sales restrictions.
  • Ensure that resale buyers can access refunds for cancellations.

H418: Performing & Visual Arts Requirement for K-5 Public Schools

  • 1 in 20 K-5 students don’t have both Music and Visual Art.
  • Standards-based arts instruction by subject-licensed educators.
  • 30-minute standard size class, once every 5 instructional days each.
  • $250+ million for these teachers was allocated in 2018 but school districts are not following the intent on the NCGA.
  • Arts develop social skills & improve student outcomes research shows.

See full 2025 Appropriations Request overview.

Federal Arts Initiatives

Protect the NEA

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is undergoing significant changes in 2025 amid shifting federal priorities under the Trump administration. The NEA has canceled its Challenge America grant program for FY2026, revised grant guidelines to emphasize projects celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, and recently rescinded multiple FY2025 grants—affecting theaters, publishers, and arts agencies nationwide. These changes accompany a broader proposal to eliminate the NEA entirely from the federal budget, citing priorities such as supporting HBCUs, veterans, and AI initiatives. The abrupt grant terminations have sparked widespread concern among arts communities, who argue the cuts threaten the NEA’s core mission of supporting inclusive and accessible cultural expression across all regions of the country.

In Western North Carolina, the recent NEA grant terminations have significantly impacted local arts organizations. Five groups—including Asheville Creative Arts, LEAF Global Arts, the Asheville Art Museum, ArtsAVL, and the Penland School of Craft—received abrupt notices in early May that their federal funding would end by June 15. These terminations, part of a broader shift in NEA priorities under the Trump administration, have left organizations scrambling to adjust budgets and programming. For instance, LEAF Global Arts faces a potential loss of up to $90,000, affecting its festivals and educational outreach. Asheville Creative Arts, which had already utilized its grant for a children’s theater production, is appealing the decision, emphasizing the importance of diverse artistic expression in the region. ArtsAVL, responsible for distributing grassroots arts funding in Buncombe County, anticipates reduced support for local artists and programs in the upcoming fiscal year. These cuts not only threaten the financial stability of these organizations but also risk diminishing the cultural vibrancy and accessibility that the NEA has historically supported in rural and underserved communities.

Take action now: artsnc.org/act-now-defend-the-nea

Learn more:

Americans for the Arts

Visit the Americans for the Arts Arts Action Center for the latest news.