Photo Courtesy of Street Creature Puppets

ArtsAVL Announces Arts Business Relief Grant for Western North Carolina Arts Businesses Affected by Hurricane Helene

Arts Relief Grant Supports Craft, Visual, and Performing Arts Businesses

February 12, 2025 | ArtsAVL is proud to announce the launch of the Arts Business Relief Grant to support arts businesses in Western North Carolina that have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene. This grant program is designed to provide financial relief to for-profit and nonprofit arts organizations focused on craft, visual, and performing arts, including music.

Eligible businesses must have been producing high-quality arts programming or products for at least two consecutive years, operate with a minimum annual budget of $20,000, and be located within one of the 26 counties in Western North Carolina most affected by the hurricane.

Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to help businesses cover expenses such as salaries, artist fees, production costs, promotion, supplies, and facility operations. The application deadline is March 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

“Storm damage, prolonged service disruptions, and significant declines in business activity are severely impacting arts businesses across Western North Carolina,” said ArtsAVL executive director Katie Cornell. “We are doing our best to offer support during these challenging times, but additional assistance is crucial to prevent the loss of this vital economic engine and an essential part of our cultural heritage.”

This is ArtsAVL’s second relief grant in response to Hurricane Helene. Previously, in October 2024, the organization launched an Emergency Relief Grant for artists, awarding 1,500 grants of $500 each to artists across Western North Carolina. The primary recipient groups were Craft (29.7%), Visual Arts (26.9%), and Performing Arts, including music (25.3%). Key needs identified included funds for bills (78%), food and groceries (54%), and equipment replacement (41%), along with support for inventory replacement, home/studio repairs, and eCommerce transition assistance.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Focus on presenting or producing local arts programming or products.
  • Open to arts nonprofits, galleries (primarily supporting local artists), craft producers, and music venues.
  • Not eligible: Sole proprietors, or arts organizations part of municipalities, churches, school systems, or colleges/universities. NC artists may apply for the South Arts Southern Arts Recovery Fund opening March 19.
  • Minimum two years of producing quality arts programming or products.
  • Prior-year operating expenses of at least $20,000.
  • Located in one of the 26 impacted counties.
  • Demonstrate substantial impact from Hurricane Helene.

Eligible Uses of Funds:

  • Salaries, artists’ fees, production, promotion, and programming expenses.
  • Supplies, equipment, office expenses, and facility operations.

For more details or to apply, please visit artsavl.org/relief