Toe River Crafts Grand Reopening in Burnsville

ArtsAVL Awards $665,000 to 65 Nonprofit Arts Organizations Across Western North Carolina

First cycle of Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program reaches organizations in 12 counties

June 16, 2026 | Asheville, N.C. – ArtsAVL has awarded $665,000 in recovery grants to 65 nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across Western North Carolina, marking the completion of the first of two grant cycles in its Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program. Funded by the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund and Dogwood Health Trust, the grants reach organizations in 12 counties as the region continues its recovery from Hurricane Helene.

Grantees span the region’s nonprofit arts sector, with awards in Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties.

“Nonprofit arts organizations have often been overlooked in traditional disaster relief and recovery programs, despite the vital role they play in our communities and local economies,” said Katie Cornell, Executive Director of ArtsAVL. “Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene, many organizations are still rebuilding audiences, restoring programs, and addressing significant financial challenges. These grants provide critical support to help stabilize the sector and ensure arts organizations can continue serving their communities and contributing to the region’s recovery.”

The $1.2 million Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program, supported by $1,000,000 from the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund and $200,000 from Dogwood Health Trust, is structured across two grant cycles in Spring 2026 and Spring 2027.

“The arts are a vital part of Western North Carolina’s culture and economy,” said Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, President & CEO of the North Carolina Community Foundation. “These organizations help create vibrant communities and attract visitors. We are proud that the Disaster Relief Fund can help arts and cultural organizations continue their recovery and contribute to the region’s long-term resilience.”

“Arts and cultural organizations increase the vitality, health and wellbeing of communities across Western North Carolina,” said Mark Constantine, Senior Vice President of Community Investment at Dogwood Health Trust. “As our region recovers and rebuilds from Hurricane Helene, these organizations are building community, strengthening local economies and helping communities heal and move forward.”

Grant funds may be used to address a range of recovery needs, including staff and artist salaries, core operating expenses, facility repairs, programming restoration, equipment replacement, and marketing and audience outreach to counter ongoing declines in tourism.

Rare Birds Farm, a Madison County organization dedicated to fostering creativity, collaboration, and belonging among artists of all abilities, was one of those organizations caught in the economic repercussions of Helene. Libby Rodenbough, Arts Program Coordinator, said, “Rare Bird was extremely fortunate to have experienced minimal physical damage from Helene, but it was difficult to tell the story of lost income and momentum for our live event programming. This funding helps us maintain staff and cover essential organizational expenses as we rebuild our audience and expand our programming to be more resilient through future storms of all kinds.”

The Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program builds on ArtsAVL’s two previous regional relief grant programs launched following Hurricane Helene, which together provided more than $1.4 million in direct relief to artists, arts businesses, and creative professionals across 26 Western North Carolina counties. The current program represents a shift from emergency response toward longer-term recovery and stabilization.

This is true for Toe River Crafts, a nonprofit craft co-op shop that’s operated in Burnsville since 1974. “This award is a lifeline for Toe River Crafts, especially after losing everything in the flood,” said Deb Roberts, one of the organization’s working artists. “It allows us to stabilize our operations and continue supporting our local artists. It means we can keep going.”

A second North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund grant cycle is planned for Spring 2027. ArtsAVL is also a key partner in Asheville Recovers Together, a Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)–funded grant for for-profit arts businesses in the City of Asheville, as part of the City’s Small Business Support Program. Both of these programs further extend recovery support across the creative sector.

To see the full list of grant recipients and learn more about the Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program, visit artsavl.org/recovery.