EVENT SUPPORT GRANT
Overview
Open Now
The City of Asheville Event Support Grant, administered by ArtsAVL, provides financial assistance to sustain and grow free, public events in Asheville’s outdoor spaces, including streets, parks, and plazas. The program is designed to preserve and expand public arts and cultural programming that celebrates heritage, diversity, and creativity, while also fostering community connection, resident wellbeing, and local economic vitality. Two levels of support are available:
- Event Support Grant (Regular): Typically awards between $3,000 and $10,000 to Buncombe County nonprofit organizations producing larger annual events.
- Rolling Mini-Grant: Provides up to $1,000 to support pop-up and smaller-scale events, with eligibility open to nonprofit organizations located in Buncombe County or for-profit businesses located within the footprint of the proposed event, helping cover City-related fees.
Together, these opportunities aim to increase access to the arts, strengthen Asheville’s cultural life, and keep public spaces active and welcoming.
Regular Application Process
($3,000-10,000+ Fee Waivers)
Eligibility, Priority, & Allowable Expenses
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
- The event producer must be a non-profit 501c organization in operation for at least one year at the time of application.
- At the time of application, non-profit organizations must maintain a physical presence in Buncombe County by conducting business and providing services within Buncombe County.
- All events supported must be admission-free and open to the public, permitted under the City’s Outdoor Special Event office, and conducted in person within Asheville’s outdoor public spaces.
- Religious organizations or churches are NOT eligible for Event Support Grants unless the programs are presented outside regular church services, engage the larger community, and do not contain religious content.
- The program must take place between January 1- December 31, 2026.
- Final performance report must be submitted within 60 days of the event date or last date in a series.
PRIORITIES
Proposals that increase exposure to the arts and promote a high quality of life for residents within the community through arts programming will receive priority.
ALLOWABLE EXPENSES
Grant funds are restricted for the following City fees and charges, also outlined in the Non-Profit Fee Calculator. Please review the City of Asheville Outdoor Special Event Guide for details on fees. For assistance with determining allowable expenses and completing the worksheet, applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a pre-application appointment well in advance of the grant deadline of October 14. Appointments may be scheduled with Jon Fillman, COA Office of Special Events Community Event Manager at the link provided in the worksheet.
- Application Fees & Alcohol permit Fees
- Property Use Fees
- Street Closure Permit Fees
- Temporary Use Permit Fees (Structural/ Electrical/ Fire)
- Transit Impact Fees
- Barricade & Cone Rentals
- Parking Closure Fees
Please note: No other City fees or non-City fees will be supported by grant funds.
Update for 2025-2026: Grant funding will no longer be dispersed on a reimbursement basis upon execution of the event. The COA will invoice ArtsAVL directly on behalf of the grantee for the final confirmed expenses. ArtsAVL will pay the approved expenses up to the total approved grant amount. Any expenses incurred above the grant amount will be the responsibility of the organization, and you will be billed by the COA for the overage.
2025-26 Timeline
- September 8, 2025 | Application opens
- October 14, 2025| Application deadline
- Late November 2025 | Awards Announced
- January 2026 | Event fees available for payment by ArtsAVL
- Dec 31, 2026 | All events completed
- 60 days after the conclusion of each event | performance report due
Application & Support Resources
Support Resources
Grant Guidelines (PDF)
Overview for Applicants (Video | Slides)
Please Note
- You may submit only one application per organization. If you are applying for multiple projects/ event series, you will submit a separate budget worksheet for each.
- All questions are required. We have turned off the required question feature to allow you to more easily navigate the questions, but you will lose points if all questions are not completed. Email is still required in order for you to be able to edit your application after submission.
- You will be allowed to continue to edit your application after submission until the October 14, 2025 at 11:59 pm deadline. Click submit to save your progress, and then access your application to edit via the link in the email sent to you.
- A copy of your responses will automatically be emailed to you after you submit your application.
If you need help with your application or have specific questions, email Rebecca Lynch at rebecca@artsavl.org. No phone calls, please. If you would like to discuss your application, please email us to set up an appointment.
Rolling Mini Grant Application Process
(up to $1,000 Fee Waivers)
Eligibility, Priority, & Allowable Expenses
ArtsAVL and the City of Asheville are piloting an additional category to the Event Support Grant: Rolling Mini-Grants. These grants follow the same Event Support Grant eligibility requirements, priority considerations, and allowable expenses guidelines, with the following exceptions:
- Maximum awards for ESG Mini-Grants are $1,000.
- For profit businesses are eligible to apply if they are located within the proposed event’s physical footprint (such as a street festival where the business is located).
- Organizations may submit a Mini-Grant application any time between September 8, 2025 and November 15, 2026 Applications must be submitted at least 45 days (60 days is preferred) prior to the event.
- Events may take place between October 22, 2025 – December 31, 2026.
- To expedite the approval process, the Mini-Grant application also includes the required questions for a City of Asheville outdoor special event permit application, allowing for review of your
- application for a OSE permit as well as the Mini-Grant at the same time.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
- The event producer must be a non-profit 501c organization or for profit business in operation for at least one year at the time of application.
- At the time of application, the applicant must maintain a physical presence in Buncombe County by conducting business and providing services within Buncombe County.
- For profit business applicants must be physically located within the proposed event’s physical footprint.
- All events supported must be admission-free and open to the public, permitted under the City’s Outdoor Special Event office, and conducted in person within Asheville’s outdoor public spaces.
- Religious organizations or churches are NOT eligible for Event Support Grants unless the programs are presented outside regular church services, engage the larger community, and do not contain religious content.
- Program must take place between October 22, 2025 – December 31, 2026.
- Final performance report must be submitted within 60 days of the event date.
PRIORITIES
Proposals that increase exposure to the arts, promote a high quality of life for residents, and spur economic activity in the local economy through arts programming will receive priority.
ALLOWABLE EXPENSES
Grant funds are restricted for the following City fees and charges, also outlined in the Non-Profit Fee Calculator or For Profit Fee Calculator. Please review the City of Asheville Outdoor Special Event Guide for details on fees. For assistance with determining allowable expenses and completing the worksheet, applicants are strongly encouraged to schedule a pre-application appointment with Jon Fillman, COA Office of Special Events Community Event Manager at the link provided in the worksheet.
- Application Fees & Alcohol permit Fees
- Property Use Fees
- Street Closure Permit Fees
- Temporary Use Permit Fees (Structural/ Electrical/ Fire)
- Transit Impact Fees
- Barricade & Cone Rentals
- Parking Closure Fees
Please note: No other City fees or non-City fees will be supported by grant funds.
Update for 2025-2026: Grant funding will no longer be dispersed on a reimbursement basis upon execution of the event. The COA will invoice ArtsAVL directly on behalf of the grantee for the final confirmed expenses. ArtsAVL will pay the approved expenses up to the total approved grant amount. Any expenses incurred above the grant amount will be the responsibility of the organization, and you will be billed by the COA for the overage.
2025-26 Timeline
- Organizations may submit a Mini-Grant application any time between September 8, 2025 and November 15, 2026
- Applications must be submitted at least 45 days (60 days is preferred) prior to the event.
- A final performance report is due within 60 days after the conclusion of each event.
Application & Support Resources
(Question PDF). Opens September 8, 2025.
Support Resources
Grant Guidelines (PDF)
Overview for Applicants (Video | Slides)
Please Note
- Submit one application per event.
- All questions are required. We have turned off the required question feature to allow you to more easily navigate the questions, but you will lose points if all questions are not completed. Email is still required in order for you to be able to edit your application after submission.
- You will NOT be allowed to edit your application after submission. We encourage you to prepare your answers and attachments offline in a working document, and then submit your application once you have everything ready.
- A copy of your responses will automatically be emailed to you after you submit your application.
- If you need help with your application or have specific questions, email Rebecca Lynch at rebecca@artsavl.org. No phone calls, please. If you would like to discuss your application, please email us to set up an appointment.
2025 Award Recipients
Arts 2 People’s funding will support the Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival, an annual, free all-day fair with music, art activities, local vendors, and a one night only theater performance. “This Event Support Grant will help Arts 2 People tremendously as we expand the Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival to incorporate all of Pack Square Park this year for the first time,” said Board Member Jim Genaro. “Thanks to the support of ArtsAVL, this year we will be able to host multiple music stages, a storytelling tent, and more local art vendors than ever before. We are very grateful for all the support ArtsAVL has shown through the years.
The Asheville Downtown Association will use their grant to support Downtown After 5, including the Community Concert series, and the Pritchard Park Summer Arts and Culture Series. “We are incredibly grateful to ArtsAVL and the City of Asheville for the Event Support Grant, which will help us continue to bring free outdoor public events to the heart of Downtown Asheville,” said Hayden Plemmons, Executive Director of Asheville’s Downtown Association. “This support is crucial for creating accessible experiences that engage and inspire our community. After such a challenging year, these events are an opportunity to reconnect, support local businesses, and showcase the creativity and resilience that defines Asheville. We look forward to welcoming both locals and visitors to experience the vibrancy of our city once again.”
Asheville Mardi Gras’ event grant will support the annual Mardi Gras parade – a zany, exuberant, family friendly outdoor downtown event in the dead of winter.
The Asheville Symphony’s funding will help produce Symphony in the Park, the annual, family-friendly community engagement concert held in downtown Asheville at Pack Square Park.
Blue Ridge Pride will use funding for their Annual Blue Ridge Pride Festival, an event of celebration and advocacy for the LGBTQIA2S+ community of WNC.
The Folk Heritage Committee will host Shindig on the Green®, an admission-free outdoor concert featuring traditional music, dance and storytelling of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
LEAF Global Arts’ grant will support the Boomtown ReLEAF FestAVL to celebrate the history & heritage of Asheville via pioneer leaders, innovators, architects, and engineers.
The YMI Cultural Center will fund the 43rd Goombay Festival, a three-day cultural event in Asheville, celebrating the richness of the African diaspora. Executive Director Sean Palmer said, “We are deeply grateful for the critical support that ArtsAVL has provided in helping us to relaunch our mission and programming. This funding is critical to shining the light on Afro-diasporic culture in our region. Get ready for a great time.”