ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE ARTS RECOVERY FRAMEWORK
A Visioning Plan for Recovery, System Alignment, and Long-Term Cultural Infrastructure Development
Final Framework Coming Soon
The Asheville-Buncombe Arts Recovery Framework establishes a coordinated long-term strategy for strengthening the systems that support artists, creative businesses, cultural organizations, and cultural infrastructure across Buncombe County following Tropical Storm Helene.
The framework is designed to support recovery while positioning arts and culture as core economic and community infrastructure connected to tourism, small business development, workforce systems, public space, and long-term regional growth.
Rather than serving as a prescriptive implementation plan for a single organization, the framework provides shared direction for public agencies, nonprofit organizations, economic development partners, and community stakeholders to better align planning, investment, and long-term coordination across the creative sector.
Community Feedback
Thank you to everyone who reviewed the draft Asheville-Buncombe Arts Recovery Framework and shared feedback through the community survey, live polling at the 2026 State of the Arts Brunch, and written comments during the public review period.
Community feedback demonstrated strong support for the framework’s overall direction and recommendations. Participants consistently identified expanding funding opportunities for artists and creative businesses, creating more opportunities for local artists, and improving geographic equity in access to arts and cultural experiences as top priorities.
Feedback also indicated that the framework clearly communicated its vision and recommendations across all seven focus areas. ArtsAVL and its partners are now incorporating this input into the final framework, which will serve as a shared roadmap for strengthening the arts and cultural ecosystem across Buncombe County through coordinated planning, investment, and partnership.
About the Framework
The Asheville-Buncombe Arts Recovery Framework is designed to strengthen and better align the systems that support arts and culture across Buncombe County and Western North Carolina, recognizing that artists, creative businesses, cultural organizations, venues, public spaces, tourism, workforce systems, and economic development efforts are deeply interconnected. While many important initiatives already exist, they are not always coordinated through a shared long-term strategy, and this framework establishes a structure for alignment across partners, investments, and planning efforts while supporting both recovery and long-term cultural infrastructure development.
Strategic Approaches
Strengthen
Stabilize and reinforce the systems that support arts professionals, creative businesses, and cultural organizations.
Expand
Increase opportunities for participation, production, arts learning, and cultural experiences across Buncombe County.
Integrate
Embed arts and culture into broader systems including economic development, infrastructure, tourism, housing, and planning.
Implementation Timeframes
Short-Term (1–2 Years)– Initiate coordination, partnerships, and early implementation efforts.
Mid-Term (3–5 Years)– Expand systems, infrastructure, partnerships, and alignment.
Long-Term (6–10+ Years)– Integrate arts and culture into broader planning, investment, and economic development systems.
Focus Areas & Recommendations
Focus Areas & Recommendations
Arts Districts
Arts districts function as centers of cultural production, tourism, creative business activity, and community identity across Buncombe County. The framework recommends stronger coordination, visibility, governance, and integration into long-term planning and economic development systems.
Key Recommendations
- Build a collaborative network for arts district leadership
- Develop a regional arts district framework
- Strengthen visibility and connectivity across districts
- Integrate arts districts into planning and economic development systems
Public Art
Public art serves as civic infrastructure that shapes public space, supports placemaking, and reflects community identity. The framework recommends more coordinated planning, artist support, and integration with infrastructure and public space projects.
Key Recommendations
- Establish a coordinated public art system
- Expand opportunities for local artists
- Integrate art into public infrastructure and placemaking
- Develop a countywide inventory and maintenance plan
Arts in Park, Libraries & Community Centers
Parks, libraries, and community centers serve as important access points for arts participation, youth engagement, arts learning, and community programming across Buncombe County.
Key Recommendations
- Align arts with civic infrastructure systems
- Expand arts programming in civic spaces
- Enable civic spaces for creative production
- Expand geographic equity of access
Public Arts & Entertainment Facilities
Public arts and entertainment facilities serve as major components of regional cultural infrastructure and economic activity. The framework recommends coordinated planning, workforce development, and stronger integration with tourism and district systems.
Key Recommendations
- Coordinate planning for cultural facilities
- Support workforce development in live events and entertainment
- Define community benefit for public facilities
- Integrate facilities into district and economic systems
Creative Economies
The creative economy — including music, craft, and related industries — is a major driver of regional economic activity and cultural identity. The framework recommends strengthening infrastructure, workforce systems, production capacity, and market access.
Key Recommendations
- Integrate creative industries into economic development systems
- Strengthen music industry infrastructure
- Strengthen craft industry systems
- Invest in market access and regional creative industry growth
Live & Work Space for Creatives
Affordable and functional creative space is essential to sustaining artists, creative businesses, and cultural production. The framework positions creative space as critical long-term infrastructure.
Key Recommendations
- Improve access to creative workspace
- Support shared and flexible space models
- Advance creative workspace development and preservation strategies
Support for Arts Business
Arts businesses — including nonprofit organizations, creative enterprises, and independent arts professionals — form the operational backbone of the creative ecosystem. The framework recommends stronger coordination, expanded funding access, and improved business support systems.
Key Recommendations
- Strengthen coordination across creative business support systems
- Expand access to funding and financial resources
- Expand technical assistance and career development pathways
Implementation & Partnership
Implementation of the framework will occur through coordinated action across multiple organizations, agencies, sectors, and funding systems over time.
The framework is designed to:
- Align existing initiatives and investments
- Improve coordination across public and private partners
- Strengthen visibility into related work across sectors
- Support long-term recovery and resilience
- Adapt over time as conditions and opportunities evolve
The framework was developed through collaboration between ArtsAVL, Buncombe County Government, the City of Asheville, Explore Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Lord Cultural Resources, and numerous artists, organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders.
Implementation & Partnership
Implementation of the framework will occur through coordinated action across multiple organizations, agencies, sectors, and funding systems over time.
The framework is designed to:
- Align existing initiatives and investments
- Improve coordination across public and private partners
- Strengthen visibility into related work across sectors
- Support long-term recovery and resilience
- Adapt over time as conditions and opportunities evolve
The framework was developed through collaboration between ArtsAVL, Buncombe County Government, the City of Asheville, Explore Asheville, the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Lord Cultural Resources, and numerous artists, organizations, businesses, and community stakeholders.
Latest News
ArtsAVL Releases 2026 Creative Economy Snapshots for 28 Western North Carolina Counties
ArtsAVL’s 2026 Creative Economy Snapshots track jobs, sales, and recovery trends across the 28 westernmost counties of North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.
One Year Later: Survey Offers New Insights into Arts Business Recovery
One year after ArtsAVL awarded Arts Business Relief Grants, a new survey highlights the recovery of Western North Carolina arts businesses.
ArtsAVL Awards $665,000 to 65 Nonprofit Arts Organizations Across Western North Carolina
ArtsAVL awarded $665,000 in recovery grants to 65 nonprofit arts organizations across Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene.