Maggie Ullman

Office: Asheville City Council

Primary Candidate Survey Response

To what extent do you agree with the following statement? Please briefly explain your answer.

“Local government should play an active role in supporting arts and culture because of their impact on the economy, quality of life, and community recovery.”

Strongly agree – Local government should be a proactive partner through funding, policy, and planning

Arts and culture aren’t a nice-to-have—they’re core civic infrastructure. They power our local economy, support small businesses, and shape the sense of place that makes Asheville Asheville.

That’s why I’ve worked to make sure artists weren’t an afterthought in recovery—championing recovery grants so cultural workers could stay rooted here—and why I’ve pushed to rebuild the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium as a shared, public gathering space for our community. Especially after disruption or disaster, arts and culture help us heal, reconnect, and imagine what’s next. Local government’s role is to show up as a steady partner—investing in this sector so it can continue driving economic vitality, belonging, and a strong recovery for everyone.