Reports
ArtsAVL is committed to advocating for Buncombe County’s creative sector through comprehensive research and reporting initiatives. These efforts highlight the economic and social contributions of the arts while offering valuable insights into trends and challenges within the local creative industry. By leveraging data, we can better support the artists, organizations, and cultural enterprises that enrich our community.
Arts reporting is essential for demonstrating the arts’ economic impact—such as job creation, tourism revenue, and local spending—while also showcasing their role in improving quality of life and fostering community connection. It helps identify challenges facing the sector and enables ArtsAVL to develop targeted programs and advocate effectively for resources. By using evidence-based insights, we strengthen our ability to engage policymakers, funders, and stakeholders in supporting the creative sector’s growth and resilience.
Key initiatves for 2025 will be a new music industry study for the Asheville Area, a WNC craft supply chain study, and countywide cultural plan for Buncombe County.
Hurricane Helene
Since September 2024, ArtsAVL has placed a strong emphasis on understanding the effects of Hurricane Helene on the arts communities of Buncombe County and the broader Western North Carolina region. This devastating storm significantly impacted artists, venues, and organizations, disrupting their ability to create, perform, and engage with the community. Our ongoing research seeks to document these challenges and provide a clear picture of the storm’s impact on the creative sector.
Looking ahead to 2025, ArtsAVL will continue to deepen its analysis of Hurricane Helene’s long-term effects while using this data to inform recovery efforts. By prioritizing thoughtful planning and collaboration, we aim to position the arts as a central driver of local recovery and resilience. Through these initiatives, ArtsAVL seeks to ensure that creativity not only survives but thrives as a cornerstone of Buncombe County’s identity and economy.
REPORTS
COMING SOON
Buncombe County Cultural Asset Map
ArtsAVL Arts Business Relief Grant Overview
SUPPORT SERVICES FOR CREATIVES ASSESSMENT (Feb 2025)
Arts AVL Emergency Relief Grant Overview (Dec 2024)
WESTERN NC ARTS RECOVERY ONE-PAGER (Dec 2024)
Buncombe County Arts Business Needs Assessment (Nov 2024)
WESTERN NC CREATIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT (Oct 2024)
Creative Economy
Buncombe County’s vibrant creative economy spans across 8 sectors, accounting for $1 billion in annual sales and supporting nearly 8,500 jobs. ArtsAVL, in partnership with Riverbird Research at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, works to monitor the impact and health of the local creative industry. This collaboration provides data-driven insights that inform advocacy efforts and resource allocation, ensuring that the region’s creative economy continues to thrive and grow.
The creative economy is broad and diverse, encompassing a wide range of industries and activities, making it difficult to define in a singular way. This report, however, focuses on the creative economy through the lens of an arts agency, intentionally narrowing its scope to industries and occupations that fall within the agency’s sphere of influence. By concentrating on these specific areas, the report aims to provide a more targeted and practical approach to understanding and supporting the region’s creative sector. This focused perspective allows for the development of actionable strategies that directly benefit local artists, organizations, and the broader community.
REPORTS
2022 Creative Economy Snapshot (Oct 2023)
2019- 23 Creative Economy Comparison (May 2023)
2019-22 Creative Jobs Pandemic Report (August 2022)
2019-22 Creative Jobs Pandemic Infographic (August 2022)
2015-19 Creative Jobs Pre-Pandemic Report (May 2021)
Cultural Plan
In 2025, ArtsAVL will spearhead an initiative to develop Buncombe County’s first cultural plan, in collaboration with local governments, community leaders, and arts organizations. The cultural plan will work to integrate arts and culture more fully into the community, aligning with local needs, aspirations, and strengths. By creating a comprehensive roadmap, the plan aims to enhance cultural assets and foster deeper community engagement. This is especially crucial in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which caused significant damage to the region’s cultural infrastructure.
In response to the hurricane’s aftermath, the cultural plan will focus on a five-year arts recovery strategy, with the planning process set to begin in July 2025. This recovery plan will prioritize rebuilding and revitalizing the creative sector, addressing immediate needs, and ensuring long-term sustainability. Arts and culture are a cornerstone of what makes Western North Carolina a desirable place to live, work, and visit. These industries are vital to the region’s economic recovery, the retention of residents, and the return of tourism.
Cost of Living
Asheville is more expensive than 98% of other North Carolina cities, with rents having risen by 41.7% since 2020, making it the most expensive place to rent in the state. The cost of living for creatives in Asheville presents a growing challenge, fueled by rising housing, transportation, and utility costs. Buncombe County’s living wage in 2022 was calculated at $24.61 per hour, significantly higher than the median earnings of $21.06 for creative occupations in the area. This wage disparity means that most local creatives face difficulty covering basic expenses, forcing many to seek supplemental income, reduce their artistic output, or leave the area altogether. Self-employed and freelance artists are particularly affected, as they often lack access to benefits like affordable healthcare or retirement savings, which further exacerbates their financial instability.
Beyond wages, the availability and affordability of creative workspaces add to the financial strain. Many artists and makers struggle to find affordable studio, rehearsal, or retail spaces, as rising property values and rental rates outpace their earnings. These financial pressures not only hinder creatives’ ability to sustain their livelihoods but also threaten the cultural vitality of the Asheville region. Addressing these cost-of-living challenges is critical to ensuring that Asheville remains a thriving hub for artists and the creative economy. Without meaningful intervention, the community risks losing the very artists that make Asheville a unique and dynamic place.
REPORTS
Creative Spaces Report (May 2024)
Buncombe County Creative Wage Infographic (2020)
Buncombe County Creative Wage Earnings Table (2020)
Asheville Arts Market Study (2018)
Craft Industry
The Upscaling Creative Manufacturing initiative is a collaborative effort to elevate Western North Carolina’s craft industries by addressing challenges and capitalizing on the region’s rich craft heritage. Spearheaded by the Land of Sky Regional Council, Craft Your Commerce at Mountain BizWorks, Center for Craft, ArtsAVL, and other partners, the project builds on a legacy of craftsmanship rooted in Appalachian traditions. The initiative began with a planning phase from 2021 to 2023, which produced the Creative Manufacturing Sector Development Plan, identifying key assets like community support, creative culture, and the region’s craft reputation, alongside challenges such as high operating costs and limited infrastructure.
Phase 2 of the initiative, launched in 2024, focuses on implementing recommendations to strengthen the craft ecosystem. This includes expanding entrepreneurial training, facilitating growth funding, increasing market access, and fostering shared spaces and equipment. Additionally, efforts are underway to grow a creative manufacturing business network and build a nationally recognized brand for WNC craft products. Through continued research, advocacy, networking, and marketing initiatives, the project seeks to create a sustainable, scalable framework for craft artisans while transforming raw and reclaimed materials into finished goods that showcase utility, durability, and distinctive design.
REPORTS
Music Industry
Asheville’s music industry is a dynamic and growing force, playing a vital role in the city’s economy and cultural identity. A 2016 study conducted by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development Coalition and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Research Center revealed that Asheville’s music industry grew by an impressive 52% between 2010 and 2016. This rate of growth outpaced that of Nashville, one of the nation’s most iconic music hubs. Additionally, the study highlighted that Asheville’s music sector is twice as specialized as the national average, underscoring the city’s unique position as a center for musical creativity and innovation.
This rapid growth reflects Asheville’s diverse and thriving music scene, which spans genres from bluegrass and folk to electronic and experimental. Local artists, independent venues, and annual festivals such as the Asheville Music Festival contribute to the city’s reputation as a music destination. The industry not only enriches the cultural fabric of Asheville but also drives economic activity by supporting jobs, attracting tourists, and fostering collaborations with regional and national music networks. As the city continues to nurture its vibrant music ecosystem, Asheville remains a beacon for musicians, fans, and creative entrepreneurs alike. In 2025, ArtsAVL, in partnership with the North Carolina Music Office and Sound Diplomacy, will conduct an updated music industry study to promote and support the creation of environments where music is celebrated and sustainable measures are taken to support the continued growth of dynamic music ecosystems.
REPORTS
Arts Nonprofits
In 2022, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and their audiences generated over $51 million in economic activity in Buncombe County. This included $25 million in spending by the organizations themselves, which then leveraged an additional $26 million in event-related spending by their audiences. The Arts & Economic Prosperity Report, a comprehensive impact study of the nonprofit arts and culture industry in the U.S., is conducted approximately every five years to measure the economic effects of spending by these organizations and their audiences. Previous studies were published in 1994, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, and the most recent in 2023.
Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 (AEP6) is a detailed economic and social impact study of the nation’s nonprofit arts and culture industry. This report documents the economic and social contributions of arts and culture in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Local and statewide research partners from 373 study regions collected expenditure and attendance data from over 16,000 arts and culture organizations, along with event-related spending information from nearly 225,000 attendees. This extensive data helps capture the broader impact of the arts on both local economies and communities.
REPORTS
AEP6 Buncombe County (2023)
AEP5 Buncombe County (2017)
AEP6 (2023)
AEP5 (2017)
AEP4 (2012)
AEP3 (2007)
Arts Education
For the past 15 years, the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) has been at the forefront of using data to advance arts education. Through a collaborative effort with state departments of education, state arts councils, and key foundation partners, SEADAE has worked to highlight the transformative power of arts education by making data publicly accessible on a school-by-school basis. This initiative, known as the Arts Education Data Project, is rooted in the belief that transparency and standardized data can drive meaningful change. By demonstrating the actual status of arts education across an entire state, this project aims to increase access and participation in the arts for students at all grade levels.
The Arts Education Data Project collects data from each state department of education, standardizes it to ensure consistency, and transforms it into a user-friendly, interactive dashboard. This dashboard is updated annually, providing educators, policymakers, and communities with a clear picture of arts education offerings in every school. By making this data publicly available, the initiative empowers stakeholders to identify gaps, celebrate successes, and advocate for equitable access to arts education. Over the years, the project has become a vital tool in supporting arts education, ensuring that students in every corner of the country have the opportunity to experience the profound benefits of the arts.
Outdoor Events & Festivals
Asheville is renowned for its vibrant events and festivals that celebrate the city’s rich artistic and cultural heritage. From the renowned LEAF Festival and the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival to the dynamic Downtown After 5 concert series, these events bring together locals and visitors to experience the creativity and diversity of the region. Festivals like the Asheville Art in the Park and the River Arts District Studio Stroll highlight the incredible work of local artists, while events like the Asheville Film Festival and Blue Ridge Pride amplify voices from across the cultural spectrum. These celebrations not only enrich the community but also contribute significantly to the local economy by drawing tourists, supporting small businesses, and creating opportunities for artists to showcase their work.
In 2016-2017, the City of Asheville’s special events office was awarded a grant by the Appalachian Regional Commission to conduct an independent year-long research study to better understand the entrepreneurial impact of its outdoor special event ecosystem.
