NC Glass Center
ArtsAVL Creative Spaces Making Space for You in Buncombe County
ArtsAVL Creative Spaces Making Space for You in Buncombe County

Study

A report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness found that Asheville is more expensive than 98% of other North Carolina cities, and rents have risen 41.7% since 2020, making it the most expensive place to rent in the state. In fact, a recent Asheville Citizen Times article showed that fair market rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Asheville has risen 78% since 2019. Meanwhile, the hourly wage has not risen to meet the living wage, reported by Just Economics as $22.10/hour in Buncombe County. This is having a devastating impact on the local creative community, forcing more arts professionals to move their residences and businesses outside of Asheville and even Buncombe County.

The Creative Spaces study is an initiative to more fully understand how local creative spaces are currently being used, the issues that are impacting creative growth and development in relation to space, and how we might work creatively to address these needs moving forward.

This project will result in a final report and culminate in a Town Hall event.

Press Release
ArtsAVL Creative Spaces Study Graphic
ArtsAVL Creative Spaces Survey Graphic

Survey + Report

Building on the previous Arts Market Study from 2018 and other reports of this nature, ArtsAVL is currently collecting data from local arts professionals and businesses in the Asheville Metro area (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, and Madison). The Creative Spaces survey is now closed, and we are busy analyzing the results. Finding will be combined with additional data on cost of living and space accessibility within the Asheville Metro area, the local creative economy, and local and national case studies providing creative solutions to these space challenges.

Case Studies

Between now and when the report comes out in May, we will be adding a series of local case studies. 

Blue Note Junction’s Sustainable Community Vision
As part of the Creative Spaces Report, ArtsAVL is excited to showcase profiles of local creative spaces responding to a critical lack of affordable living and work space in Buncombe County. The first in the series is Blue Note Junction, a community health and business incubator dedicated to BIPOC entrepreneurs and artists.
How Lexington Glassworks Opens Doors for Emerging Artists
As part of our continuing series profiling pioneering creative spaces in Buncombe County, we are highlighting Lexington Glassworks, a nationally-acclaimed center for glassblowing and lighting design that opened in January 2015.
The River Arts District Reckons with Sustainability
Booming development and rising rents are displacing the artists who call the RAD home – but the creative community is working together to ensure its future
Black Mountain’s Collaborative Creatives
As part of our continuing series profiling pioneering creative spaces and the challenges faced by artists in Asheville and Buncombe County, we are highlighting Black Mountain. Located east of Asheville, Black Mountain is home to just over 8,000 residents, and is a top travel destination in Western North Carolina.

Town Hall

Join us for a Town Hall event on May 10th from 3-4:30 pm. At this event, ArtsAVL will present the results of their Creative Space study. Attendees will also hear from a panel about different creative solutions they are trying to combat space challenges.

The Panel will be moderated by Matt Peiken from AVL Podcast. Panelist include:

  • DeWayne Barton, Blue Note Junction
  • Ashleigh Hardes, Lexington Glassworks
  • Jeffrey Burroughs, River Arts District Artists
  • Tamara Sparacino, Asheville Community Theatre
  • Rebekkah Hilgraves, RadHaus
Register Now
ArtsAVL Creative Spaces Town Hall Graphic - Talk Bubbles