May 2025 State of the Arts Brunch

State of the Arts Brunch Highlights Recovery, Resilience, and Renewal for Buncombe County’s Creative Sector

May 14, 2025 | Asheville N.C – On Monday, May 12, 2025, more than 200 community members gathered at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Asheville Downtown for the 2025 State of the Arts Brunch, hosted by ArtsAVL. The event marked a powerful moment of reflection and momentum for the region’s creative community, coming nearly eight months after Hurricane Helene disrupted cultural institutions, artist livelihoods, and arts infrastructure across Western North Carolina.

The morning featured remarks from local leaders, recovery updates from ArtsAVL, and the presentation of the prestigious John Cram Arts Leadership Award. Together, the program underscored how arts and culture are driving the region’s recovery—socially, emotionally, and economically.

Key Takeaways from the 2025 Brunch:

  • A National Perspective on Arts-Led Recovery: Executive Director Katie Cornell offered powerful examples of how cities like Los Angeles, New Orleans, and San Juan have leveraged the arts to rebuild after natural disasters—showing how Buncombe County can follow suit through strategic cultural investment.
  • Five-Year Arts Recovery Plan Introduced: ArtsAVL previewed its upcoming collaboration with Lord Cultural Resources to develop a comprehensive recovery plan focused on infrastructure investment, policy improvements, workforce development, and long-term sustainability. Planning kicks off this summer and will incorporate broad community input.
  • Over $1.4 Million in Relief Distributed: ArtsAVL shared updates on its two major relief efforts—the Emergency Relief Grant for individual artists and the Arts Business Relief Grant for creative businesses—delivering critical funding to more than 1,600 recipients across 19 counties.
  • Launch of “Redefine the Weekend” Campaign: Catherine Campbell of One for the Books Marketing Agency unveiled a bold marketing initiative to restore foot traffic and visibility to local arts districts through regional promotions, commercial spots, and interactive tools. The campaign invites residents and visitors alike to experience the arts as an essential part of weekend life in Buncombe County.
  • Government Partners Reaffirm Support for the Arts: Attendees heard from Buncombe County Commission Chair Amanda Edwards, Asheville Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley, and Explore Asheville CEO Vic Isley, who each shared updates on their agency’s commitment to supporting arts and culture as part of broader economic recovery and community development efforts.
  • John Cram Arts Leadership Award Presented to Connie Bostic: The late Connie Bostic, a trailblazing visual artist and entrepreneur, was honored for her decades of contributions to Asheville’s arts scene. The award was accepted by Alice Sebrell of the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, which also received the accompanying $1,000 grant.

A Call to Action

In her closing remarks, ArtsAVL Board Chair Brandy Bourne urged the community to continue showing up for the arts—by donating, attending events, advocating for support, and investing in local creatives. “This is more than a recovery,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to build something stronger, more connected, and more resilient than before.”

A full video recording and slides from the event will be available soon at artsavl.org/brunch.