Creative Sector Survey Reveals Top Support Needs for Artists in Western North Carolina

In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s impact on Western North Carolina’s creative economy, ArtsAVL and its partners launched a regional survey in January 2025 to better understand the support needs of local artists and creative businesses. With 358 creatives responding, the survey provides a snapshot of both current challenges and future opportunities for strengthening support systems across the region.

Key Findings

Demographics & Business Types:
A majority (62.8%) of respondents are individual creative entrepreneurs or sole proprietors. Nearly three-quarters (73.5%) of businesses are woman-led, while 12% are minority-led.

Top Artistic Disciplines:

Craft (ceramics, glass, fiber, metal, wood): 38.3%
Visual arts: 29.3%
Performing arts: 17%
Interdisciplinary and media practices make up the remainder.

Employment & Future Growth:
Most businesses currently operate with small teams, with a combined total of 600.5 employees (including part-time and contract workers). A majority expressed plans to hire within the next 1–3 years.

Satisfaction with Current Services

Respondents expressed moderate satisfaction with the following services:
Most utilized and appreciated: Financial assistance, tax prep, accounting, and website development
Least used or lacking satisfaction: Legal compliance, procurement, human resources, and performance contracts

Service Needs & Priorities

When asked which services they would most like to access, the top responses were:

Financial assistance
Social media marketing
Website development
SEO
Grant writing

Recommendations from Artists

Respondents stressed that service providers should:

Recognize the emotional and personal investment tied to creative work
Offer flexible, jargon-free, and affordable business support
Understand the seasonality and unpredictability of arts incomes
Provide clear, actionable guidance and access to funding or collaborative opportunities

Space and Equipment Gaps

Hurricane Helene destroyed or damaged many workspaces, leading to a strong demand for:

Affordable studio, retail, and storage space
Access to shared tools such as kilns, pottery wheels, sound/lighting gear, sewing equipment, photography tools, and printing presses
A majority of artists need smaller spaces (<500 sq ft) and can afford only $100–$499 per month in rent

Final Reflections

The survey underscores a deep need for wraparound services tailored to the arts sector, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. It reveals a vibrant but vulnerable creative community looking for structured, accessible, and empathetic support. Artists called for better networking, marketing assistance, and more inclusive access to grants and professional development resources.

This data will inform the next steps in developing sustainable support systems for creatives in WNC as they recover and rebuild.

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