ArtsAVL

City of Asheville CDBG-DR Community Input Session on Economic Revitalization is today starting at 10am at Golden Hour in The Radical Hotel. Let the City know that the arts community supports workforce development and other support services for businesses, as well as additional funding for the phased reopening of existing business. Read more about these requests at artsavl.org. Can't attend today's session? You can share your thoughts directly on the City's input page at: publicinput.com/cdbg-dr

Spring is in the air! Check out these great local events this first weekend of spring.? ? Enjoy the beginning of spring weather tonight at the reopening of The Roof at The Radical Hotel! Serving bites and beverages.? ?? The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is putting on so many wonderful shows this weekend, Friday through Sunday! Something for everyone, from comedy to puppetry to magic, see the full lineup on our events page. ? ?? The Grand Opening of Artbeat Gallery & Lounge is tomorrow from noon to 6 in Downtown Asheville! Featuring an exclusive showcase of artwork by Elliott From and live music from Samara Jade at 3. Free and open to the public!? ?? Celebrate spring at Luna Gallery in the RAD with their Spring Awakening Pop-Up! Featuring local vendors, from 1 to 5 tomorrow. ? ?? Enjoy an afternoon of wonderful live music & storytelling at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts with a performance of Twelve Wild Geese by Ensemble Galilei and David Novak! Tomorrow at 2pm. ???Try some local brews while listening to live music at Leveller Brewing in Weaverville this Sunday at 3 with their Cajum Jam session.? ? ?? Excited for the spring blooms? The Asheville Art Museum's new exhibit "Flora Symbolica: The Art of Flowers" is great for all floral lovers! Showing now through July 28th in Downtown Asheville.? ??? And many more events at?connect.artsavl.org/events.? #AshevilleEvents #SpringInAsheville #LocalArt #AshevilleFringe #SpringFestivals #DowntownAsheville #AshevilleFoodie #LiveMusicAsheville #ArtInAsheville #SpringAwakening

Since Tropical Storm Helene, ArtsAVL has conducted a number of assessments for Buncombe County and the WNC region (available at artsavl.org/reports). Our latest cultural asset map really highlights the devastating impact on the local arts sector. The map reveals that 581 out of 1288 cultural assets (45%) were significantly impacted by Helene– of those 572 (98%) are in the City of Asheville. View the interactive map here: https://lnkd.in/etmTYrk5

?? CALL TO ACTION ?? The City of Asheville is currently taking public comment on their proposed CDBG-DR Action Plan. The deadline is April 2. Please review ArtsAVL CDBG-DR funding requests (full requests are on our website at artsavl.org) and share your support for these initiatives . There are several ways you can help! ?? Share support for these requests on the City’s CDBG-DR input page (publicinput.com/cdbg-dr) ?? Attend one or more of the 3 community input sessions: ??? March 19 – Housing – Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville, Banquet Hall- 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm ??? March 24 – Economic Revitalization – Radical Hotel, Golden Hour Restaurant – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ??? March 26 – Infrastructure – AB Tech, Ferguson Auditorium – 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ?? Email City Council and let them know these arts initiatives are important

Register Now for Arts Day! Arts North Carolina Arts Day is a gathering of artists and arts leaders from across the state to convene as peers and prepare for action. Enjoy presentations from arts nonprofit industry leaders and performances from local and transplanted North Carolina talent. This year’s conference will take place on April 22nd in Raleigh. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eajiQJNY

Check out what is happening this weekend: ?? The Lehman Trilogy debuted this week at NC Stage Co! Catch the Tony Award winning play now through April 6th in Downtown Asheville. ?? Chai Pani Asheville is hosting their own Night Market tonight from 5 to 9 on Banks Ave to celebrate Holi! There will be food, a bhangra dance floor & Bollywood DJ, and more! ??? See artists demonstrate their talents live with Maker's March Demonstrations at the Asheville Gallery of Art, tomorrow from 11 to 4:30! ?? Asheville Symphony Masterworks 5: Carmen is tomorrow at 2 and again at 8 at the First Baptist Church of Asheville. ?? White Horse Black Mountain hosts their 10th Annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration tomorrow at 7! ?? Head to Downtown Weaverville this Sunday for the Shamrock Festival! Family friendly events from 2 to 6 including live music, local food, kids' activities and more! ? The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is hosting their Kickoff Party on Sunday at 6 at The LaZoom Room! The Festival runs from March 16th through the 23rd with lots of amazing events. ??? And many more events at?connect.artsavl.org/events.?

March is a great time to start a new book! Here are some ideas to get you started this month. ?? Join one (or many!) of the several local book clubs! The Craft Your Commerce Book Club, nine different Malaprop's book clubs, the Black Experience Book Club with the YMI Cultural Center, the Silent Book Club, and more. All listed on the ArtsAVL event page! ?? Check out your local libraries event calendar for great local reading events all month long. ?? And take a look at all the local bookstores event calendars, chock full of great events! Firestorm, Malaprop's, Downtown Books & News, Battery Park Book Exchange, Bagatelle Books, Sassafras on Sutton, and more! Comment ones we missed! ?? The Hop Ice Cream in North Asheville is hosting a book signing on Saturday March 22nd from 2 to 4, with author Shalene Hill for her book "The Caterpillar's Song of Courage." Great for the whole family! ?? Asheville Prison Books Packaging Party at Firestorm Books in West Asheville, Sunday March 16th from 1 to 3pm. Package books to send to incarcerated folks. ?? Cuentos Y Cafe BIPOC Books has several book pop ups this month! Two on March 15th at Pennycup Silverline and Haywood Famous, then again on March 16th at Battlecat Beverly Hills! ??? More events at connect.artsavl.org. #BookClub #AshevilleBooks #ReadLocal #BookEvents #LiteraryCommunity #LocalAuthors #ReadingMonth #SupportLocal #BookRecommendations #AshevilleReads

We are deeply grateful to the City of Asheville for providing this vital support to our creative community. ?? At the regular meeting on March 11, 2025, Asheville City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to allocate $200,000 in public art funds to ArtsAVL. This funding will support arts businesses in Asheville affected by Tropical Storm Helene. Specifically, $150,000 will be used for Arts Business Relief Grants, and $50,000 will support a campaign designed to bring attention to local arts areas. https://lnkd.in/eu6ncRSH

EXCITING ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITY: In April, ArtsAVL is launching a countywide Arts Guide showcasing four key arts regions: River Arts District, Downtown Asheville, Black Mountain, and Weaverville. This print guide will be 4×9", bag & pocket friendly, and beautifully designed with iconic maps to navigate visitors.There are a limited number of paid advertising spots still available. Deadline to reserve: March 14. Contact Membership & Connections Manager Elise McGannon at [email protected] for more information and to secure your spot. The guide is part of the 2025 Connection Campaign: a comprehensive arts marketing plan for Buncombe County to attract visitors and re-engage locals in our primary arts regions. More updates coming soon! ??

?? Friday is the deadline to apply for the Arts Business Relief Grant ?? Visit artsavl.org/relief for more info and to apply.