Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund
Spotlighting our cultural identity
Investing in Asheville’s Creative Spirit through Festivals & Events
The Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund offers financial assistance to events that enrich the lives of Buncombe County residents and invite visitors to experience the authentic and welcoming spirit of Asheville and Buncombe County. Since 2016, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority has invested nearly $1 million in local festivals and events through this fund.
The primary purposes of this fund are to:
- Support and preserve cultural identity within Buncombe County;
- Stimulate the creation of new or expansion of existing festivals and cultural events; and
- Contribute to the financial viability and long-term sustainability of the area’s festivals and cultural events.
The Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund operates on an annual basis through a competitive application and selection process. The number of grants awarded each year depends on the funds available, which may not always be fully distributed. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $5,000 and cannot exceed 50% of the total budget for the event. Grant funds are disbursed to recipients following their event and submission of final report.
2026 Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund Application
The 2026 Program Application will be open until Friday, October 17 at 5pm ET.
F&CE Guidelines
Read more about the F&CE Support Fund, Eligibility Requirements, Evaluation Criteria, and more.
For Grant & Funding Inquiries
Contact our Grants Manager at [email protected] or (828) 258-6109.
November 2025 Support Fund Recipients
| APPLICANT ORGANIZATION | EVENT | INVESTMENT |
| Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project (ASAP) | ASAP Farm Tour | $5,000 |
| Arts 2 People | Surreal Sirkus Arts Festival | $5,000 |
| Asheville Creative Arts | Asheville Legacy Neighborhood History & Culture Festival | $3,000 |
| Asheville Downtown Association | Holi 2026 | $2,000 |
| Asheville Makers Inc. | Maker Faire Asheville | $1,500 |
| Asheville Mardi Gras, Inc | Asheville Mardi Gras Parade and Queen's Ball | $5,000 |
| Black Mountain Blues Society (BMBS) | Black Mountain Blues Festival | $5,000 |
| Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center | {Re}HAPPENING 14 | $4,000 |
| Black Wall Street AVL | GRINDfest | $5,000 |
| Buncombe County Parks and Recreation | Lake Julian Festival of Lights | $5,000 |
| Community Betterment Foundation of the Asheville | Shindig on the Green® | $2,500 |
| Community Betterment Foundation of the Asheville | Mountain Dance and Folk Festival® | $2,500 |
| Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville & Buncombe County Inc. | The City of Asheville celebrates Juneteenth and community healing | $3,000 |
| Hood Huggers Foundation | Spring Fling! | $2,500 |
| LEAF Global Arts | LEAF May 2026 "Rooted" Retreat | $5,000 |
| North Carolina Cider Association | North Carolina Cider Fest Asheville | $2,000 |
| RADA Foundation, Inc. | RADFest 2026 | $5,000 |
| RADA Foundation, Inc. | Sketch Crawl and Sketch Club in the RAD | $2,500 |
| Riverlink | RISE: A Fly-Fishing Festival | $2,500 |
| Southern Highland Craft Guild | Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands | $2,500 |
| Swannanoa Community Council | Swannanoa Winterfest | $2,500 |
| Swannanoa Community Council | Groovin' on Grovemont | $3,000 |
| The Block Collaborative | Black Storytelling on The Block | $1,000 |
| The Cathedral of All Souls | A Dicken's Christmas | $5,000 |
| Weaverville Business Association, Inc. | Weaverville's Music on Main | $5,000 |
| YMI Cultural Center | Goombay Festival 2026 | $5,000 |
| TOTAL | $92,000 | |
Festivals & Cultural Events Support Fund - Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be a federally recognized non-profit organization based in Buncombe County. If the applying organization is not a non-profit, a fiscal agent may be used for the application, provided that the fiscal agent meets all applicant eligibility criteria.
- The organization’s mission must benefit Buncombe County residents and visitors and enhance the culture and vitality of Buncombe County.
- Event must take place within Buncombe County.
