How Asheville’s Arts & Music Scene Is Doing, One Year After Helene
The Beating Heart: River Arts District
“The River Arts District is the beating heart of Asheville,” says Jeffrey Burroughs, fine jeweler, RAD Artists volunteer president, and a founder of the RADA Foundation. “What makes this place different is that things are made here. You meet the makers—the people who are dreaming, building, and creating in real time.”
Burroughs remembers the first days after the flood with a clarity that still catches in his voice: the roar of water, the hiss of propane tanks, canvases and brushes swept downstream—“hundreds of dreams washing past.” Then, almost instantly, motion: artists organizing daily meet-ups; neighbors showing up with shovels; pop-up kitchens serving hot subs to volunteers; social posts summoning people to help.
“Nobody had to ask,” he says. “We just showed up for each other. That’s who we are.”
Today, RAD’s momentum is visible. Street by street, studios are re-lighting kilns and reopening doors. Festivals and pop-ups—RADfest, RAD Resilience, RAD Renaissance—have been crucial cash infusions that kept rents paid and teams employed.
“What I feel now is gratitude and possibility,” Burroughs says. “By the one-year milestone, over half of our artists are back working. We’re not just replacing what was lost—we’re designing the next 30 years of RAD together.”
“Come now and you’re not just visiting—you’re part of the comeback. Let’s grab a coffee, take a walk, and go see art being born.” — Jeffrey Burroughs
Art for Living, Art for a Living: New Morning Gallery
In Biltmore Village, New Morning Gallery has anchored Asheville’s craft tradition since 1972—“art for living,” as their tagline goes. Executive team Neal Reid and Sarah Marshall describe eight months of mud, cold, and 12–16-hour days: “A core group of five of us pulled debris, rebuilt walls, rewired elevators—progress every day, even if it was just one room,” Reid says.
Their May reopening felt like a homecoming. “People kept saying, We’re so glad you’re back,” Marshall says. “With 500+ artisans represented, turning the lights on again mattered for makers across the region.” That impact runs both ways: tax revenue, jobs, and a bustling southern gateway to the city help power Asheville’s wider recovery.
“Right now, shopping is recovery work. Come browse, talk to artists, buy a mug or a painting—or just say hey. Every visit keeps the circle going.” — Neal Reed
Stages, Scenes, and That First Downbeat Back
Ask talent buyer and AVL Fest co-founder Jeff Whitworth what live music felt like when doors reopened and he’ll tell you: “Kinetic. The first month back was wild—people just needed that room, that sound, that togetherness.”
At the Grey Eagle, the story started even earlier. The venue never lost power completely; staff and partners used their stocked kitchen to feed hundreds in the neighborhood and out at Hot Springs. “With catastrophe comes connection,” Whitworth says. “New friendships formed across scenes and zip codes. That good-neighbor muscle is stronger now.”
Some landmarks changed—two riverfront venues were lost—yet the ecosystem remains astonishingly dense for a city this size: The Orange Peel, The Grey Eagle, Asheville Music Hall, Asheville Yards, Eulogy, Highland, Pisgah Brewing, and an array of brewery stages and listening rooms keep calendars full. National acts kept coming; benefit compilations and concerts across the Carolinas funneled dollars and goodwill back to WNC.
“Asheville’s always punched above its weight as a music destination,” Whitworth says. “Honestly, more so than ever. Artists want to play here; fans want to be here. And the community-first mindset among venues has only grown.”
“Live music is a universal language. It healed first—and keeps healing—one show at a time.” — Jeff Whitworth
The Safety Net: Grants, Visibility, and Showing Up
“Helene shut everything down overnight,” says Katie Cornell, executive director of ArtsAVL. “Events canceled, venues flooded, studios lost equipment and inventory. People were asking: How do we survive—financially and emotionally—until we can work again?”
ArtsAVL moved fast. In the weeks after the storm, the agency launched a 26-county artist relief program ($500 micro-grants for groceries, gas, and bills). In early 2025, a second round delivered $5,000 grants to 136 arts businesses—nonprofits and for-profits alike. In total, $1.4 million in relief reached 1,600+ artists and organizations.
Equally important: marketing. ArtsAVL’s Redefine the Weekend campaign urged locals and visitors to buy a ticket, take a class, visit a gallery—simple acts that keep paychecks flowing and doors open. “Grants matter,” Cornell says, “but so does the message that Asheville’s creative spirit is here and needs you. The best thing you can do is show up.”
ArtsAVL has also launched a five-year arts recovery plan with city, county, tourism, and chamber partners, plus a comprehensive music ecosystem study to guide policy, funding, and venue support. The goal: preserve space, funding, and visibility so artists can afford to live and work here.
“What can you do right now? Show up. Buy a ticket. Visit a gallery. Take a class. You’re supporting jobs, small businesses, and Asheville’s creative soul.” — Katie Cornell
If You’re Wondering Whether You’ll Get “The Full Asheville Experience”…
You will. Most damage was concentrated along the river corridor; the vast majority of venues, galleries, museums, and classes are open. In RAD, much is already humming; more returns each month. In Biltmore Village, plywood hides active rebuilds—behind it, leases are signed and lights are coming on. Across the city, the calendar is thick with exhibitions, classes, concerts, craft fairs, and markets.
How to help (and have a great time):
- Visit: Plan a gallery hop in RAD or Biltmore Village; talk to makers; take home something made here.
- Buy a ticket: Catch a show at a club or brewery stage; bring a friend; make a night of it.
- Take a class: Clay, metal, fiber, glass, painting, printmaking—Asheville teaches what it practices.
- Make it a weekend: Book a room, eat local, and give yourself time to wander.
As Burroughs puts it: “Now is exactly the time to come. Your curiosity, your purchase, your applause—those are the threads we’re weaving this next chapter with.”
Asheville is open and ready.