Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Thursday, February 24, 2022
Cook and Serve Meals – ABCCM Transformation Village
Feb 24 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Transformation Village

Cook teams of 4-6 individuals are invited to bring ingredients and prepare meals onsite or bring meals that have been prepared elsewhere.  To meet our dietary standards, we ask that each meal provides a meat, vegetable and starch.

Requirements:

  • Background Check
  • Brief orientation prior to service
  • Ability to Multi-Task
  • Friendly Demeanor

Health & Safety:

  • We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face mask if you have not been fully vaccinated
  • Temperatures will be checked and a COVID-19 disclosure will be signed at the volunteer entrance
  • Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?

    Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.


    ABCCM Transformation Village provides up to 100 beds of transitional housing and will provide emergency shelter beds, post Covid-19.  Transforming lives is through four developmental phases called Steps to Success including stabilization, life skills, education and reintegration.  We are honored to report that 8 out of 10 leave us with a living wage job and permanent housing.

    Transformation Village gives hope, healing, health and a home to single women, mothers with children, and female Veterans experiencing homelessness.  We provide residents a fresh start and a place to heal surrounded and supported by Christian love, trust, education and companionship.

    We are seeking energetic volunteers to prepare and serve meals for our residents for lunch and dinner. This opportunity provides you with the chance to prepare meals in our commercial kitchen alongside our trained staff while serving the women and children of Transformation Village. 

Business After Hours
Feb 24 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Mills River Brewing

Business After Hours is the Chamber’s premier networking event and the best chance for your to make valuable connections to build your business – all while having a great time!
With fantastic food and beverages courtesy of our hosts and the chance to win great door prizes – this event is the best combination of business and fun!
Do I Need an Online eCommerce Presence?
Feb 24 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
online

No cost due to sponsor support

We will explore the features of well-known e-commerce sites such as an eBay Store, Shopify website, Amazon.com, and Etsy as well as creating your own website as an online store.

  • One way to expand your small business is to sell products online.
  • Developing a revenue stream from online sales is an easy way for small businesses to increase their profits.
  • Learn what sites work best to sell your product or service.

At the end of this session, you will be able to understand whether:

  1. You need to sell online and what are the risks and costs.
  2. Have an understanding of your online store options such as an eBay Store, Amazon web store, Shopify, Etsy, or your own website.
  3. Understand the differences between platforms and determine what is right for your business.


Speaker(s): Nick Hawks

Co-Sponsor(s): Henderson County Chamber of Commerce, Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce

Webinar info forthcoming

Black History Month: Soul Food to Go at Stephens-Lee Community Center
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Stephens-Lee Community Center

In the late 19th century, the church became a gathering place for the Black community and impacted the development of what’s now considered soul food. Fried chicken, fried fish, sweet potato pie, red drinks, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and more were served during Emancipation celebrations and church gatherings. Celebrate the legacy of Stephens-Lee High School alumni and the East End/Valley Street neighborhood with down-home cooking that’s been passed down through the generations.

Soul Food Supper

Enjoy our Soul Food Supper sponsored by the East End Valley Street Neighborhood and Stephens-Lee Alumni Association. For 2022, this will now be a drive up to pick up your to go meal only. We will start serving at 6pm until we run out. All meals are distributed first-come-first-served.

FREE
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center Parking Lot

Gluten-free comedy open mic at Ginger’s Revenge  
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Ginger's Revenge  

  • Gluten-free comedy open mic at Ginger's Revenge
  • 6:00pm – 8:00pm

    Open mic comedy every Thursday from 6-8pm at Ginger’s Revenge Tasting Room.

    Rotating hosts each week Clay Jones, James Burks and Katy Hudson

    No cover
    Signup starts at 5:30, and signup order will not necessarily be show order. Each comic gets 5 mins of stage time

Seafood + Oyster Class
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Chop Shop Butchery

Seafood & Oyster Class

Understanding how to source better seafood and prepare it at home is a valuable skill for anyone looking to improve the quality and taste of their fish at home!

In this two-hour class our seafood wizard, Rob Jones, will teach you the secrets of buying, preparing, and cooking some of the most amazing fish from our coastal waters.

 

What to Expect:

  • MIX & MINGLE: Before we go into the cut room, you’ll get to sample local and house-made charcuterie and sip on beer from a local brewery (TBD) or a glass of wine while mingling with other students in the class.
  • FILET, DEBONE & PREP: Next, we’ll head into the cut room. (Dress warmly — it’s chilly in there!) Rob will show you how to filet, gut and debone a fish. You’ll get to practice hands-on while working alongside other students in the class.
  • During the class, you’ll learn about the different tools used in fish butchery to maximize yield and provide the best value for the whole fish. We’ll also discuss how to prepare and cook different types of fish.

Where does our seafood come from?

We work closely with Abundant Seafood from Charleston, Inland Seafood and Low Country Shellfish Company to get the freshest, most sustainably-caught seafood in the Southeast.

Tanglewood Youth Theatre Classes: Intermediate Theatre Dance and Movement
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Asheville Community Theatre

Taught by Alexa Hibbert
Ages 13-18
Feb 10-Mar 31, 2022 | Thursdays 

This class is for more advanced movers and dancers and will cover Musical Theatre Dance styles through the years. This course will also help dancers prepare for and feel confident in dance auditions, pick up choreography quickly and efficiently. Come dance with us! Tuition will be $175.00 – payment plans and scholarships will both be available.

Update: Additional Comprehensive Plan Virtual Community Meetings Planned
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
online

 

Update: Jan. 31, 2022

After canceling in-person meetings due to increased COVID-19 infection rates, additional virtual community vision meetings for the Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan have been scheduled. Members of the public are invited to attend.

Community meeting schedule:

  • Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, 6-8 p.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022, 6-8 p.m. Youth focus
  • Monday, March 14, 2022, 4-6 p.m.
  • Saturday, March 19, 2022, 10 a.m.-noon

Click here for the latest information, to watch previous meetings, or to register: https://publicinput.com/Y4853.

The Comprehensive Plan meetings will focus on:

  • Learning more about changes and issues that impact residents now and will in the future
  • Creating a community vision and priorities for Buncombe County

In the next stages of plan development, the information shared during this initial set of meetings will help identify potential solutions and actions, upon which the community will provide feedback.

The Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan provides the framework for growth in unincorporated Buncombe County and addresses other quality of life matters for the County as a whole. The plan will take a regional approach, being mindful of other plans, such as the City of Asheville and the Town of Black Mountain comprehensive plans.

Have you watched it yet?

Buncombe County hosted “Let’s Talk – Buncombe County’s Next 20 Years” with Nathan Pennington, Planning & Development Director for Buncombe County, Rachel Edens, Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer for Buncombe County, and Jessica Trotman, Planning Director for Black Mountain. Click here to view the session.

For more information about the Buncombe 2043 Comprehensive Plan including a short video overview, visit Comprehensive Plan 2043.

Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems: virtual series on enhancing your farming business
Feb 24 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
online

Kickoff 2022 with the Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems as we present a virtual series on enhancing your farming business. Convenient online classes for you to attend and hear from speakers with information, tips, and more. Registration is FREE!

Join us at 6 pm on Thursdays, January through March, to hear from EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems. We encourage you to take this time to engage with fellow agribusinesses, entrepreneurs and resource providers while learning new skills and the power of collaboration along the way.

Kickoff 2022 with the Western Regional SBCN and EmPOWERing Mountain Food Systems as we present a virtual series on enhancing your farming business. Convenient online classes for you to attend and hear from speakers with information, tips, and more. Registration is FREE!

Join us at 6 pm on Thursdays, January through March, to hear from EmPOWERING Mountain Food Systems. We encourage you to take this time to engage with fellow agribusinesses, entrepreneurs and resource providers while learning new skills and the power of collaboration along the way.

January 20- Online Farm Taxes Explained: Property, Equipment and Sales. Dive deeper into farm taxes as they pertain to the many different sides of your farming business. Ask a local farmer about their experience navigating taxes and learn some tips of your own.
January 27- Online Sales Platforms for Direct to Consumer Sales: There are many choices to consider! Hear what works for some regional farmers and determine which platform may be a good fit for your operation.
February 3- Agritourism in Southwestern NC Trends and Storytelling: NCSU researchers spent a year learning from regional providers. What are their findings and recommendations? February 10- Airbnb, HipCamp and Harvest Host: Exploring farm visit options for lodging on your farm. Hear farmer success stories
February 17- Using Social Media to Promote your Farm Business: Facebook, Insta, and Twitter how to get followers and keep them!
February 24- Liability for On Farm Visits: Protect your visitors, your farm and home.
March 10- Making Value Added Products at Home: Regulations for a Home Certified Kitchen & Marketing Options
March 17- Food Safety: Good practices and Regulations for the farm
and market
March 24- Farm Service Agency and Natural Resource Management: Services and Cost Share for your Farming Operations

WNCHA History Hour: The Buncombe County Remembrance Project with Dr. Joseph Fox
Feb 24 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
online

WNCHA History Hour - The Buncombe County Remembrance Project

“The Buncombe Community Remembrance Project: Acknowledging, Remembering, and Honoring Lynching Victims” discusses the personal and community trauma inflicted on individuals of color after the Civil War, the Equal Justice Initiative’s research related to lynchings, and the three lynchings “of record” that occurred in Buncombe County, NC. Additional discussions will focus on the process of honoring individuals that were lynched, the partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, specific related projects, and the installation of three historical markers in Buncombe County.

 

About the Speaker:

 

Dr. Joseph Fox is the owner of Fox Management Consulting Enterprises, LLC. He possesses an Ed.D. and an M.B.A. from Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, and a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Pfeiffer University, Misenheimer, NC. Dr. Fox also possesses the Professional in Human Resources Management (PHR) National Certification, Global Achieve Leadership Training Certification, and the Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning (REAL) Certification.

 

Dr. Joseph Fox is a life-long educator, mentor, and community advocate. He has advocated for students of a darker hue for more than 30 years in his role as a community college instructor, as well as his role as a former Department Chair of Business Administration at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. While still employed at A-B Tech, he founded the Minority Male Mentoring Program, that later became the Minority Students Leadership Academy, and now the Multicultural Student Leadership Academy. Upon retiring from the NC Community College System, Dr. Fox established, in memory of his mother, the Hazel Fox Minority Student Entrepreneurship Scholarship in which several scholarships were awarded to nonmajority Entrepreneurship students. The Scholarship was established to encourage individuals of a darker hue to view entrepreneurship as a viable option for wealth creation. Individuals that had been negatively impacted by the Criminal Justice System were encouraged to become “job creators” when they faced difficulty seeking employment. Upon the phasing out of the Entrepreneurship Degree by A-B Tech, Dr. Fox established the Hazel Fox Minority Business Plan Competition in which $11,000 was awarded recently to several local start-ups and existing businesses owned by nonmajority entrepreneurs. Dr. Fox is the recent recipient of several awards including the Summit Award given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Western North Carolina Chapter, during the 2021 National Philanthropy Awards Ceremony, the Black Business Trailblazer Award, presented to him during the 2021 Grindfest, and both the 2022 Community Humanitarian Award and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Community Service Award, given by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County. Previous awards received include a Thermal Belt Friendship Council Service Award for his work pertaining to race relations, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church 7th Episcopal District Bishop’s “Empowering Us to Help Us” Award for outstanding service and contributions to the church and community.

 

Dr. Fox is the outgoing Vice President of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County, a Wilma Dykeman Board Member, and a Carolina Small Business Development Fund Board Member. He currently serves on the Food-Security Reparations Coalition, and he is a recent appointee to the Advisory Committee for the African American Heritage Trail Project. In his hometown of Tryon, NC, Dr. Fox serves on the Eastside Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and is Vice President of the Roseland Community Center Board of Directors. Dr. Fox is also a former President of the Thermal Belt Friendship Council. He has been the Chair of the Asheville Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace March and Rally Committee for a number of years, and he Chairs the Buncombe Community Remembrance Project in partnership with the Equal Justice Initiative, to recognize, honor, and celebrate the three individuals “of record” that were lynched in Buncombe County.

Tickets: This event is free, though a $10 donation is suggested. These donations are placed in our Community Fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise. Donations for this event are also shared with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County.

Viewing: Registrants will receive a Zoom link with which to view the program. It will also be recorded and later available on our website.

Brew + Nosh
Feb 24 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Burning Blush Brewery

An unforgettable night of encouraged food & beer pairings and incredible company!

THE PEKING ACROBATS
Feb 24 @ 7:00 pm
Diana Wortham Theatre

WORTHAM CENTER PRESENTS

The Peking Acrobats

Whether they’re performing daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs or displaying their technical prowess at trick-cycling, precision tumbling, juggling or somersaulting, The Peking Acrobats astound audiences everywhere with utmost bravery and dexterity. For the last 32 years, this stunning troupe of world-class artists has redefined perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They push the limits of human ability, defying gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility and control. Accompanied by live musicians who skillfully play traditional Chinese instruments, this time-honored tradition fuses Chinese music and awe-inspiring acrobatic feats with high-tech special effects to create an exuberant entertainment event with the festive pageantry of a Chinese Carnival.

“The Peking Acrobats are pushing the envelope of human possibility, combining agility and grace in remarkable feats of pure artistry.” – The New York Post

The Peking Acrobats’ website

City Dance
Feb 24 @ 7:30 pm
Landmark Hal

Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.

Game Room Open Mic & Feature Comedy at Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co
Feb 24 @ 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co

Join Slice of Life Comedy Open Mic at Asheville Pizza’s Game Room for some adult-friendly comedy entertainment featuring Asheville’s hottest comics.
Hosted by the lovable Jason Scholder, Featuring Becca Steinhoff, Morgan Bost & John Hawley
Sign up to perform at the comedy open at door. Comics get 3-5m. Feature spots are paid professional comics.
Show is Thursday Feb 24, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Ticket price is $12. Purchase them at Asheville Pizza & Brewing on Merrimon or online at: https://www.ashevillebrewing.com/movies/
Laugh the night away while enjoying cocktails, beer and the full food menu during the show.
COVID VACCINATION REQUIRED… Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. requires proof of Covid-19 vaccination policy to enter their Merrimon location is in effect only for adults 18+ years old.
Also, guests must wear a MASK anytime they are NOT in their seat.
For vax proof they accept either of these…
1 – Photo (on a phone or printed paper) of the FRONT & BACK of your Covid-19 vaccination card PLUS a matching valid PHOTO ID.
2 – Show your actual Covid-19 vax card, but be careful not to lose or damage it.
For more information, contact michele at sliceoflifecomedy.com

Jeeves Intervenes
Feb 24 @ 7:30 pm
NC Stage Co.

High society playboy Bertie Wooster and his school chum, Eustace, hatch a plan to save Bertie from an unwanted marriage and Eustace from an undesirable job as a respected businessman. Will the ever-faithful manservant Jeeves be able to rescue these bumbling fools from themselves? A delicious romp full of deception and disguise.

The Music of Tom Petty
Feb 24 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse
Music on the Rock. The Music of
                Tom Petty. Feb. 24 - March 5

The ‘Queen’ Boys are back with The Music of Tom Petty. You filled the houses in 2019 for their Eagles/Beatles concert, 2020’s The Music of Queen, and their 2021 SOLD OUT outdoor Stadium Concert. Now they’re back to bring you the iconic music of Tom Petty. “American Girl,” “Free Fallin,” “Breakdown,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” and so many more will fill the Mainstage! Join us for a rockin’ night with these enduring tunes and the incredible artists that will have you swooning and hungry for more!

The Music of Tom Petty
Feb 24 @ 7:30 pm
Flat Rock Playhouse Leiman Mainstage

The Music of Tom Petty.jpg

The ‘Queen’ Boys are back with The Music of Tom Petty. You filled the houses in 2019 for their Eagles/Beatles concert, 2020’s The Music of Queen, and their 2021 SOLD OUT outdoor Stadium Concert. Now they’re back to bring you the iconic music of Tom Petty. “American Girl,” “Free Fallin,” “Breakdown,” “Don’t Do Me Like That,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” and so many more will fill the Leiman Mainstage! Join us for a rockin’ night with these enduring tunes and the incredible artists that will have you swooning and hungry for more!

 

 

Brett Dennen
Feb 24 @ 8:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Brett Dennen See the World (Mick Music) Brett Dennen is telling us to get out and see the world at a time when we need it more than ever. Flame-haired, six-foot-five, and with a singular gift for meditating on life’s most meaningful subjects with equal parts innocence and razor sharp wit, you know Dennen from his decade-plus career as a singer/songwriter. With a successful string of albums and four Top Ten AAA singles like “Make You Crazy,” “Wild Child,” and 2018’s “Already Gone,” which achieved his highest chart position yet, Dennen has cemented himself as a fixture in American folk music. What you may not know about Brett is that he did not set out to be a professional musician. It is a surprising revelation for someone who embodies the best of songwriting: singular storytelling, singability, and the unique capacity to hold up a mirror to our lives, our society, and the greater world.

Before all that, he was a painter – a skilled visual artist with a well-honed perspective and a style very much his own. Perhaps it is not so surprising, then, that his lyrics have always seemed to bloom before one’s eyes, somehow both stark and colorful, intricately constructed and sweeping in their scope.

And before all that he was a young, avid outdoorsman who spent his childhood camping with his father in and around the Sierra Nevada Mountains, learning the intricacies of the natural world in his native California. Dennen’s greatest passion then and now has perhaps been the earth – and it was only as a camp counselor, in front of a roaring campfire with the wilderness unfolding in the background, that he fell in love with the idea of playing music. As an adult he has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, trekked in Nepal, and is a fierce advocate for environmental protection. He even wrote the new Smokey Bear theme song for Smokey’s 75th birthday.

In recent years, Brett Dennen has started to let the world in on his secrets. In 2017, he created the “Lift Series” and “Vacationer Series,” two annual tours wherein he combines shows in ski and beach towns with conservation initiatives and education in each locale. An avid skier and surfer as well as a conservationist, Dennen works with local organizations to spearhead beach clean-ups and educate young people to become climate stewards, driving awareness through his music and marrying just a few of his many sides in one effort to help drive positive change. He has also begun to sell some of the hundreds of paintings that accumulate in his California home; he has even let us all in on his artistic process through an Instagram video series called Paint and Play. He recently launched Dennen Goods Co., a lifestyle brand that aims to inspire.

 

LUCY DACUS with Indigo De Souza
Feb 24 @ 8:00 pm
The Orange Peel

SENSE – Dancing, Drinks, Hookahs, Music by DJ AUDIO & Jaze Uries
Feb 24 @ 9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Polanco Restaurant

Grab your girls and come dance!

AMG Late Nights is spicing up Thursdays with SENSE – Enjoy drink specials, Hookahs, and music by DJ AUDIO and No_Fxcking.Requests.

*No Cover until February*

*VIP Coming Soon*

*Lighting by Raydio*

Friday, February 25, 2022
— NURTURING CHILDREN — BLACK HISTORY MONTH READING LIST
Feb 25 all-day
online

It is our hope that the many accomplishments that Black people have made, and continue to make in this country, are celebrated every day of the year as Black history IS American History. Beyond that, we challenge everyone to consider, not just the momentous, exceptional, or singular figures but to truly celebrate Blackness. Visit our blog post designed with our partners at Read2Suceed that includes a children’s reading list of both historic characters and Black characters to add to your child’s library.

2022 Issues Survey, It’s Vital We Hear From Your Downtown Business
Feb 25 all-day
online
Twice each year, we survey our membership and the downtown business community. Surveys are an important tool in gathering feedback from our members. The results will be presented at our State of Downtown Luncheon on Tuesday, March 8.

The survey takes about 15-20 minutes to complete. This survey is focused on downtown businesses. We want to hear from owners and employees alike, so please share with your staff. **We hope to work with partners to develop at survey for residents later in the year.

Access the survey here.

Survey data is shared with City Council, County Commission and appropriate staff. It is also discussed at meetings with partners and other organizations working towards solutions. It’s important that we hear from as many businesses as possible.

Apply for a Preservation Grant Today!
Feb 25 all-day
online w/Preservation Society of Asheville and Buncombe County
The Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County
  Grants from $500 – $5000 will be offered to the public in three categories:
  1. Bricks-And-Mortar
Rehabilitation, restoration and repair of structures that are 50 years of age or older
  1. Public Education
Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history
  1. Planning, Survey and Designation
Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations
Apply for Justice Resource Advisory Council
Feb 25 all-day
online

Are you looking for a great way to get involved with your community and make a difference? Board, committee, and commission members aid the governing process by keeping Buncombe County in touch with the ideas and attitudes of our community. They help provide direction for the allocation of funds, the provision of human services, protection of residents, property, and our natural resources.

Public input is vitally important to the success of our County, and right now Buncombe County has vacancies on a number of boards and commissions. Learn more about vacancies, deadlines to apply, and the application process at buncombecounty.org/transparency.

Featured Board & Commission vacancies

Justice Resource Advisory Council: Leveraging best practices to increase system efficiency, promote public safety & community wellness.

Are you interested in the inner workings of Buncombe County’s criminal justice system? The Justice Resource Advisory Council (JRAC) is seeking one at-large community member.

JRAC is a collaborative initiative and advisory body with leadership from Buncombe County and representatives from the criminal justice and court system focusing on systemic planning and coordination for crucial needs in the criminal justice system. JRAC examines potential improvements to the system, sets priorities, makes recommendations, and guides their implementation. Top priorities are:

  • Jail population reduction
  • Diverting individuals with mental illness and substance abuse into treatment
  • Increasing court efficiency
  • Data integration
  • Community engagement
  • Addressing racial and ethnic disparities
  • Juvenile justice
  • Re-entry support

The JRAC meets the first Friday of February, April, June, August, October, and December at 12:30 p.m. at 200 College Street Ground Floor, unless otherwise announced.  Apply online here.

Current Buncombe County Boards & Commissions vacancies

  • Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee: 1 vacancy, Deadline Jan. 11, 2022
  • Agricultural Advisory Board: 1 vacancy, Until filled
  • Justice Resource Advisory Council: 1 vacancy (community member at-large) Until filled
  • Homeless Initiative:  1 vacancy; Until filled
  • Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC):  1 vacancy (1 person under the age of 21 years or a member of the public representing the interests of families of youth at-risk of justice involvement); 1 vacancy (member of faith community); 1 vacancy (community member at-large); 1 vacancy (representative of Parks & Recreation) Until filled
  • Nursing Home Community Advisory Committee: Ongoing need
  • Adult Care Home Community Advisory Committee: Ongoing need
Asheville City’s Homeless Initiative: Point-In-Time Count Dashboard Launch
Feb 25 all-day
online
homelessness
Point-In-Time Count

Point in Time (PIT) Count Dashboard and Web Page Available on the City of Asheville Website

 

2021 Point in Time (PIT) count data is now available on the City of Asheville website.  The PIT data is displayed via dashboard, and presents numbers on those experiencing homelessness, either in emergency shelter, transitional housing or who are unsheltered. The 2022 Point in Time Count happened on January 25, and this dashboard will be updated with the new data later in the spring.

 

Each year, the City of Asheville, in collaboration with a number of local organizations that focus on housing insecurity, collects data on the people in our community that are experiencing homelessness in the annual Point in Time (PIT) count. The data collected are aggregated, with identifying information removed, and then are reported to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which requires that all communities that receive HUD funding to address homelessness conduct an annual PIT Count. This count is a one night “snapshot” that, when taken each year, can provide an overview of the population and trends over time.

 

“Understanding who is homeless in our community and what their needs are is essential in the work of ending homelessness.  We’re excited to partner with the Office of Data and Performance to share this information with the community so that stakeholders can be empowered with the data we all need to develop strategies that move the needle on homelessness,” stated Emily Ball, Homeless Services System Performance Lead for the City of Asheville.

 

The dashboard displays information on homeless Asheville residents broken down by sheltered status and race. Visitors to the webpage can explore the data further by clicking the link at the bottom of the dashboard, which navigates to a spreadsheet where the data is broken down by gender, ethnicity, and veteran’s status, as well as the number of people who are chronically homeless in our community. The dashboard is a collaborative effort between the City’s Homeless Initiative in the Community and Economic Development department and the Office of Data & Performance in IT Services.

The PIT Dashboard and information regarding its findings are located on the City of Asheville’s website.  For more information on the City’s Homeless Initiative, contact Brian Huskey ([email protected]) or Emily Ball ([email protected]). For information on affordable housing, emergency housing, rental assistance or down payment assistance, or to learn how to assist our homeless community, please call 211. The service is free, confidential and available in any language.

Asheville Gallery of Art’s February 2022 Exhibit; New Members Show
Feb 25 all-day
Asheville Gallery of Art

Asheville Gallery of Art’s February show, “Time for Renewal” will feature works by three new gallery members: Kathy Goodson, Margie Kluska, and Johnnie Stanfield. The show will run February 1-28 during gallery hours, 11am-6pm. An event to meet the artists will be held at the gallery on First Friday, February 4, from 5-8pm at 82 Patton Avenue.

This show represents a seasonal reset. What is to come will be better. We have had our time to pause, and now it is time to refresh. For the earth, this is Spring, a time for new growth. In February, the light begins to change, and shadows shift. Underlying it all is the promise of our renewal.

Kathy Goodson
Color is one of Kathy’s visual languages. She captures the drama of her botanical flowers and leaves so they appear to leap off the painting…a visual feast in silk and dye or encaustic. The thrill of creating something unexpected is an elixir to her, with reds and fuchsia being her favorites. When creating an abstract, she begins by thinking about color, then a story begins to grow, which leads to a visual symbol or image, loaded with meaning related to the story. All of this happens before she puts the first brush stroke on the silk or
the wood. Her process is interactive, and she lets the painting create, then lead her.
“Color captivates me especially when winter begins to change into spring. The Lenten Rose is the first to emerge in late winter, with subtle and muted colors…unlike the later flowers of spring and summer.”

Margie Kluska
Margie has been drawing since she was a child. She enjoys studying the works of the classical artists and Hudson River School painters, and she has only recently taken up oil painting. Her inspiration is taken from nature, landscapes, wildlife, and flora. Living surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains has inspired her to paint views that take one’s breath away. Distant mountain ranges, glorious sunsets, soaring hawks, and ever-changing weather patterns offer her extensive references which she captures on canvas. Her style, “loose realism”, captures the reality of each scene with a slight bent towards Impressionism.
“Light affects our moods. Whether it’s a sunrise, sunset, or storm clouds parting to expose a blue sky, our moods are instantly transformed.”

Johnnie Stanfield
An award-winning artist, Johnnie is known for her colorful, vivid watercolor and acrylic paintings of horses, fishing lure studies, and local landscapes. She is inspired by the emotion created when she sees an object or something in nature that recalls a past memory. She is then compelled to paint it, to convey and share that feeling with the viewer. Johnnie will paint a subject in watercolor to give it a softer feel so the viewer can devote their own emotion to the painting or add to the emotion she has created. If it is detailed, she will usually use acrylic or oil. Her paintings hang in private collections throughout the Southeast.
”Sheltering in Place” was inspired by my cat, during the shelter in place mandate in Spring, 2020. Like all of us, we waited for the sunshine, to renew our spirit and celebrate its warmth, while wondering when we could go back out into the world and resume our life as usual.”

For further information about this show, please contact the Asheville Gallery of Art at (828) 251-5796, visit the gallery’s website at www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or go to the gallery’s Facebook page.

Asheville Outlets’ Virtual Food Drive for MANNA FoodBank
Feb 25 all-day
online

Thanks for Supporting Asheville Outlets’ Virtual Food Drive for MANNA FoodBank

Asheville: We need your help! at the future Karen Cragnolin Park
Feb 25 all-day
future Karen Cragnolin Park

We’re looking for a team of dedicated volunteers to commit to monthly service days at the site of the future Karen Cragnolin Park. Volunteers will work outside at a safe social distance to remove invasive species. We will be working in groups of 15 or less and wearing masks to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

If you are interested in helping please fill out this survey (link below) so we can determine the best day and time to offer this monthly day of service.

Karen Cragnolin Park Update: We are delighted to report that the remediation of Karen Cragnolin Park (KCP) – named in honor of our visionary founder – is complete, and that we are initiating the first phase of the project by constructing the park’s greenway and an accompanying landscaped corridor. This will activate and connect the park (to the two adjacent greenways) and continue the journey of bringing the park fully online. Our goal with this phase is to create a beautiful aesthetic corridor with carefully selected plantings and design elements accompanied by educational, cultural and historical signage for people to experience as they move through the park. This phase is projected to cost approximately $1 million and will be achieved through individual donors and institutional and grant funding. Construction will begin when funding commitments are secured. To learn more about supporting our efforts please contact me at [email protected].

KC Park Greenway
Current plans for phase one with the installation of the new greenway.

As background, the 5.3 acre site was formerly home to the EDACO junkyard for over 50 years. Located adjacent to the French Broad River and bounded by Amboy Road, the car crushing operation contaminated the land and water with oil, gas, grease and antifreeze. RiverLink worked with experts to implement an extensive soil remediation process to restore the land.

Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architecture’s vision for KCP is bold and transformative. Upon full completion, KCP will serve as one of the missing links in the larger open space and greenway system, connecting Carrier Park to French Broad River Park. KCP will offer a contemplative and rejuvenating space that honors the natural and cultural history of the site while providing access to the water’s edge. The park will also stabilize riparian edges, collect and slow stormwater, and promote a wide range of habitats. The completed project will embrace the concept of a “living laboratory” – an outdoor classroom that makes the dynamic riparian and ecological processes visible. An educational, stimulating, and enjoyable park experience will cultivate a community invested in the long-term stewardship of the river and the park system for generations to come. Please see our website for the Master Plan and complete vision.

BE THE CHANGE, BUY A MURAL
Feb 25 all-day
online

Buy one of these murals for yourself or to donate to a local organization (make sure you check with them first), and keep the good work going! All proceeds from this auction will be split evenly between The Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Asheville and Buncombe County’s COPE Program and the Asheville Area Arts Council’s Arts Build Community Grant. Auction ends February 28.

Following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, on May 25, 2020, protests broke out across the nation. Floyd was killed after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. In response, hundreds of protestors gathered in downtown Asheville from May 29- June 6, 2020, with cries for justice and change.

During this time, Lowe’s Home Improvement generously donated plywood for downtown business owners to cover their storefronts while Asheville had its own reckoning. Business owners and artists seized this opportunity to lend their support for needed changes by painting murals on the plywood covering downtown businesses. Local muralists Gus Cutty, Kathryn Crawford, and Dustin Spagnola were the driving force behind this initiative.

When it came time for the murals to come down, local artists Evar Hecht and Ben Nelson had the foresight to collect and temporarily store these works, gathering over 150 pieces of plywood. The Asheville Area Arts Council, with the help of Dogwood Health Trust, then stepped in to move the murals to a secure, climate-controlled storage facility and worked with Aisha Adams of Equity Over Everything to determine next steps.

After several COVID setbacks, the arts council is proud to have partnered with the Martin Luther King Jr Association of Asheville and Buncombe County to present this virtual exhibition, auction and speaker series. It is our hope that the proceeds from the auction will support continued change and healing  in our community.

Thank you to Dogwood Health Trust for generously providing the funding to make this project possible, and to the artists and business owners for donating their time and energy to capture this moment in our history.

A video about the exhibition is featured as part of the 41st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration.

Black HERSTORY Month
Feb 25 all-day
online

#BlackHerstoryMonth is this month! 🎉 The perspectives of #BlackFeminists have consistently transformed the fights for gender equity and racial justice to ensure we can continue to build a world of equity, justice, and freedom for all. That’s why, all month, we’re celebrating Black feminism and centering the work of powerful Black sheroes past and present doing the critical intersectional work to #EliminateRacism and #EmpowerWomen. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram all month long as we center the unsung legacy of Black feminism: from Jane Crow to Intersectionality.