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, July 27, 2023
Queer Music Exploration
Jul 27 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
LEAF Global Arts

Queer Music Exploration – Students will explore guitar, bass, drums, singing and piano with a focus on learning music by artists from the LGBTQ+ community. Students will have the chance to interact with their peers and share their experiences through music.

Mountain Housing Opportunities 35th Anniversary Celebration + Fundraiser
Jul 27 @ 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Highland Brewing Company

We’re Celebrating 35 Years of Building Hope and Dignity

Mountain Housing Opportunities was founded in 1988 by volunteers who wanted to ensure that everyone – no matter their income – had a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. Since then, MHO has worked tirelessly to create, preserve, and revitalize affordable homes in thriving communities in Buncombe County and beyond. As we celebrate our 35th Anniversary, we’re more committed and more productive than ever before.

At this year’s celebration, we will honor our very own Scott Dedman. Scott is one of MHO’s original volunteer founders and will retire this August after 30 years as MHO’s President & Executive Director.

The need for affordable housing in our region has never been greater. Contributions in support of MHO’s housing programs and services are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

We hope you will join us!

5:30-6:30 pm Rooftop Reception

6:30-7:15 pm Dinner

7:15-7:45 pm Program

7:45-9:00 pm Dessert & Merriment

“Lifescapes in Color: A Collective Tapestry” Art Opening Reception at Mountain Madre in Asheville
Jul 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Mountain Madre

Asheville, NC – July 27, 2023 at 6pm – Asheville-based watercolor artist Natalie Ray proudly presents her latest collection, “Lifescapes in Color: A Collective Tapestry,” which is now on display at Mountain Madre, located at 13 W Walnut Street in downtown Asheville. This vibrant series of large-scale watercolor paintings invites the public to immerse themselves in a world of captivating hues and thought-provoking narratives.
An opening reception for “Lifescapes in Color: A Collective Tapestry” is slated for July 27th at 6pm at Mountain Madre’s private event space. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with the artist, gain deeper insights into the creative process, and immerse themselves in the vibrant world depicted within the artwork.
Each piece in the collection comprises 234 unique paintings, reflecting the intricate and multifaceted nature of existence. Similar to the diverse experiences encountered throughout a lifetime, every square within the artwork possesses its own depth, richness, and layers. When viewed collectively, they form a mesmerizing universe of color, inviting viewers to explore the interconnectedness of human existence.
Beyond capturing the essence of individual lives, Ray aims to celebrate the profound beauty that emerges from our cherished relationships. From parents and children to siblings, extended family, and friends, the intertwining threads of human connection are beautifully portrayed in this collection. Like the intricate patterns of a quilt, these interwoven experiences form something truly invaluable.
About the Artist
Natalie Ray is a watercolor artist based in the beautiful mountain city of Asheville, North Carolina. Watercolor painting has always been a passion for Natalie but she developed her skill as an artist while living in Barcelona, Spain in 2003-2004. After moving to Asheville, Natalie joined the artist community of the River Arts District, continuing her art education under internationally known and award-winning artists. Now Natalie lives and paints in Asheville with her musician husband, Justin Ray, their three young children.

For further information, please visit natalieonpaper.com or contact Natalie Ray at [email protected]

Pritchard Park Summer Series: Singer/Songwriters
Jul 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Pritchard Park

For this year’s Pritchard Park Songwriter Series, the Asheville Association is teaming up with Paloma Madre who are best known for bringing Asheville the wildly successful, international concept, Open Folk. Each week will feature two world class songwriters from our community playing introspective and honest tunes about life in the 21st century. Pritchard Park will once again be filled with the sweet sounding songs of heartbreak, true love, heavy loss, and lots and lots of goofin. It’s a guaranteed good time that won’t cost you a dime!!

Waverly Live Features: The Gathering Dark
Jul 27 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Waverly Inn

2023 Waverly Live

Join us on select Thursdays from April through September for live Americana music from the Waverly front porch along with great southern fare and cold beverages. Bring a lawn chair and/or blanket from 6-8pm for a great evening in Hendersonville.

June 29: The Gathering Dark, Waverly Front Porch Series

July 27: The Last Full Measure, Waverly Front Porch Series

September 7: Angela Easterling, Waverly Front Porch Series

October 5: David Childers, Waverly Front Porch Series

Zahner Lecture Series – Sounds Wild and Broken
Jul 27 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Highlands Nature Center

Featured Speaker: David George Haskell, Ph.D.; Author and William R. Kenan Jr. Professor; University of the South

 

Sonic communication was a late-comer to the evolution of life on Earth. But once song got started, the links that it forged became powerful generative forces. Today, the diverse sounds around us – from chirping crickets, to birdsong, to the human music in our earbuds – reveal the many layers of this evolutionary and cultural creativity. Yet sonic diversity is also threatened worldwide. Using examples from his own explorations of sound, Haskell will show how attention to the sensory richness of the world, especially its sonic dimensions, can root and guide exploration, ethics, and action

Democratic Women of Buncombe County – July General Meeting
Jul 27 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Buncombe County Democratic Party

Catch up with Dem Women of Buncombe County and hear from members of the Asheville City School Board & Buncombe County School Board. Light refreshments will be served.

We are collecting back-to-school items for the organization Beloved Asheville. Items on the list include:

Elementary Age Backpacks Crayons/Markers Glue Sticks/Scissors Pencils/Erasers Pencil Pouches Notebooks Lunch Boxes Water Bottles Folders Hand Sanitizer Tablets Dry Erase Markers

Middle/High School age Backpacks 3 Ring Binders Notebook Paper Pens/Pencils Highlighters Calculators Laptops & Tablets Hand Sanitizer Art Supplies Planner/Calendars Headphones Water Bottles

Friday, July 28, 2023
 Missing Middle Housing Survey
Jul 28 all-day
online
Local examples of Missing Middle Housing including an accessory dwelling unit (left), small apartment house (center), and townhomes (right)
Local examples of Missing Middle Housing including an accessory dwelling unit (left), small apartment house (center), and townhomes (right)

In April 2023 the City began a Missing Middle Housing study to identify barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply in Asheville. The term “missing middle” is meant to describe a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, including such examples as duplexes, cottage courts, and fourplexes.

 

As part of the study, the team is conducting a Renter’s Survey to better understand housing preferences and needs from the perspective of Asheville’s renting population. Anyone wishing to participate in the anonymous survey can access it at the project website or directly by clicking the following link: Renter’s Survey. This survey will be accessible until Friday, August 11, 2023.

Applications open: 2024 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Jul 28 all-day
online w/ Asheville Fringe Arts

APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW!

Do you have a boundary-pushing, innovative performance piece, short film or installation that you’re ready to share?

We will open applications for the film portion of the festival in fall 2023. Films must be submitted via FilmFreeway. Our application fee for films is $5.


NOW CONSIDERING WORKS OF ALL KINDS

We accept live performances from 5 to 60 minutes in length, plus installations and films. We’re open to other types of performance as well – let’s talk! Depending on its length, your piece may be grouped with another show, or scheduled as a Random Act of Fringe. RAFs are free and open to the public, and artists receive a stipend for their performance, rather than relying on door sales.

Typically each artist with a ticketed show gets 2 performances. But in 2024, we’re exploring the option of giving a few shows 3 performances, at select venues only. Our venues range from 20-80 person capacity.

1. FRINGE SHOT

A piece that is
5-15 minutes long

May be paired with another performance, or be selected as a free Random Act of Fringe.

2. SHORT FORM

A piece that is
20-40 minutes long

May be paired with another show.

3. FULL-LENGTH

A piece that is
45-60 minutes long

Ticketed theater-style show.

4. INSTALLATION

A piece that is
Site-specific (any length)

May be in an unusual location, or repeated many times. May be seen by as few as one person at a time.

5. FILM

A piece that is
Designed specifically for film.

May be of any genre & length. Could be combined with other films for a showcase or film night.
Submit on Film Freeway Fall 2023

3. THE ASHEVILLE FRINGE ARTS FESTIVAL IS A JURIED FESTIVAL.

We carefully review each and every submission. You’ll know by late October if your piece is selected. Should your piece get selected, there is a $35 participation fee.

Arts for Schools Grant
Jul 28 all-day
online

Budget cuts, increased testing requirements, and narrowing of curricula have significantly impacted school districts’ ability to provide inclusive, high-quality visual and performing arts experiences. And, while some families are able to subsidize children’s exposure to performing, visual, and fine arts experiences, students living in poverty face numerous systemic barriers which make such access nearly, if not entirely, impossible.

The Arts for Schools grant helps nonprofit arts organizations and qualified teaching artists in Buncombe County provide arts focused performances, workshops, residencies, and field trips for students attending K-12 public schools in Buncombe County. Priority is given to proposals benefiting economically disadvantaged schools and/or underserved communities, ensuring that students from all demographics receive the benefits of these programs. Multicultural programs will also receive priority. Grants range from $500-$1,000.

Sponsored by

Interested in supporting these amazing programs? Click here to learn more.

Asheville renters’ opportunities to give feedback
Jul 28 all-day
The city of Asheville

Do you live and rent in the City of Asheville?

Do you want an opportunity to share your experience as a renter?

The City wants to hear from you! 

Our Community and Economic Development staff is addressing housing in Asheville by looking at what we call “missing middle housing”.  “Missing middle housing” refers to housing types, such as duplexes, triplexes, or townhomes, that can be said to have largely been missing from the residential housing market over the last 70 years. You can describe middle residential as housing types that live in the middle of two common and well-known housing options: Single-family homes and large-scale multi-family housing apartment buildings.

Local examples of Missing Middle Housing including an accessory dwelling unit (left), small apartment house (center), and townhomes (right)
Local examples of Missing Middle Housing including an accessory dwelling unit (left), small apartment house (center), and townhomes (right)

Join the discussion in 2 ways!

Take our survey:  Renter’s Survey.

In April 2023 the City began a Missing Middle Housing Study  to identify barriers that negatively impact the production of housing supply in Asheville. The term “missing middle” is meant to describe a range of house-scale buildings with multiple units that are compatible in scale and form with detached single-family homes, including such examples as duplexes, cottage courts, and fourplexes.

As part of the study, the team is conducting a Renter’s Survey to better understand housing preferences and needs from the perspective of Asheville’s renting population. Anyone wishing to participate in the anonymous survey can access it at the project website or directly by clicking the following link: Renter’s SurveyThis survey will be accessible until Friday, August 11, 2023. 

Attend a workshop : August 4, 2023

Another approaching engagement opportunity will be a public workshop to be held next month. The free workshop will be an open-house format where attendees can drop in anytime between 4 – 7 p.m. on August 4th at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center’s Banquet Hall (87 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801). Attendees will learn more about missing middle housing and how it can help to expand housing choice, increase entry-level home ownership opportunities, help homeowners to build generational wealth and passive income, and enable local ownership and neighborhood-driven investment.

The workshop is a family-friendly event that will include a series of stations for participants to learn and discuss specific housing-related topics. At each station there will be an opportunity to give feedback that will help guide the final Missing Middle Housing report. This report will ultimately make recommendations to help Asheville prioritize next steps for regulatory changes and strategies that support more housing choices in Asheville. Topics that will be highlighted at the workshop include:

  • Project Overview: Timeline, engagement opportunities, and next steps
  • Asheville’s Housing Needs: What are the most significant housing challenges facing Asheville?
  • Missing Middle Housing Outcomes:  What are the benefits of missing middle housing and how have other cities implemented these housing strategies?
  • MMH Building Types: What are the types of housing included in the study and which missing middle housing types would fit into your neighborhood?
  • What We’ve Heard So Far: What are the concerns and barriers that exist in Asheville today?

For those who cannot attend the in-person event, all workshop materials and accompanying surveys will be available on the City’s project website.

Be a Community Scientist by Participating in NC State Tick Study
Jul 28 all-day
30 Valley St, Asheville,

Are you a community scientist itching to contribute to a North Carolina study? NC State University is conducting a study about human exposure to ticks in North Carolina and is partnering with Buncombe County Public Health to help distribute tick collection kits.

Participants should be 18 years or older and would be required to collect ticks, complete a survey, and send their findings via mail.

The study will evaluate a community science approach to tick surveillance and exposure risk in North Carolina.

Study Details

  • Participants will only submit ticks pulled off of themselves (not animals)
  • Each tick kit should come from the same time and location, use different kits for other times and locations
  • Participants will fill out a survey for each kit including identifying the type of tick
  • No information will be shared and participants will not be identified from their responses
  • Kits will be sent back to researchers in a provided return envelope
  • There is no pay for participation

Tick kits can be picked up at 30 Valley Street in Asheville. Each kit will include a postage-paid envelope, two collection vials, instructions for collecting ticks, and a survey for participants to complete.

NCSU cannot provide information on pathogens that may be within the tick nor medical advice or recommendations.

During the summer, ticks, and mosquitos reproduce quickly due to the warmer weather. This means your chance of contracting a severe illness from mosquito and tick bites increases. Learn more about what steps you can take to prevent mosquito and tick bites.

City of Asheville implements changes to leaf bag collection beginning August 1
Jul 28 all-day
City of Asheville

The City of Asheville is committed to promoting environmental sustainability and reducing plastic waste.

As part of these efforts, the City will be implementing a new ordinance, effective August 1, 2023, that prohibits the use of plastic bags for brush and leaf collection.

This regulation is in accordance with the Asheville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 15 §38(h). To assist with this transition, the City has provided paper yard waste bags for residents to sample. These are available at multiple locations. Reusable containers marked yard waste are also possible options. For more information regarding the change, visit the City’s website.

 

The City has provided information on alternative disposal methods on its website. One of the simplest and most efficient ways to manage loose leaves is through composting. Residents can use a mulching mower to run over the leaves, allowing them to compost directly into the lawn. Another option is to rake the leaves into a compost pile, which will decompose over time and serve as a beneficial soil additive for gardening purposes. Get more info on leaf composting here, or general composting options.

 

The City of Asheville remains dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and protecting the environment. By implementing this plastic bag prohibition for brush and leaf collection, the City is taking another step towards building a cleaner and greener community while having efficient and safe conditions for workers.

Grassroots Subgrant Application Now Open
Jul 28 all-day
online
Since 1977, the N.C. Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. The program distributes funds for the arts in all 100 counties of the state primarily through partnerships with local arts councils. Grassroots Arts Program funds may be used for expenditures to conduct quality arts programs or operate an arts organization.
Deadline: Saturday, July 29, 2023
Subgrant winners will be notified by mid-September, 2023.
Have a Gardening Question? Contact the Helpline! 2023 Schedule
Jul 28 all-day
Extension Office

Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers will be staffing the Helpline as indicated in the schedule below. You may send an email or leave a voicemail at any time and an Extension Master Gardener volunteer will respond during Garden Helpline hours. When emailing, please include a photo if it helps describe your garden question. Soil test kits can be picked up at the Extension office, 24/7. The kits are located in a box outside the front door.

Three ways to contact the Garden Helpline
Call 828-255-5522
Email questions and photos to [email protected]
Visit the Extension Office at 49 Mt. Carmel Road during Helpline hours, listed below.

Garden Helpline Hours

March – (starts March 6)
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

April through September:
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Wednesday 12:00 Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

October – (ends October 26th) 
Monday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

We are here to help and support you! Please contact us. We look forward to answering your gardening questions.

Inqwiry: Outdoor Wire Sculptures by Josh Coté
Jul 28 all-day
Grovewood Village

Grovewood Gallery will present Inqwiry, an outdoor exhibition of wire animal sculptures by Bakersville, NC, artist Josh Coté. This event is open to the public and free to attend. Inqwiry will remain on view through August 13, 2023.

Need Help With Water Bills? New Water Assistance Program Could Offer Help.
Jul 28 all-day
online

If you’re behind on your water bill or afraid your water might get cut off, a new resource might be able to help you. On Jan. 4, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners approved more than $450,000 in federal funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The initiative is aimed at preventing water disconnections and helping reconnect drinking and wastewater services.

The LIHWAP will be administered by Buncombe County-based Eblen Charities. The nonprofit will make payments directly to utilities on behalf of qualifying households. The program is slated to run through Sept. 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.

Eligibility requirements

Households that currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First services, or those that received Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) services from Oct. 1, 2020-Sept. 30, 2021, are automatically eligible to receive this benefit if their water services have been cut off or are in danger of being cut off.

For additional eligibility information or to apply, please contact Eblen Charities at (828) 255-3066.

Preservation Grant
Jul 28 all-day
online w/ Preservation Society of Asheville & Buncombe County

The addition of preservation grants to our existing efforts in advocacy, technical support, preservation easements, and education, will allow us to reach a new and diverse audience.  This program will allow us to support both large and small projects from downtown Asheville to our rural and under-served communities.

Click here for the Grant Application

We look forward to helping with emergency stabilization projects and restorations of important places, to helping neighborhoods receive designations such as recognition on the National Register of Historic Places and to encouraging and supporting new and unique education and research opportunities.  We want to be surprised and humbled by the projects our community asks us to support!

As our city faces the inevitable challenges of growth, PSABC’s voice and reach must expand.  The important addition of this Preservation Grant Program comes in response to the needs of our community.

*Deadline to apply for the current grant round is Friday August 11th*

Preservation 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

Some examples: Windows and doors • Exterior painting • Porches • Roofs and gutters • Electrical and plumbing • Hardscaping • Foundation • Original exterior or interior details

  1. Public Education

Development of educational materials and programs that advance knowledge of our shared history

Some examples: Research and documentation • Oral histories • Installations specific to buildings, place history, and culture • Exhibitions • K–12 educational publications • Seminars and lectures • Documentary films

  1. Planning, Survey and Designation

Planning and design for building rehabilitation and restoration projects, historic resource surveys and local or national designations

Some examples: Historic building condition reports • Engineering and rehabilitation plans • Feasibility studies • Historic resource surveys • Updates of previous surveys • Local and national historic designations

Read about our past winners here!

Senior Programs with Asheville Parks + Rec.
Jul 28 all-day
Various Locations

3.1 WEB – WebTrac Activity Search (vermontsystems.com)

Social Seniors

Grove Street Community Center offers a variety of activities that include socializing and meeting new people, table games, trivia, cornhole, crafts, and more. We also offer an independent exercise area for your convenience. Come check us out, Monday -Friday 9:00am -5:00 pm. Please call 828-350-2062, for more information.

Grove Street Card Sharks

Card Sharks is the name, so bring your “A” Game!! This program offers a variety of card games such as Bid Whist, Spades, Tunk, and more. So bring a partner and come join in on the fun, Wednesday’s from 2:00pm-5:00pm. If you have any questions, please call 828-350-2062.

Senior Dining

Senior Congregate Dining is a year around program offered to Senior 60+ who are registered with Buncombe County’s Council on Aging Senior Meal Site. This program offers a variety of guest speakers, nutritious lunch, and a friendly social setting for participants. Offered Monday-Friday, 11:45AM-12:30PM. For more information please call 828-350-2062.

Billiards

Whether you are looking for a place to practice or have a friendly game our Billiards Room is open Monday- Friday 10:00am-5:00pm. There is no registration or fee required. Call the center for Saturday availability at 828-350-2062.

Exercise

For an Hour, come build some Power, with our gentle based chair exercise that is fun and upbeat. This program is offered every Tuesday from 10:00am-11:00am. All are welcome and this program is free of charge. If you have any questions call the center at 828-350-2062.

Be Active Live Longer

Come and workout at your convenience in our B.A.L.L. (Be Active Live Longer) area . This area offers a treadmill, weights, and bicycle. Call the center for more information. 828-350-2062

A Cappella Alive

If you love to sing and looking for a group that does, look no further. A Cappella Alive is a small non-profit chorus group that are looking for a few new members to join in as they bring joy to others by singing. If interested please feel free to stop by Senior Opportunity center Thursday’s from 6:00pm-9:00pm or contact us at (828) 350-2062.

Square Dancing

Circle 8 Square Dancing is a group that meets every Tuesday from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Come out and meet some new people and have a good time square dancing. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact (828) 350-2062.

Groove at the Grove

Looking for something to do on a Saturday afternoon? Come “Groove at the Grove” with us and enjoy 10 Tables of Games! Spades to Bid Whist, Uno to Phase 10, we have a table for you!!! Come meet new people and test your luck every 4th Saturday of the Month from 3pm-6pm. If you have any questions please contact Grove Street Community Center at (828)350-2062.

Pen to Paper Writing Group

Let’s share the stories of our lives. This event takes place every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month.  6/21, 7/5, 7/19, 8/2, 8/15
VOTE for Eblen Charities!
Jul 28 all-day
online

Eblen Charities - Transportation Assistance for Western North Carolina Residents for Job Access: Eblen Charities aims to provide transportation assistance to low-income residents to improve job access and economic mobility. They offer gas vouchers ranging from $25 to $50 to help individuals attend job interviews and medical appointments and cover transportation costs until they receive their first paycheck. The organization plans to expand its transportation assistance program by creating an online portal for voucher requests. With this grant, they aim to serve an additional 200 job seekers, increase the voucher amounts to address rising gas prices and double their program budget.

Food Scraps Drop Off: Buncombe County Landfill
Jul 28 @ 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

 

Locations Holidays call for hours

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center

85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

    • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

    • Dawn – Dusk

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

    • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

    • Library open hours
Biltmore Estate: Ciao! From Italy Sculptural Postcard Display
Jul 28 @ 8:30 am
Biltmore Estate

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Fundraising for the Renovation of Brevard’s Ecusta Field
Jul 28 @ 9:00 am
online

Funds for Fields: Youth Wellness Initiative

 

Pisgah Health Foundation is raising funds for renovations to the Ecusta Field, which is currently used by area athletes and community members and is in dire need of upgrades. The upgraded facility will allow for the expansion of youth athletic programs as well as open the field up for more events and recreational activities for everyone in Transylvania County.

 

With your donations and support, you can positively impact the lives of young athletes now! Soccer and other sports are integral in youth development, fostering physical, mental, and emotional growth. Additionally, outdoor recreational facilities are vital to our community’s wellbeing, especially since the pandemic led to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress as a result of decreased physical activity.

 

Along with others in our community, we hope you will join us in raising funds to renovate this field for all to enjoy in Brevard.

SUMMER ART CAMP: Printmaking-Grades 9–12
Jul 28 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

SUMMER ART CAMP 2023

Join us at the Museum for Summer Art Camp! Offered to rising K–12 grade students, all classes are age appropriate. Enrollment is limited, and pre-registration is required. Registration includes Museum admission and all materials necessary for each class. Classes are offered weekly June 19–August 7, 2023. Morning (9am–noon) and Afternoon (1–4pm) sessions are offered each week of camp. Students may sign up for both morning and afternoon and stay for both sessions. Register for Camp Now.

Cost:
Morning (9am–noon) or Afternoon (1–4pm) ½ day session either morning or afternoon: $130
All Day (9am–4pm both Morning and Afternoon sessions): $250
Members receive a 10% discount.

Waiting List:
If your desired session is sold out upon checkout, add your student’s name to our waiting list.

Financial Aid:
Email [email protected], or call 828.253.3227 x122 to inquire.
The Museum is committed to making our programs accessible to everyone, regardless of economic means. With support from the Walnut Cove Members Association, we are able to provide a limited amount of financial aid to help students who could not otherwise afford to enroll in our programs.

Judy Pfaff, …wind-deer and the honey-grass…

Judy Pfaff, …wind-deer and the honey-grass…, 2017, woodcut, hand painted dye and ink, archival inkjet, clear plastic film, varied edition of 12, 49¼ × 105 inches. 2017 Collectors’ Circle purchase, 2017.33.01

Crocheting | Live Demo
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Folk Art Center

Rita de Maintenon will be demonstrating heritage crochet lace techniques, with project samples of the various types, and an extra chair in her booth for curious visitors who might want some hands-on fun! You will find Rita in the lobby of the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visitors are encouraged to watch and ask questions while the demonstrators work and talk about their creative process! Call ahead for the latest updates: 828-358-3192.

Exhibition: NEO MINERALIA
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Photo credit:

Sae Honda. Courtesy of the Artist.

NEO MINERALIA suggests that recent rock formations no longer fit within the traditional groups: Igneous, Metamorphic, and Sedimentary. Instead, the Anthropocene, the era of human influence on the climate and environment, has introduced two post-natural rocks: Synthetic and Digital.

NEO MINERALIA presents a selection of new geological specimens crafted by ten international artists exploring rocks as reflections of our effects on human and nonhuman ecologies. By embedding synthetic materials (plastics, e-waste) and layers of data points (critical, financial, social) into the craftsmanship of these artifacts, the artists transgress the definition of rocks, turning them from passive aggregates of minerals into metaphorical aggregates of data. Within their apparent “rockness” we can decode hopes, warnings, and speculative future scenarios.

The featured works stemming from places as varied as Mexico, Japan, Poland, and Australia (including a curated artists’ books library), collectively signal a new era of planetary and geological consciousness where we are asked to read, feel, and listen to rocks in new ways.

Exhibition: Something earned, Something left behind
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Photo credit:

J Diamond, “Pony II,” 2022. Courtesy of the Artist

Something earned, Something left behind is an exhibition of objecthood; a critical analysis of the transactional and political languages of everyday and culturally significant objects. This exhibition challenges a history of exclusion and inclusion of People of Color (POC) and their narratives from the canon of craft based on subject matter. It dissects this history’s origins and precedent as an economic transaction to gain access to white spaces.

Racial and ethnic identity influences the way individuals perceive themselves, the way others perceive them, and the way they choose to behave. For this reason, People of Color are expected to perform certain roles in order to fit into hegemonic institutions. These roles can be an active shrinking of themselves and the racialized part of them, or a personal exploitation of their racialized selves. This exhibition addresses and redresses the ways narrowed populations have been included, and the ways in which they have been asked to participate.

Together, this work creates space for and legitimizes POC narratives with depth and care. The exhibiting artists’ practices work against institutionalized expectations of POC work, expanding discourse and inserting new subjectivity into the canon of craft art. It engages with a community hungry for the revitalization and resuscitation of non-Western voices within art spaces. This exhibition challenges the expectations of art from artists of marginalized backgrounds and embraces a new subjectivity of interrogating one’s inherited experiences.

Exhibition: Crafting Denim
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Center for Craft

Photo credit:

Photograph by Bowery Blue Makers

Jeans – with their standardized pockets, rivets, and denim – are so much a part of everyday wardrobes that they are easy to overlook. Yet, in workshops across the nation, independent makers are reevaluating the garment and creating jeans by hand, using antiquated equipment and denim woven on midcentury looms. Crafting Denim explores how and why jeans have come to exist at the intersections of industry and craft, modernity, and tradition.

A product of industrial factory production for over a century, jeans are being recast by a new cohort of small-scale makers including craftspeople like Ryan Martin of W.H. Ranch Dungarees, Takayuki Echigoya of Bowery Blue Makers, and Sarah Yarborough and Victor Lytvinenko of Raleigh Denim, who favor choice materials and small-batch fabrication. The jeans they make merge craft traditions with industry and extend the conversation between hand and machine.

Each maker creates a distinctive product but shares a deep appreciation for materials, tools, history, and denim. These jeans are in dialogue with the past and in line with contemporary interests in sustainability. The small workshops featured here are sites of innovation and preservation, and visitors are invited to take a close look at an everyday item and imagine alternative contexts for making and living in our own clothes.

Food Scraps Drop Off: West Asheville Library
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
West Asheville Library

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in

two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

 

Locations

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

Library open hours

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

    • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
    • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

    • Dawn – Dusk

 

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

        • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
        • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm
Italian Renaissance Alive
Jul 28 @ 10:00 am
Biltmore Estate

Explore Biltmore House with an Audio Guide that introduces you to the Vanderbilt family and their magnificent home’s history, architecture, and collections of fine art and furnishings.

PLUS: Immersive, multi-sensory Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition created by Grande Experiences

PLUS: FREE next-day access to Biltmore’s Gardens and Grounds

This visit includes access to:

  • Italian Renaissance Alive at Amherst at Deerpark®
  • 8,000 Acres of Gardens and Grounds for two consecutive days
  • Antler Hill Village & Winery
  • Complimentary Wine Tastings at the Winery
  • Tastings require a Day-of-Visit Reservation, which can be made by:
    • Scanning the QR Code found in your Estate Guide
    • Visiting any Guest Services location
  • Complimentary parking

Art Exhibition: Italian Renaissance Alive

This fascinating experience takes you on a spellbinding tour of Italy, fully immersing you in the beauty and brilliance of iconic masterworks from the greatest artistic period in history