Calendar of Events

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

• Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
• Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

• Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
• Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

• Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
• Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

• Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
• Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

• Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
• Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

• $5,000 stipend to conduct research in an archive of choice

Ever wondered what it’s like to drive a racecar? Buncombe County Public Libraries has added The Track at Asheville as a new ZOOM partner. Each ZOOM pass will give up to four drivers 30 minutes of hot laps in a standard rig (race simulator) at The Track. Utilizing state-of-the-art hardware and software, you can choose your car, track, and conditions to experience the thrill of driving racecars around simulated tracks all over the world. No experience is necessary.

ZOOM passes at The Track require two things:

1. You need to book a ZOOM pass on the Library’s website.
2. You will also need to visit The Track’s website and use the reservation code provided to reserve your seat.

You are responsible for booking your timed reservation and you will need to bring your ZOOM pass to The Track to use your reservation. You can only drive if you have a ZOOM pass and a reservation. ZOOM passes for The Track are for ages 8 and up.

If you have any questions or need a library card to start ZOOMing, just let us know.

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

• Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
• Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

Applications are open, and the deadline for submission is December 15, 2023. The WNC Center for Craft Artist in Residency program is trailblazing a new source of support for Western North Carolina (WNC) artists.

Grant Overview:

• Selected artists will receive a $10,000 honorarium, a testament to supporting the cultural sector in WNC.
• In addition, a $2,000 materials stipend will be provided to help artists realize their creative visions.

For a period of 8 weeks, artists will have exclusive access to dedicated studio space at the Center for Craft, conveniently located in the vibrant heart of downtown Asheville, NC.

The two selected artists will work alongside two Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residents in a cohort of four artists. This opportunity allows for each resident to have their own studio space and the time to work independently and to also build relationships with the other residents and participate in engagement with the Western North Carolina region through studio visits with curators, museums, and collectors and explore other regional craft schools.

This unique opportunity will empower artists to flourish in an environment designed to nurture their craft. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that’s redefining support for craft in the region.

• $5,000 stipend to conduct research in an archive of choice

Ever wondered what it’s like to drive a racecar? Buncombe County Public Libraries has added The Track at Asheville as a new ZOOM partner. Each ZOOM pass will give up to four drivers 30 minutes of hot laps in a standard rig (race simulator) at The Track. Utilizing state-of-the-art hardware and software, you can choose your car, track, and conditions to experience the thrill of driving racecars around simulated tracks all over the world. No experience is necessary.

ZOOM passes at The Track require two things:

1. You need to book a ZOOM pass on the Library’s website.
2. You will also need to visit The Track’s website and use the reservation code provided to reserve your seat.

You are responsible for booking your timed reservation and you will need to bring your ZOOM pass to The Track to use your reservation. You can only drive if you have a ZOOM pass and a reservation. ZOOM passes for The Track are for ages 8 and up.

If you have any questions or need a library card to start ZOOMing, just let us know.

We love contra dance, and nobody gets paid for making the dances happen. We all just pitch in. You can too. Here’s how it works:

• Help us OPEN or CLOSE, and dance for free all night long! It only takes 30 minutes to an hour.
• Help us at the DOOR, and dance for free half the night AND another whole night!

ALSO – if you want to volunteer on a regular basis, e.g. work the early door every 3rd Thursday, tell us and we’ll set that up!

The Volunteer page on the OFB website has a convenient, easy-to-use sign-up form for each of our dances.

Kayla Birstein is our volunteer coordinator. If you have questions or ideas about volunteering, contact info is on the Volunteer page.

Volunteer Opportunities

Early Host: Arrive by 7:15, greet the sound tech, band, and caller. Get into the safe, take out the starter money, count and fill out pay-out sheet. And advise/supervise volunteers.

Openers (3 people needed): Early Arrive by 7:15 pm, check in with Early Host, sweep the hall, set up chairs, make sure the bathrooms are clean and stocked.

Early Door Person (2 people needed): Arrive by 7:30 check, in with Early Host, work when needed to take money at the door. Alternate with your other door people and Early host to switch off who sits and who dances. Goes ’til 9:00pm.

Closers (3 people needed): Job time: 10 minutes. Break down the hall, put away chairs, tables, sweep the floors, empty and take out trash. Check in with the Late Host to make sure everything is done

Late Host: Arrive by 9:30, check-in with Early Host, the pay-out form should be filled out. Dancers should pay full price until first contra after the waltz break. Count the money, do the payout, supervise breakdown and close the hall.

Applications are open, and the deadline for submission is December 15, 2023. The WNC Center for Craft Artist in Residency program is trailblazing a new source of support for Western North Carolina (WNC) artists.

Grant Overview:

• Selected artists will receive a $10,000 honorarium, a testament to supporting the cultural sector in WNC.
• In addition, a $2,000 materials stipend will be provided to help artists realize their creative visions.

For a period of 8 weeks, artists will have exclusive access to dedicated studio space at the Center for Craft, conveniently located in the vibrant heart of downtown Asheville, NC.

The two selected artists will work alongside two Virginia A. Groot Material Exploration Residents in a cohort of four artists. This opportunity allows for each resident to have their own studio space and the time to work independently and to also build relationships with the other residents and participate in engagement with the Western North Carolina region through studio visits with curators, museums, and collectors and explore other regional craft schools.

This unique opportunity will empower artists to flourish in an environment designed to nurture their craft. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative that’s redefining support for craft in the region.

• $5,000 stipend to conduct research in an archive of choice