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Arts AVL presents draft arts-and-culture recovery framework for Asheville and Buncombe County
Summary
Arts AVL on June 16 presented a draft Asheville–Buncombe arts recovery framework that recommends system alignment across seven focus areas, including public art, arts districts and creative economies, and calls for a countywide inventory and partner coordination to support local artists.
Katie Cornell, executive director of Arts AVL, presented a draft Asheville–Buncombe arts recovery framework to the Planning, Economic Development and Environment Committee on June 16. Cornell said Arts AVL has led relief and recovery work for the arts sector following Tropical Storm Helen and was contracted by the North Carolina Arts Council to serve as a regional point of recovery. "For the last two years we have been supporting relief and recovery of the arts sector following Tropical Storm Helen in Asheville and Buncombe County," she said.
Cornell described the framework’s three strategic approaches—strengthen, expand and integrate systems—and seven focus areas that include arts districts, public art, arts in parks and entertainment facilities, creative economies, and live/work space for creatives. The draft lists 26 recommendations, divided into short-, mid- and long‑term actions intended to be implemented over a multi‑year horizon.
As a concrete example, Cornell urged better coordination on public art among the city, Buncombe County, Explore Asheville and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, and recommended creating a comprehensive public‑art inventory and maintenance plan so the city and county can identify gaps and opportunities for storytelling and wayfinding. "We don't have a map of all the public art that we have," she said, urging an inventory that would also inform maintenance and future investments.
Council members asked about stakeholder inclusion and whether niche industry groups are participating in planning. Cornell said the arts coalition steering committee includes representatives of music professionals and venues (she named AMP and NEVA) and that city departments—community and economic development, parks, and planning—helped review the draft recommendations.
Cornell said the public comment period for the draft closed the day before the committee meeting and staff expect to process feedback with consultants (Lord Cultural Resources) in the coming weeks, with a final framework anticipated in July and partners beginning implementation planning thereafter. The committee did not take formal action on the framework; staff will return with the final document and recommended implementation steps.
