Mission and History
It is the mission of the Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) to enrich the community by educating all people in the Asheville area about the arts, advocating integration of the arts in all aspects of community life, and supporting artists and arts organizations. It serves not only permanent residents of Buncombe and surrounding counties, but tourists and seasonal residents as well. By advocating for the arts, artists and arts organizations, the AAAC helps promote the work of creative individuals as well as advance access to the arts.
One unique aspect of the AAAC’s service to the community is defined by its role as the Designated County Partner (DCP) for administering state-allocated grants throughout Buncombe County and surrounding areas. In accordance with the terms of the state Grassroots Arts Program, the AAAC sub-grants 50 percent of state-allocated funds to other arts organizations in the form of matching grants. These funds are designed to bring cultural events to underserved populations. The AAAC also sub-grants Regional Artist Project Grants to individual artists. These funds may be used for a variety of purposes including creating new work, receiving professional development training or meeting marketing expenses.
The AAACs Arts in Education program awards grants to area schools supporting arts integration by funding artists’ residencies and programs. The AAAC supports emerging artists in the community by providing gallery space to showcase their work giving non-commercial artists an opportunity to bring their visual arts before the viewing public. By virtue of its downtown location, AAAC’s gallery invites foot traffic. Gallery staff distribute a wealth of information relating to community-wide creative and performing arts.
Although it took its current name as recently as 2004, the AAAC traces its origins to a Civic Arts Council (CAC) incorporated in 1952. The CAC created an annual ball, the Beaux Art, to celebrate the volunteers of local arts agencies. With a tradition for honoring and promoting the arts, the spirit of the AAAC has served Buncombe County as an umbrella organization for the arts for over 50 years. It is one of the oldest Arts Councils in the country. Since its inception, the AAAC has enriched the lives of thousands of citizens in and visitors to Western North Carolina. For over five decades its primary mission has been one of fostering art and culture.
Financial Information
AAAC 2007 990 Tax Form
Membership Information
The AAAC relies on the support of the community.
Become a Member
AAAC Staff
Sarah Meyer
Gallery Manager and Programs Associate
smeyer@ashevillearts.com
828-258-0710 x108
Originally from Sarasota, Florida, Sarah received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Art History from the University of Richmond, with a concentration in Contemporary American Folk Art collection. She has experience working in both gallery and museum settings and in recent years has served as an apprentice to Richmond printmaker Tanja Softic, and as a pottery student at the John C. Campbell folk school in Brasstown, NC.