Professional Development
Ongoing & Recent Webinars

Teaching Artist Tuesdays
The North Carolina Arts Council, in partnership with North Carolina Central University’s Teaching Artist Certificate Program, will present Teaching Artist Tuesdays. The free online workshops will serve as a map for this state’s teaching artists as they navigate the COVID 19 landscape.

COVID-19 Training Videos & Resources - Arts North Carolina
COVID-19 Training Videos & Resources Arts Sector COVID-19 Impact & PrioritiesFact Sheet: How the Arts Impact the NC Economy Recommendations for Arts Education as NC Reopens Schools Slides for Recommendations for Arts Education as NC Reopens Schools From
North Carolina Center for Nonprofits Events
We offer webinars, workshops, trainings, and our annual conference to connect you to the professional development you need. We collaborate with state and national partners to bring timely and relevant content to nonprofit staff and board of all positions and experience levels.

Attorney Addresses How To Handle Anti-Mask Guests
Explore Asheville recently hosted a free webinar for partners and the business community titled, “Five Step Action Plan: How To Handle Anti-Mask Guests,” with labor and employment attorney Andria Lure Ryan of the Atlanta office of Fisher & Phillips LLP.

How Crisis Management Changed our Internal and External operations for the Better
May 28 at 3 pm | The current COVID-19 pandemic has forced arts organizations across the globe to rethink and reshape the way they operate and present their programs. When analyzed, a vast majority of these changes are not temporary, but permanent organizational changes we to make regardless of the ability to present…

LAA Member COVID Exchange [LAAs serving small cities/regions (population 30K - 100K)]
May 27 at 1 pm | Americans for the Arts is organizing free peer dialogues to facilitate member exchange around COVID-19 challenges and recovery strategies. These facilitated peer exchanges are a benefit exclusively for Americans for Arts members.

Phase II Town Hall for Entertainment Venues & Attractions.
May 22 at 1 pm | Owners and managers of entertainment venues as well as indoor and outdoor attractions in Buncombe County are invited to tune in for a conversation about preparing for Phase II of North Carolina’s reopening, hosted by Explore Asheville and public health officials with Buncombe County. The event is f…

Arts Advocacy Now & What Comes Next
May 20 at 10 am | As we navigate the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, engaging in a dialogue with our elect leaders has never been more important. Arts North Carolina Executive Director, Nate McGaha will provide updates on arts and arts education related issues at the state and federal level as well as rev…

Arts U: Spring Appeal and Fundraising in COVID-19
May 13 at 3 pm | “Is it appropriate to fundraise in this time?” “What is the strategy and message?” Join us for the “Spring Appeal and Fundraising in COVID-19” webinar on May 13th at 3PM where presenters from Capacity Partners will answer these questions and share best practices and different approaches arts organi…

Resilience and Resumption: What You Need to Know and Do to Get Ready for a New Normal
May 13 at 11:15 am | Many nonprofit teams are not equipped to handle unexpected, chaotic, or emotionally-charged situations. The best way to remedy that gap is to take steps that will help your team apply critical thinking skills to the situation at hand.

Financial and Legal Strategies in the New Normal
May 12 at 3 pm | We are in historic times. The social and human impacts of COVID-19 are significant. So, too, are the economic impacts. As businesses navigate through these changing months, it is ever-important to stay updated with pertinent legal and financial guidelines to best manage your business. On Tuesd…

Fundraising in a Time of Crisis
With single ticket revenue instantly drying up and subscription money for next season slowing, the only reliable stream of revenue became fundraising. What are fundraising best-practices during a time of crisis, and how can you apply those to your fundraising program?

Keep Calm and Carry On: Crisis Communications Tips and Strategies | North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
May 6 at 11:15 am | Do you cringe when you hear the word meeting? Afraid it will be a waste of time? What if meetings were truly valuable and productive? They can be. Learn how to organize and run effective and successful meetings to produce valuable outcomes. Class topics will include communication tools and strateg…

How Resilient Are We as a Community?
Apr 28 at 8:30 am | Joining us on the webinar to discuss where we are in this crisis now and how we might plan for the future will be: Stephanie Brown, CEO and President, Explore Asheville; Kit Cramer, President and CEO, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce; Jim Fox, Senior Resilience Associate, NEMAC+ FernLeaf; and Lib…

Pandemic Planning for the Performing Arts
Apr 27 at 2pm | This webinar focuses on both the challenges facing the event and arts industry during this difficult period and provides advice on planning for the future. The session will also provide both guidance and resources that are available to you as venues, individuals and organizations, which includes tra…

Answering Adversity with Innovation
Apr 16 at 3 pm | In the unexpected situation we have found ourselves in, businesses here in the Asheville Metro Region have found innovative ways to pivot their operations to meet crucial needs in our community. Join us to hear what Survival Innovation, Kitsbow, Sylvan Sport, Southeastern Container and Moog Music ar…
Employment Law for Nonprofits | North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
Apr 16 at 9 am | Nonprofits have an obligation to follow federal and state employment and labor laws. This course is designed to provide a practical overview of the main employment law issues that arise in nonprofit organizations. You will learn about state and federal laws that govern employment policies and pract…

Navigating COVID-19 for Nonprofits: From Financial Triage to Scenario Planning
Apr 15 at 12 pm | This free webinar featuring nonprofit financial experts from Fiscal Management Associates will review some of the key areas nonprofits should consider focusing on and provide tools they can use in navigating COVID-19.

Virtual Workshop: Protecting and Nurturing your Mental Health in Times of Crisis
Apr 9 at 3 pm | Things are changing rapidly. We’re juggling new responsibilities and dealing with stressors we’ve never experienced before. In this webinar, we turn to local businesses for tips for self-care so you (and your business) can weather this storm. Our panelists will share coping techniques, ways to maint…

Arts U: How the CARES Act Supports the Arts Sector
Apr 4 at 3 pm | Americans for the Arts Government Affairs staff and guests will lay out the various pieces of the CARES Act legislation and how it pertains to the arts sector. With $2.6 trillion of funds, there are about six sections of the legislation that can directly, and indirectly support artists, arts organi…

Teaming During an Epidemic: How to Keep Remote Teams Motivated & Engaged | North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
Apr 8 at 11:15 am | Many nonprofit teams are not equipped to handle unexpected, chaotic, or emotionally-charged situations. The best way to remedy that gap is to take steps that will help your team apply critical thinking skills to the situation at hand.

Virtual Town Hall: Ins and Outs of SBA Resources
Apr 8 at 11 am | In this quickly evolving environment, it can be difficult to keep up with the changes and updates to available resources. Thomas A. Stith III, District Director of NC District Office U.S. SBA and Sharon Harvey, SBA Senior Area Manager for SBA Asheville and Western North Carolina Office – Asheville join us to discuss what you need to know about the Small Business Association's current initiatives in response to COVID-19 and answer your questions about the resources available to small businesses.

Strategies for Business Continuity - Keep Your Business Going During the Pandemic and Beyond
Apr 7 at 10am | Join us for a discussion of what companies can be looking at financially during situations like these as well as strategy that businesses can be thinking about moving forward. Ken Kaplan of Kaplan CFO Solutions and Ursula Jorch of Work Alchemy share their expertise to help you plan for business cont…

How to Manage Employees As Coronavirus Spreads
Apr 7 at 9:30 am | Incidents have just as much impact on your workers as they do your clientele. It’s critical to ensure they have the ability to fulfill their duties while protected. Setting expectations and clearly communicating requirements to them will be critical to success.

Promoting Your Business and Products During a Crisis
Apr 4 at 9:30 am | It’s easy to get caught up in panic and crisis mode and abandon marketing and sales in your business, but that is a huge mistake. Sales will automatically start to slow in most businesses just because of the global pandemic, so it’s more important than ever to proactively promote your business and remain on everyone’s radar.

Resilient Brands Need Nimble Marketing.
Apr 2 at 3 pm | How should you be approaching marketing during this time? Join marketing pros from Kudzu Brands to discuss the pros and cons of marketing during this time, how you can quickly pivot your marketing strategy, whether you should shift your market position and strategies that might resonate to cut throu…
Development and Fundraising Events While Social Distancing | North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
Apr 2 at 2 pm | Join this webinar to learn how to maintain your fundraising while social distancing. Participants will be entered to win 3 hours of free consulting and free event planning for 1 event for your nonprofit.
Nonprofit Public Policy Discussion Webinar | North Carolina Center for Nonprofits
Apr 2 at 10 am | This webinar will include online discussions about the needs nonprofits have right now – both operationally and as service providers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also include a briefing on the state of North Carolina’s nonprofit sector and current (and future) public policy issues …

Keeping Customers and Employees Safe During Unsettling Times
Apr 2 at 9:30 am | A lot of companies haven’t planned for a crisis on this scale, but many are finding out they need to. This session will show you how to draft a disaster preparedness policy outlining how people should work from home, how to handle travel, what to do about meetings and more.

Legal & Tax Q & A for Artists, Freelancers and Small Nonprofits
Apr 1 at 2 pm | Join tax expert and artist Hannah Cole and Dr. Katherine de Vos Devine, a legal expert and art historian dedicated to empowering artists, for a discussion of what you need to know about legal & tax issues facing creatives as we brace for the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Business Resources

Services and Resources | Small Business Center |
The Small Business Center (SBC) at A-B Tech Enka is part of the statewide Small Business Center Network (SBCN), a community college-funded initiative with a vision to foster and support entrepreneurship, small business, and economic development in local communities with an emphasis on assisting start-ups, early stage, and at-risk enterprises.

Association of Fundraising Professionals Western North Carolina Chapter
The Association of Fundraising Professionals Western North Carolina Chapter (AFP-WNC) is a nonprofit organization that serves as a resource for all who raise funds to better our Western North Carolina community. Whether you are a fundraiser for a large agency or a small neighborhood group, we invite