ArtsvilleUSA

Under Pressure: Jewelry Artist Jeffrey Burroughs Transforms Hardship Into Hope for Asheville’s Arts District

Editor’s note: This episode contains discussion of a near-death experience and suicidal ideation. The views expressed by Jeffrey Burroughs are their own and do not reflec

THRIVE Appalachia: Turning Craft Heritage Into Career Opportunities for Rural Youth

Yancey County, North Carolina, is home to one of the highest concentrations of artists in the country. In this rural community, traditional skills such as pottery, sewing

Spencer Beals Mobilizes Art in Defense of the UNC Asheville Woods

In Asheville, a battle is playing out over a 45-acre forest bordering UNC Asheville and the Five Points neighborhood, a haven for tricolored bats, box turtles, bobcats, a

RED Metal Rising: Rachel David on Art as Activism in the Public Sphere

If you’ve ever rounded a corner in Asheville and come face-to-face with a monumental ripple of forged steel, chances are you’ve stumbled across the handiwork of Rachel Da

How a Small College in the Blue Ridge Mountains Became a Launchpad for Craft Professionals

This episode is a special rerun, originally published on May 16, 2024, in celebration of the Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Graduate Show. The show is host

This Crafting Collective Says Your 'Bad Art' Is Actually Perfect

What happens when you toss perfectionism out the window and invite adults to play with glue sticks and torn paper? You get ArtFolk, the Weaverville-based collective where

Hominy Creek Comfort Makers: Inside the Library-Based Volunteer Group Stitching Kindness Into Action

Are you sitting comfortably? Because this week, we’re taking a closer look at how the Hominy Creek Comfort Makers and their Enka-Candler Library partners are combining cr

How LEAF Global Arts Turns Life Into a Year-Round Festival Experience

Just a year ago, fall festivals were disappearing right and left from event calendars in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hurricane Helene may have thrown a wrench in Western No

‘A Tale of Two Cities’ Curators’ Panel: ‘Art is the Highest Form of Hope’

In the wake of natural disasters, art can serve as a lifeline for communities in urgent need of healing. Today, we’re chatting with the curators behind A Tale of Two Citi

North Carolina Glass Center: Exploring the Studio Glass Movement With Executive Director Candace Reilly

Editor’s note: This episode was originally published in April 2024. We’re revisiting our conversation with Candace Reilly, founder and executive director of the North Car

Preserving a Picturesque America With Conservationist Scott ‘Doc’ Varn

Editor’s note: This episode was originally published in June 2024. We’re revisiting our conversation with Scott “Doc” Varn, founder and executive director of Preserving a

Community Through Clay: A Conversation With Sarah Wells Rolland of The Village Potters Clay Center

Editor’s note: This episode was originally published in April 2022. We’re revisiting our conversation with Sarah Wells Rolland, owner, founder, and resident potter of The

The Healing Power of Art in Community Recovery

What do New Orleans and Western North Carolina have in common? Both regions were rocked by historic hurricanes, which left lasting impacts on their communities and enviro

Blue Ridge National Heritage Area: How Western North Carolina is Crafting a Comeback

Art and crafts are emerging as vital engines for recovery in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation in Western North Carolina. Join host Louise Glickman as she chats

Year in Review: Triumphs, Trials, and Bouncing Back After Hurricane Helene

Excuse our language, but 2024 was a whirlwind—literally. Our final episode of the year explores the sweeping impact of Hurricane Helene on the Asheville arts community. N

A Tale of Two Cities: What Asheville Can Learn From New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina

In the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation, Asheville can draw valuable lessons from New Orleans, a city that faced its own struggles after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Photojournalist Michael Freas Documents Disaster, Destruction, and Hope in Asheville

When natural disasters strike, they don’t just destroy homes; they can devastate entire communities, livelihoods, and creative legacies. In this special edition of Art Wo

Jamie Karolich of Craft Your Commerce: Empowering Artists Through Business Education

Making a living from the arts can be a tough gig. Most art schools rightfully focus on studio skills and critical thinking but place very little emphasis on their real-wo

Crafting a Career: Practical Insights From Watercolor Artist Sue Dolamore

When Sue Dolamore started painting, she joined a small group of Asheville-area plein-air artists. Under her leadership, the outdoor painting group ballooned from 12 membe

Asheville Marketing Maven Sarah Benoit on Mastering Digital Strategies

Ask any artist what they need to succeed; nine times out of 10, they’ll say “marketing.” In today’s podcast episode, marketing wunderkind Sarah Benoit of JB Media Institu