February 25, 2026 | Asheville, N.C. – ArtsAVL announced today the launch of a Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program, supported by $1,000,000 from the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund and $200,000 from Dogwood Health Trust. The $1.2 million investment will be distributed over two grant cycles—one in Spring 2026 and a second in Spring 2027—to support the long-term recovery and stabilization of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across Western North Carolina.
The first grant cycle will open on March 9. Structuring the program across two years reflects the reality that recovery from Hurricane Helene remains ongoing and uneven, particularly for nonprofit arts organizations that have often been excluded from traditional relief and recovery programs.
The grant program will serve eligible nonprofit arts organizations located in the 16 Western North Carolina counties most severely impacted by Hurricane Helene: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cleveland, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey.
Although many arts organizations have resumed operations, recent data underscores the depth and persistence of recovery needs across the region. According to the most recent Western North Carolina Business Feedback Survey, conducted approximately one year after the storm, 68% of businesses reported operating at or below break-even or being temporarily or permanently closed, while only 28% reported operating profitably. Eighty-four percent reported revenue losses, with 35% estimating losses of $100,000 or more, and 53% indicated they still need recovery support to stabilize or fully recover. Arts and entertainment organizations were identified as among the most likely sectors to require continued recovery assistance.
“These grants recognize that recovery for the arts is a multi-year process,” said Katie Cornell, Executive Director of ArtsAVL. “Nonprofit arts organizations are still working to stabilize operations, rebuild financial sustainability, and restore programming while serving as essential contributors to community resilience and economic recovery.”
The Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program builds on ArtsAVL’s two previous regional relief grant programs launched following Hurricane Helene, which provided emergency relief and business stabilization support to artists and arts organizations across Western North Carolina. Together, these initiatives provided more than $1.4 million in direct relief to artists, arts businesses, and creative professionals across 26 Western North Carolina counties. The new Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant Program builds on this work, shifting from emergency response toward longer-term recovery and stabilization.
ArtsAVL is also preparing to launch a Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)–funded grant for for-profit arts businesses in the City of Asheville, as part of the City’s recently approved Small Business Support Program, further extending recovery support across the creative sector. Together, these nonprofit and for-profit investments are designed to address the full arts ecosystem—artists, nonprofit organizations, and creative businesses—recognizing their interconnected role in economic recovery and community vitality.
Nonprofit arts recovery grant funds may be used to address both immediate and ongoing impacts of Helene. Eligible uses include covering staff and artist salaries; rehiring or retaining essential personnel; offsetting core operating expenses such as rent, utilities, insurance, and facility repairs; restoring or expanding programming; replacing lost materials and equipment; rebuilding or relocating damaged spaces; and investing in marketing and audience outreach to counter ongoing declines in tourism.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate continued recovery needs and submit a feasibility and recovery plan outlining how grant support will contribute to organizational stabilization and long-term sustainability. Expected outcomes extend beyond short-term relief and include progress toward pre-Helene revenue, employment, and audience levels, helping safeguard jobs and strengthen the long-term resilience of Western North Carolina’s arts ecosystem.
Support from the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund reflects a commitment to strengthening nonprofit organizations and supporting long-term economic stabilization across the region. The Disaster Relief Fund supports long-term recovery, addresses unmet needs and builds community resilience and preparedness for future disasters in western North Carolina.
“The arts are a vital part of Western North Carolina’s culture and economy,” said Jennifer Tolle Whiteside, President & CEO of the North Carolina Community Foundation. “Not only do the arts bring joy to our communities, but they also help bring back tourists to the region, which helps drive economic recovery.”
Dogwood Health Trust’s investment aligns with its strategic priorities by recognizing the essential role of arts and culture in advancing economic opportunity, community resilience, education, and overall well-being in Western North Carolina.
“Dogwood is pleased to join the North Carolina Community Foundation to support ArtsAVL and the many talented artists and small businesses in Western North Carolina’s creative sector,” said Mark Constantine, Senior Vice President of Community Investment. “The arts help us to connect, to heal and to imagine what’s possible – especially as we continue to recover from Hurricane Helene and advance the wellbeing of our region together.”
ArtsAVL will conduct targeted outreach across all 16 eligible counties and administer the program through a transparent, equitable, and arts-focused application and review process. The program builds on ArtsAVL’s long history of community-based grantmaking and its demonstrated capacity to administer high-volume relief and recovery funding with strong compliance and accountability.
The Nonprofit Arts Recovery Grant application will open on March 9. Full eligibility guidelines and application materials will be available at artsavl.org/recovery.
