Your Support Makes It Happen.
You can ensure Western NC’s special culture and natural heritage stay strong for years to come! Donate to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area so projects that support Western NC craft, music, natural heritage, Cherokee culture and agricultural traditions continue.
An Example of Our Work
A key part of local history came alive this year thanks to a grant from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. The Asheville-based nonprofit funded a new exhibit that shares the history of African contributions to Western North Carolina’s distinct traditions of craft, music, and dance. The exhibit, Jagged Path, is at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
“The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area was the first organization to award funding for this project,” said Willard C. Watson III, programs & outreach director for the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. “The grant from BRNHA funded key parts and provided a curator stipend that allowed us to bring on key experts in the field.”
Grant Awards – A Legacy of Regional Investment
Since its inception in 2003, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership has awarded 188 grants totaling over $2.5 million to projects that preserve, interpret, and develop the heritage resources of the region. These awards have leveraged another $5.9 million in matching contributions from the state, local governments, and the private sector.