ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — ArtsAVL, the Asheville area arts council, has selected 20 recipients for Arts for Schools grant funding in the 2026-27 school year. The grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations and independent teaching artists in Buncombe County to provide arts instruction and experience to K-12 students.

The grants, which total $57,800, will cover eight in-school and 12 out-of-school arts programs for Buncombe County students, including field trips, workshops and performances.

Helene healing

ArtsAVL said that the 2026-27 grant cycle emphasized ongoing Tropical Storm Helene recovery by awarding funding to programs that “support students’ resilience and access to creative outlets during this still-challenging season.”

“As our community continues to recover from Hurricane Helene, the arts also serve as a pathway for healing, connection, and resilience by helping students process their experiences while discovering new ways to engage with the world around them,” elaborated Bree Clayton, director of communications for Asheville City Schools Foundation, in a press release.

“At a time when many schools and families are still navigating the impacts of Hurricane Helene, ensuring students have meaningful access to the arts remains especially important,” said Katie Cornell, executive director of ArtsAVL, in the release.

The importance of arts for education

ArtsAVL emphasized the importance of arts education in adolescent learning, stating that Arts for Schools provides an opportunity to give students in “under-resourced schools and communities” the benefits of arts programming.

“Arts education gives young people opportunities to explore their creativity, build confidence, and experience new ways of learning and connecting with the world around them,” said Cornell. “Through Arts for Schools, we are investing in both our students and our local creative community by connecting schools with the incredible artists and arts organizations working right here in Buncombe County.”

Grantees

The 20 organizations and artists awarded the Arts for Schools grants include:

  • Asheville Art Museum
  • Asheville City Schools Foundation
  • Asheville Community Theatre
  • Asheville Creative Arts Inc.
  • Asheville Symphony Orchestra
  • Buncombe County Schools Foundation
  • Colaborativa La Milpa – Raíces
  • Dancing Drum
  • Anna Kimmell
  • LEAF Global Arts
  • Local Cloth, Inc.
  • North Carolina Stage Company
  • OpenDoors Asheville
  • RiverLink
  • Laura Sellers
  • Dr. Šara Stranovsky
  • Umoja Health, Wellness, and Justice Collective
  • United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
  • Virtuous Music
  • Youth OUTright WNC Inc.

For more information about the grants awarded to each organization, visit www.artsavl.org/schools.