Back in the olden days, wealthy patrons would assist artists financially while they devoted years of their lives to a painting, sculpture, or musical composition. Nowadays, we have grants. And while the folks over at ArtsAVL may not be as foppishly dressed and luxuriously titled as the patrons of old — the funds they distribute have just as much impact in our arts community.

Area arts council ArtsAVL recently published its 2023-24 Grants Impact Report, so we're looking at just how far that supportive reach extends.

By the stats

First: the big picture. In FY24, the nonprofit...

Distributed $332,465 across 97 grants to 83 arts organizations or artists.
Increased its grant awards by 28% over the previous year.
Increased the amount of grant funding by 235% since 2019.
Invested in arts programming that reached an estimated 373,925 people.

Of the five grants, the Grassroots Arts Program received the highest percentage of funding. The 43 grants, totaling $193,640, accounted for 58% of the overall investment and reached 253,305 participants — maybe even you.

By the stories

After the Grassroots Arts Program, which supported arts organizations like Open Hearts Art Center and Blue Ridge Orchestra, the Event Support Grant received the second highest funding percentage. Nine grants went to free nonprofit events, like Downtown After 5 and the annual Mardi Gras celebration.

The grant is awarded by calendar year, so the support will continue with events like Hola Asheville on Sunday, Sept. 15 and the Goombay Festival on Friday, Sept. 27-Sunday, Sept. 29.

Arts Build Community (which is open for applications until Monday, July 22) gave out 20 grants for underserved community projects, like a mural in Shiloh Community Garden and art supplies for Youth OUTright's monthly meetups. Grants also served individual artists and school programs.

If you're an interested artist, keep an eye on the 2025 grant cycle. If you just love the arts, learn how to support.