September 28, 2016 — The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority (BCTDA) voted today to provide $50,500 in grants to support 14 community festivals and events.
Utilizing discretionary advertising revenue from the ExploreAsheville.com website, BCTDA developed a Festivals and Cultural Events Support Fund in early 2016. The new grant program is a mechanism to foster festivals and cultural events that serve Buncombe County residents as well as visitors to the area. The primary purposes of this fund are:
• To support and preserve cultural identity within Buncombe County
• To stimulate the creation of new or expansion of existing tourism Events
• To help events grow
With the redesign of the ExploreAsheville.com, ACVB had an opportunity to introduce an advertising element that provided a new, unrestricted revenue source to assist in the development and support of events that enrich the community. BCTDA and the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau (ACVB) will continue to provide marketing assistance to events and festivals, helping promote them to a wider audience and stimulate attendance. More information about the program is available on AshevilleCVB.com.
Each year, Buncombe County welcomes 3.3 million overnight guests, providing a customer base that assists in the sustainability of businesses in the community and contributes to tax revenues. Annually, tourism generates a $2.6 billion economic impact to the region.
Grant Recipients for 2017 Event Funding
Asheville Downtown Association
Independence Day Celebration | $5,000
Asheville Music School (fiscal agent)
Asheville BARNAROO | $5,000
Blue Ridge Pride Center
Blue Ridge Pride Festival | $5,000
LEAF Community Arts
LEAF Downtown AVL | $5,000
Southern Highland Craft Guild
70th Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands | $5,000
YMI Cultural Center (fiscal agent)
The Goombay Festival | $5,000
North Carolina Arboretum
Monarch Butterfly Day | $3,000
ASAP (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Program)
Farm Tour | $3,000
Asheville Area Arts Council (fiscal agent)
Asheville Art in the Park | $3,000
Odyssey Community School (fiscal agent)
Asheville Percussion Festival | $3,000
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center
{Re}HAPPENING | $3,000
Friends of Connect Buncombe (fiscal agent)
Cycle to Farm @ Sandy Mush | $2,000
Montford Neighborhood Association
Montford Music & Arts Festival | $2,000
Friends of the Vance Birthplace
Appalachian Heritage Festival | $1,500