City of Asheville Event Support Grant Program

The City of Asheville Event Support Grant, administered by ArtsAVL, offers financial assistance to nonprofit organizations producing free, public events in outdoor spaces throughout Asheville, North Carolina. The program is designed to sustain and expand cultural and artistic programming that fosters community connection, celebrates diversity and creativity, and enhances local quality of life and economic vitality. The grants are targeted to Buncombe County-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits and support event costs associated with city fees for using public spaces. The grant program operates on a competitive basis and typically provides awards ranging from $3,000 to $10,000. Supported events must be admission-free, open to the public, and held in Asheville’s permitted outdoor public areas, such as streets, parks, or plazas. Eligible events must occur between January 1 and December 31, 2026, and organizations may only submit one application per year. Priority is given to events that elevate public exposure to the arts, improve resident wellbeing, support diversity and inclusion, and promote Asheville’s cultural vibrancy. Allowable expenses are limited to City of Asheville service fees associated with outdoor event permitting. These include application fees, property use fees, street closure permits, temporary structure permits, transit impact fees, barricade rentals, and parking closure fees. Other expenses, such as non-city services or general operating costs, are not eligible. New for FY26, funds are no longer reimbursed after event completion. Instead, the City invoices ArtsAVL directly for eligible expenses, up to the approved grant amount. Applicants are responsible for any costs exceeding the awarded amount. The application period opens on September 8, 2025, and the submission deadline is October 14, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Awards will be announced in late November 2025. Event costs will be eligible for payment starting in January 2026. Grantees are required to submit a final performance report within 60 days of their event, including details such as attendance, demographic estimates, and revenue data. In addition to the primary Event Support Grant, ArtsAVL and the City of Asheville are piloting a Rolling Mini-Grant option in FY26. These smaller grants, capped at $1,000, are designed to support pop-up and short-notice events. For-profit businesses physically located within an event’s footprint may apply for mini-grants, which follow the same guidelines and priorities. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted at least 45 days before the proposed event date. Questions about the application or process should be directed to Rebecca Lynch at ArtsAVL via email at rebecca@artsavl.org. No phone calls are accepted. For assistance with determining eligible expenses, applicants are encouraged to schedule a consultation with Jon Fillman at the City’s Office of Special Events prior to the deadline.

Applicants should ensure all questions are answered to avoid losing points. Applications can be edited until the deadline. For fee-related questions, schedule a pre-application appointment with Jon Fillman. Rolling Mini-Grants are also available for pop-up events.