Revamped LAAF festival will not be held in 2016

Posted on — Alli Marshall

Although slated for a Sunday, Sept. 4 launch, the Living Asheville Arts Festival  — the revamped LAAFF — will not be produced this year.

PRESS RELEASE FROM ARTS 2 PEOPLE:

LAAF or The Living Asheville Arts Festival (formerly known as Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival) will be taking a year off from producing Asheville’s all local downtown festival in 2016. This is being done as an opportunity to refocus efforts on the parent organization Arts2People (A2P) to ensure LAAF and our grant recipients are receiving the organization’s full support.

Unlike the financial challenges endured by LAAFF in 2011-2012, A2P is very pleased to note that the past 2 years of LAAFF were successful in not only covering expenses but raising funds for A2P to further its mission of promoting the arts and creative culture. This includes thousands of dollars in grants provided to the Ooh La La Curiosity Market, Fox & Beggar Theater, The Authentic Communities Summit, the Venture Local Fair, and the Foundation Spot skateable art park.

LAAF’s parent organization, Arts 2 People, is seeking support from the community in the form of event sponsors and partners, volunteers, and experienced festival staff who wish to help ensure that LAAF will take place in 2017.

Arts 2 People will hold a series of community forums on Lexington Avenue in the Fall of 2016 to explore possibilities of a revived event, and to receive applications from potential new board members. Stay in touch via the LAAF Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lexfest/?fref=ts

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall
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2 thoughts on “Revamped LAAF festival will not be held in 2016”

  2. boatrocker

    Posting time 2:22pm, Friday, Aug 5, 2016 AD for not violating any mtn X posting rules.

    Hot mess sounds too positive. Hot mess is what all the frat boys in bar at last call refer to the girl who’s had too much to drink.

    I suppose financial stability is important, especially if an event cares to asks musicians who hone their craft with practice and networking time that they do not get paid for to play it.

    Contrary to popular opinion, even musicians need to eat.
    I hope they soon are able to provide a unique opportunity for folks to enjoy live music again.

    All Mama’s chillun gotta eat for making noise.

    This is the downward spiral, by the way for Asheville for puffing up the bubble of being a Shangri La for live music.
    Hey tourists/club/festival/private event owners, musicians do cost money.
    They’re not little cockroaches who scuttle away when exposed to daylight.

    This is the sound of a bubble being popped.

    Pop.

    Bele Chere, LAAF, Goombay, All Go West, etc. all ‘taking some time off’.
    Asheville loves the arts, until the butcher’s bill is due.

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