Black art matters: local creatives seeking lasting change
Volume
27
/ Issue 44
Cover Design Credit:
Scott SouthwickCover Photography Credit:
Cindy Kunst
A year on from Asheville’s Black Lives Matter protests, local artists assess how the city’s cultural scene has — and has not — continued to engage with issues of racial justice and promote talent of color.
arts
Racial justice in the local arts community, one year later
Local artists and arts leaders discuss the state of racial justice in the creative community, one year after George Floyd's murder and the Black Lives Matter protests.Silverados brings more big music acts to Black Mountain
Christen and Cory Short aim to mix nostalgic acts with area favorites and more at their 2,500-person outdoor music venue.Kristy Tolley mixes local and visitor perspectives in new Asheville guidebook
The travel writer and longtime Asheville devotee discusses narrowing down her list of 100 local activities for a new publication.Around Town: Augmented reality art exhibit comes to the RAD
Augmented reality art exhibit Living Images comes to the RAD; plus theater, a festival, a photography show and more.food
Restaurant industry veterans reassess career choices post-pandemic
During their pandemic downtime, many jobless food and beverage workers, supported by robust unemployment benefits, re-examined their choice of profession. Long-acknowledged industry downsides exacerbated by the pandemic prompted some to…What’s new in food: Green acres, green students and a Baby Bull on the loose
The city of Asheville has farmland available in East Asheville for local growers, plus Growing Minds revamps its website, Baby Bull opens in the old Broth Lab space, Well-Bred Bakery…news
Shoji employees push back on vaccination policy
The policy required staff members to be fully vaccinated by June 1. Some former employees claim that it violates their civil liberties, while Shoji co-owner Roberta Jordan says safety of…Local projects target carbon through agriculture
“What is emerging is the idea that we’re now able to quantify what’s happening,” says Jennifer Harrison, agriculture and land resource director for Buncombe County, about the ability of farmers…School board saves Asheville Primary, reverses pre-K plans
The potential closure and sale of the APS campus had drawn intense community pushback since being initially recommended as a cost-saving measure by Superintendent Gene Freeman on Dec. 7.Council seeks clarity on proposed budget, potential tax hike
A public hearing on the proposed budget will take place on Tuesday, June 8, during the regularly scheduled Council meeting. The final vote on whether to adopt the budget will…BCTDA plans $15M in marketing for 2021-22
The TDA would spend at least $10.6 million on advertising buys, an 8% increase over its last pre-pandemic fiscal year. Just over $3 million would go toward the production of…opinion
Letter: Honoring Nina Simone
"Let’s replace that obelisk with a giant microphone in honor of the late, great Nina Simone!"Letter: Charlotte Street project opposition sounds familiar
"While I am not in favor of this particular project — I do feel the native homes are worth preserving — the problem is the same forces rallying to oppose…Letter: Asheville is ‘sold out’
"So my question is: Why do we have to accommodate more and more people who want to live here?"Military grade paper products
Letter: Buncombe marches off to war$$$
"Buncombe County can no longer afford peace on Earth."Buzzworthy
Letter: Asheville deserves better than ‘either/or’ thinking
"In my experience, healthy development is always a negotiation and always requires developers to revise their initial ambitious plans."RIP Vance Monument: A modest proposal revisited
"To maintain civic cohesion, we must convince these souls that despite the failure of their cause, they can return to the fold as legitimate members of this community. Think of…Letter: Landowners should be able to exercise their rights
"The city’s role should be to facilitate, not impede, the landowners’ exercise of their rights and liberties, including property rights."Letter: Save Charlotte Street
"Asheville is a small city and applying mega-urban-growth ideals is not what this city is all about."