It is the mission of Arts2People to promote the role of the arts as an integral part of our culture, to bring the arts to those in need of its healing power and to support the careers of artists through community cultural development. We support programs like the Asheville Mural Project, Moving Women, Urban Arts Institute, REACH, Faces of Asheville, the Freaks of Asheville calendar, Pritchard Park Cultural Arts Program and LAAFF.
When I say support, this means that we incubate, administrate, insure, market and pay artists. For 10 years LAAFF has been helping artists make money by providing a vending opportunity that draws more than 20,000 people. While we ask for a vending fee and an item from their inventory to auction, all of the funds raised as a result of the artists’ participation go to pay for the cost of putting on the festival, which includes paying young professionals in the industry of outdoor cultural events. The money is also cycled through Arts2People to help support programs that pay artists to do the work that they do in our community.
I agree that artists should be recognized for the economic impact that they have on the city of Asheville, and in order for that to happen, artists have to learn how to quantify it. I agree that the Lexington Avenue merchants should contribute to the effort that Arts2People has made to create a vibrant, economically sustainable event that draws thousands of people to their door every year, and many of them do through sponsorships that help us pay for the event.
This year we will compensate our selected poster artist $250; I hope you will make a submission and know that everything we strive to do is in support of Asheville artists.
— Jennifer Gordon
Arts2People
Asheville
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.