Asheville – As part of its ongoing storm relief efforts through the Craft Futures Fund, the Center for Craft in downtown Asheville awarded $600,000 to 40 craft artists in Western North Carolina (WNC) who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. The recipients include 33 members of the WNC Craft Futures Cohort and seven participants in the Virginia A. Groot Craft Futures Residency, each receiving grants of $15,000 and engaging in six months of mentorship and programming. Their work is showcased in an exhibition titled WNC Craft Futures: From Here, at the Center for Craft’s Bresler Family Gallery at 67 Broadway Street from April 11 to August 30.
The artists’ works are striking and distinctive, reflecting a profound understanding of their craft. Rachel Meginnes’s Like Dew in the Sun is a handwoven deconstructed quilt made from reclaimed textiles in 2024; Erin Keane created Blue Ridge Mountains: Sculptural Book in 2025 using encaustic beeswax, paper, maps, and other materials; Louise Deroualle presents a blue and white ceramic piece; Carolina Rojas showcases a Mud Angel of Clay; Andrea Vail displays a colorful woven wall hanging; and sculptural walnut end tables by Swadwo Som-Pimpong and Faith Donani are also on exhibit. It is easy to see why these talented artists deserve the grants, having experiencde direct impacts from the storm, ranging from loss of shelter and studio space, to destruction of completed artworks, to substantial losses of materials, tools and equipment.
Individual recipients will engage in virtual and in-person gatherings focused on peer support, mutual aid, and cohort-selected topics. The cohort includes seven Virginia A. Groot Craft Futures Residents; four will spend six months onsite at the Center for Craft’s Ideation Lab to utilize shared facilities, while three will work from their home studios.
Hurricane Helene caused unprecedented damage to Western North Carolina, resulting in significant losses to life, property, and ecology. An estimated 80% of Asheville’s River Arts District, including studios, community spaces, and galleries, was destroyed. Many artists suffered catastrophic losses, with artwork, supplies, and essential equipment lost in the flood. The rebuilding of the River Arts District has started, but recovery will take time, especially for craft artists who faced some of the greatest losses in Buncombe County and surrounding areas.
“Craft’s deep ties to local traditions and its ability to empower, connect, and revitalize local communities means that supporting these artists, who are second responders in times of tragedy, is vital,” says Center for Craft Executive Director Stephanie Moore. “The Center has worked tirelessly to support the local craft community for the good of rebuilding the wider region.”
Following Hurricane Helene, the Center reactivated its Craft Futures Fund, originally launched in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Phase 1 granted $500 emergency relief grants to 830 eligible applicants, rapidly distributing a total of $415,000 to artists for unrestricted needs. At the end of 2024, the Center announced the launch of Phase 2, supporting longer-term recovery through unrestricted grants for individual artists and arts organizations. Generous support from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) allowed the Center to increase its projected grant award for individual artists from $10,000 to $15,000.
Recovery of the arts sector is essential to the region, according to CFWNC Senior Program Officer Tara Scholtz. “The Center’s efforts to get emergency grants out to meet immediate needs and recovery grants to support longer-term rebuilding align with CFWNC’s goals for grants from the Emergency and Disaster Response Fund. Funding both efforts acknowledges the important role the arts play as a cornerstone of Western North Carolina’s culture and economy.”
Awardees will be celebrated in conjunction with the exhibition on June 12.
Center for Craft Receives Historic National Award
The James Renwick Alliance for Craft (JRACraft), based in Washington, DC, has honored the Center for Craft as the first-ever organizational recipient of the One-of-a-Kind Award. This prestigious award recognizes masters in the medium and leaders in craft while honoring the tremendous influence of the Center on the local, national, and international craft community since its founding in 1996. In particular, the award celebrates the Center’s support of Asheville and Western North Carolina’s hard-hit craft community following Hurricane Helene.
The One-of-a-Kind Award is the first national honor for the Center in its nearly 30-year history, highlighting its mission to amplify the importance of craft through galleries, grants, and programs like the Craft Futures Fund. JRACraft will present the award during its annual Spring Craft Weekend from April 25–27 in Washington, DC.