Welcome to the first ever Arts 2 People Newsletter!

Welcome to the first ever Arts 2 People Newsletter! If you are receiving this, we hope you will continue. Our goal is to send them quarterly. The purpose of the newsletter is to link you, the cultural creative, to employment opportunities, meaningful cultural, economy and community building events, and to grow the A2P empire (resistance is futile). We expect such inclusions as vending and performance opportunities, classes and programs, volunteer and internship opportunities, and events. Thanks for being a part of our community!

Survivors Art Show; April 10th

The educational arm of A2P, the REACH program, invites you to enjoy the fruits of its labors at the annual Our VOICE Survivor’s Art Show. The REACH team in cooperation with Our VOICE created “With Our Hands”, a workshop series of great art experiences for those touched by sexual assault. Participants were invited to display their works in the show. The 8th Annual Survivors Art Show and 1st Art Auction to benefit Our VOICE will be held at the Pack Place Forum on April 10th at 6:30 p.m.

Asheville Mural Project about to embark on the Lexington Gateway Mural

The Asheville Mural Project is about to explode! We have FINALLY received our permit from the State Dept of Transportation to paint the “Saints of Asheville” Mural on the supports of 240 where it crosses N. Lexington and Broadway. Painting will begin soon! Designs will be available for the community’s review soon on the updated website, www.ashevillemuralproject.org. Director Molly Must and a core group of talented and incredibly patient and committed artists have worked hard to steward this project. It promises to become a beloved Asheville gateway and landmark. We’d like to thank the City of Asheville, Council, and Urban Planner Stephanie Monson in the Office of Economic Development. The City gave almost half of the funding for the mural, and helped immeasurably with state red tape! Send in your submissions for your favorite Asheville Saint! Who has touched our community, past or present, in a deeply meaningful way? Perhaps they should be commemorated meaningfully as a saint in the mural! Contact Molly at molly@arts2people.org.

The 7th Annual Lexington Ave Arts and Fun Festival

LAAFF'n in Asheville... Once a year we shut down Lexington Ave in downtown Asheville for an all day all local, all original street fair. This jam-packed day is filled with wild street performers, unique artwork, and a wide variety of music and just about everyone who wants to have some fun and celebrate in the streets of Asheville. Art2People has been presenting LAAFF for 7 years with the support of the Asheville Community. We are always looking for more creative help and would love to know how you would like to get involved. We are currently looking for volunteers, sponsors, art exhibitors, bands, planners and any other zany idea you'd like see at LAAFF.

Welcome Moving Women!

Arts 2 People welcomes Moving Women to its family of great programs! Moving Women is Kathy Myers, Jenni Oldham, Katherine Abbott, and Erin Braasch. Grounded in modern dance, Moving Women honors and invites the diverse perspectives offered by collaboration with other dancers, visual artists, musicians, poets, actors, and performance artists to create original works. READ MORE

We have some immediate volunteer needs, if you are so inclined!

We have been accepted to be the recipient charity at Downtown After Five’s kickoff summer event on Lexington May 16th, and we need people to check ID’s and apply wristbands. Shifts run 4:45 to 7, 7 to 9 or thereabouts. Asheville Earth Day, presented by Greenlife Grocery, is a FREE celebration being held to benefit the greater Asheville community on Saturday, April 19th, 2008. The celebration runs 11AM - 10PM at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in downtown Asheville, NC. Arts 2 People is sponsoring the beer sales as a fundraising opportunity. Volunteer positions are available for running beer concessions; this would involve checking ID’s, and applying wristbands, and possibly pouring beer. Both of these are fast and furious, but also easy and social, and promise to help us garner several thousand dollars. Please visit our website for additional volunteer and internship info. Contact: kitty@arts2people.org to get involved. Thanks in advance!

Asheville Americana Burlesque and Sideshow Festival

The 2nd annual Asheville Americana Burlesque and Sideshow Festival will take place July 27-29, 2008. AABSfest is committed to the mission of spreading the gospel of Vaudeville. The worldwide Vaudeville revival is a delicious opportunity to revisit history and make it relevant anew in uncertain times.  READ MORE

2009 FREAKS of Asheville Calendar!

Arts 2 People seeks submissions for the 2009 FREAKS of Asheville Calendar! Are you freaky? Let’s celebrate what’s REALLY great about living here…US! We have chosen 12 freak champions, and need photos to complete our themes. Send in your high resolution, printable photos for review. Contact kitty@arts2people.org.

Asheville Earth Day; Saturday April 19, 2008

Asheville Earth Day, presented by Greenlife Grocery, is a FREE celebration being held to benefit the greater Asheville community on Saturday, April 19th, 2008. The celebration runs 11AM - 10PM at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in downtown Asheville, NC. READ MORE

Asheville Earth Day

Mountain Biz Works Fundraising Workshop for Artists

Carolina McCready is a graduate of the University of Montana with a M.S. in Environmental Studies focusing in social and environmental justice activism. Fundraising is a major focus of her career and she has been writing grants for area non-profits for nine years. Event will be held at the Asheville Arts Council from 6-9 on April 23rd. Please RSVP to Naomi Langsner @ Mountain BizWorks (828)253-2834 ext. 27. Cost will be 25$. Dinner will be served. READ MORE

Visit the Mountain Bizworks website for more information

Asheville Fringe Festival

This year’s festival was a great heaping serving of performance art. Over 70 artists participated and presented an amazing array of fringey performances. There was an exhibit of artwork by Fringe artists at Pack Place Gallery at the beginning of January, featuring the photos of Jenny Bowen. The exhibit was supported by a grant from Arts2People. READ MORE

To find out more visit the Asheville Fringe Festival website