Arts and Events Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville is known as a quality venue that hosts a diverse variety of events that reflects the creativity, uniqueness, and artistry that Asheville is known for. With over 200 days of events and drawing well over 200,000 people annually, the venue continues to support the vitality of the region as a whole and the vibrant downtown of Asheville in particular. Outdoor Special Events and Festivals The Community and Economic Development Department manages outdoor special event consultations, permitting, partnerships, lease agreements, and city service coordination for all event and festival productions on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. The Outdoor Special Events office at Community and Economic Development serves as the City’s one-stop shop for outdoor special event applicants. Commercial Filming and Photography The Community & Economic Development Department manages permitting, location agreements, and city service coordination for all commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Commercial filming and photography is permitted under the same conditions as other special event uses of public property in Asheville. A permit may not be required for small scale projects that do not require the reservation of public space, closure of streets/sidewalks/parking, use of generators, structures or unusual scenes. Public Art Public Art improves our experience in public spaces, provides an opportunity to support regional artists and creative commerce, and helps us and others learn about and experience the richness of Western North Carolina’s culture. As you go about your day in Asheville you’ll see murals (most of which are not owned or managed by the City-our local businesses and not for profits invest heavily in creative public expression!), a number of sculptures and other pieces of art. Well known examples include the Energy Loop on College Street; the Deco Gecko in Pritchard Park; the murals in the City Hall chambers; the bronze life-size sculpture of Martin Luther King, Jr. at MLK Park; and the more than 30 sculptures and plaques along the Urban Trail. Find out more about Asheville’s public art program. Sports Commission Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission works to identify and attract sports events and related meetings to enhance the health, wellness and quality of life for area residents and sports enthusiasts and will generate a positive economic impact by promoting our region as a recognized sporting destination. Contact Information Community and Economic Development Department Asheville City Hall, Fifth Floor, 70 Court Plaza Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. 828-232-4505 P. O. Box 7148 Asheville, NC 28802 Updated 11/07/2019 Related Services MWSBE Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville. Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city. Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks. Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks. Find cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...] Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business. Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business. More Related Services Arts and Events News Asheville to waive some fees to help support local businesses during State of Emergency Posted on January 12, 2021 by Polly McDaniel To help reduce economic hardship posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville will continue to waive or suspend collection of fees on a case-by-case basis. Asheville City Council approved this action during their Jan. 12 meeting. The fees that may be waived include temporary uses, outdoor dining, a-frame signage, push carts, and associated trade permits. Many [...] Asheville Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME applications now open Posted on December 21, 2020January 13, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Virtual assistance available for applicants The City of Asheville’s Community Development (CD) Department is now accepting applications for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME, “Home Investment Partnerships Program” program. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m Feb. 5, 2021. Community Development Staff is happy to offer virtual assistance during the month of January (from Jan. [...] AVL Shares Space outdoor expansion to continue in 2021 Posted on December 16, 2020January 13, 2021 by Ashley Traynum-Carson In response to the pandemic, earlier this year the City of Asheville created its AVL Shares Space outdoor expansion initiatives to support safe business operations and customer access in alignment with public health COVID-19 guidelines. Launched in spring 2020, its initial trial period was extended from Oct. [...] More Arts and Events News
MWSBE Certification Find information to register for certification as a Minority, Woman, and/or Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) with the City of Asheville.
Business Inclusion The Business Inclusion Office for the City of Asheville actively seeks to identify minority and women-owned businesses for an opportunity to participate as providers of goods and services to the city.
Apply for a commercial film or photography permit Information about commercial filming and photography work involving city-owned property, sidewalks, streets, and parks.
Apply for a special event or festival permit Information about hosting an event on city-owned property, sidewalks, streets and parks.
Find cold weather emergency shelter When extreme cold weather is expected, the Asheville Homeless Coalition issues a Code Purple Alert. Participating homeless shelters voluntarily add space beyond their normal capacity to keep as many people as possible out of the cold. To find out when Code Purple is in effect, visit the Homeless Coalition’s Code [...]
Find financial support for your Asheville business Learn about financial support that may be available for your business.
Find or register a minority, women or disabled-owned business Resources for finding or registering a minority, women or disabled-owned business.
Asheville to waive some fees to help support local businesses during State of Emergency Posted on January 12, 2021 by Polly McDaniel To help reduce economic hardship posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Asheville will continue to waive or suspend collection of fees on a case-by-case basis. Asheville City Council approved this action during their Jan. 12 meeting. The fees that may be waived include temporary uses, outdoor dining, a-frame signage, push carts, and associated trade permits. Many [...]
Asheville Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME applications now open Posted on December 21, 2020January 13, 2021 by Polly McDaniel Virtual assistance available for applicants The City of Asheville’s Community Development (CD) Department is now accepting applications for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME, “Home Investment Partnerships Program” program. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m Feb. 5, 2021. Community Development Staff is happy to offer virtual assistance during the month of January (from Jan. [...]
AVL Shares Space outdoor expansion to continue in 2021 Posted on December 16, 2020January 13, 2021 by Ashley Traynum-Carson In response to the pandemic, earlier this year the City of Asheville created its AVL Shares Space outdoor expansion initiatives to support safe business operations and customer access in alignment with public health COVID-19 guidelines. Launched in spring 2020, its initial trial period was extended from Oct. [...]