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 As you explore Asheville, you’ll see a number of sculptures and other pieces of art. The “Energy Loop”; 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; the more than 30 sculptures and plaques along the Urban Trail are all part of Asheville’s public art collection. 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 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. 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 Community Development to hold informational meetings about Block Grant program Posted on October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville annually awards Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) as part of a federal grant program through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides funding for a variety of projects and programs that serve low- and moderate-income residents. The City of Asheville Community Development Division administers these funds and has set informational meetings on [...] AVL Shares Space extended to Jan. 3 with winter guidelines Posted on September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson The City of Asheville will be extending the AVL Shares Space initiatives through Jan. 3, 2021, in order to continue providing businesses and organizations with opportunities to expand outdoors during COVID-19. In addition to the extension, new guidelines are being provided to participants that address winter-related accommodations and safety requirements. The goals [...] Asheville launches affordable housing initiative shaped by Harvard research Posted on September 15, 2020September 15, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Program is designed to help landlords make providing affordable housing more feasible Twenty-five landlords in Asheville now have a chance to be part of an innovative solution to the affordable housing crisis in our area. Thrive Asheville, an initiative of UNC Asheville that brings together local community advocates, policymakers, and professionals from diverse perspectives to find equitable solutions [...] More Arts and Events News
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.
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.
Community Development to hold informational meetings about Block Grant program Posted on October 9, 2020October 9, 2020 by Polly McDaniel The City of Asheville annually awards Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) as part of a federal grant program through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that provides funding for a variety of projects and programs that serve low- and moderate-income residents. The City of Asheville Community Development Division administers these funds and has set informational meetings on [...]
AVL Shares Space extended to Jan. 3 with winter guidelines Posted on September 28, 2020September 28, 2020 by Ashley Traynum-Carson The City of Asheville will be extending the AVL Shares Space initiatives through Jan. 3, 2021, in order to continue providing businesses and organizations with opportunities to expand outdoors during COVID-19. In addition to the extension, new guidelines are being provided to participants that address winter-related accommodations and safety requirements. The goals [...]
Asheville launches affordable housing initiative shaped by Harvard research Posted on September 15, 2020September 15, 2020 by Polly McDaniel Program is designed to help landlords make providing affordable housing more feasible Twenty-five landlords in Asheville now have a chance to be part of an innovative solution to the affordable housing crisis in our area. Thrive Asheville, an initiative of UNC Asheville that brings together local community advocates, policymakers, and professionals from diverse perspectives to find equitable solutions [...]