The Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC), the City of Asheville and the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority present the 8th annual Creative Sector Summit, Rhyme or Reason: Measuring Patterns of Growth, on Friday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.
“The Summit has created a space for the creative sector and its partners to have conversations about issues that affect our entire community,” says AAAC executive director Stefanie Gerber Darr. “Many initiatives have grown out of past Summits, including studies on affordable housing and work space for artists and measurement of the economic impact of the county’s arts and culture industries.”
Bob Boilen, creator and host of NPR’s All Songs Considered and Tiny Desk Concert, will be the keynote speaker. Boilen will share his stories and his viewpoint as a journalist and artist as he discusses opportunities and challenges Asheville might expect as its music scene grows.
“Due to the attention our local music scene has garnered over the last few years and the completion of an economic impact study on Asheville’s music industry, we thought bringing a national music tastemaker to the Summit was a perfect choice,” says Gerber Darr.
The event will also feature panels made up of locals who will discuss the economic impact study along with new collaborative initiatives to better understand and advocate for the creative sector of Buncombe County. After the main event, a reception will be held at 14 Riverside Drive from 3-4 p.m. From there, pre-registered guests can join the optional tour, Explore the Hidden Assets of the River Arts District, at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.
Learn more or purchase tickets at ashevillearts.com.
