
Art Affair 2026
Community-rooted visual arts gala and fundraiser presenting multidisciplinary installations, local artist showcases, and participatory community engagement in the vaulted Crest Center & Pavilion, organized by OpenDoors Asheville on March 7, 2026.
Similar Events

A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.

A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.
A self guided evening art walk through downtown galleries and public art stops, paired with a benefit fundraiser supporting local creative community efforts. Expect gallery hopping, street level browsing, and a lively after work crowd.

A citywide charity dining day where participating Asheville restaurants donate a portion of sales to support HIV and AIDS services. Dine in or take out while turning everyday meals into community fundraising impact.

A citywide charity dining day where participating Asheville restaurants donate a portion of sales to support HIV and AIDS services. Dine in or take out while turning everyday meals into community fundraising impact.
A citywide charity dining day where participating Asheville restaurants donate a portion of sales to support HIV and AIDS services. Dine in or take out while turning everyday meals into community fundraising impact.
A full-weekend downtown festival blending concert sets, film screenings, and visual art experiences into one culture-forward celebration. Designed for connection and discovery across Asheville’s music, art, and community scenes.
A full-weekend downtown festival blending concert sets, film screenings, and visual art experiences into one culture-forward celebration. Designed for connection and discovery across Asheville’s music, art, and community scenes.
A full-weekend downtown festival blending concert sets, film screenings, and visual art experiences into one culture-forward celebration. Designed for connection and discovery across Asheville’s music, art, and community scenes.

A structured intercity visit that brings an out of town delegation to Asheville for meetings, site visits, and civic conversation. Expect relationship building across local organizations with a focus on city learning and collaboration.

A structured intercity visit that brings an out of town delegation to Asheville for meetings, site visits, and civic conversation. Expect relationship building across local organizations with a focus on city learning and collaboration.
A structured intercity visit that brings an out of town delegation to Asheville for meetings, site visits, and civic conversation. Expect relationship building across local organizations with a focus on city learning and collaboration.

A 20th anniversary sneak peek of Art in Bloom with fresh floral interpretations of artworks in a gallery setting. Evening celebration in Black Mountain centered on springlike color, design, and community arts excitement.

A 20th anniversary sneak peek of Art in Bloom with fresh floral interpretations of artworks in a gallery setting. Evening celebration in Black Mountain centered on springlike color, design, and community arts excitement.
A 20th anniversary sneak peek of Art in Bloom with fresh floral interpretations of artworks in a gallery setting. Evening celebration in Black Mountain centered on springlike color, design, and community arts excitement.

High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.

High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.
High-energy improvisational comedy featuring long-form jams, short-form games, and ensemble sketch pieces in a day-long festival format that highlights local and touring troupes with playful audience participation.
An anniversary fundraiser celebrating the 8th year of SkillSet programming, focused on raising money for scholarships. Community supporters gather at UNC Asheville’s STEAM Studio to back accessible learning opportunities.
An anniversary fundraiser celebrating the 8th year of SkillSet programming, focused on raising money for scholarships. Community supporters gather at UNC Asheville’s STEAM Studio to back accessible learning opportunities.
An anniversary fundraiser celebrating the 8th year of SkillSet programming, focused on raising money for scholarships. Community supporters gather at UNC Asheville’s STEAM Studio to back accessible learning opportunities.

An opening-night gallery reception celebrating garden-inspired artwork in a community arts center setting. Browse fresh seasonal pieces, mingle with artists, and enjoy a casual social atmosphere around the new exhibit.

An opening-night gallery reception celebrating garden-inspired artwork in a community arts center setting. Browse fresh seasonal pieces, mingle with artists, and enjoy a casual social atmosphere around the new exhibit.
An opening-night gallery reception celebrating garden-inspired artwork in a community arts center setting. Browse fresh seasonal pieces, mingle with artists, and enjoy a casual social atmosphere around the new exhibit.

Soft lit opening reception for a botanical focused exhibition, presenting floral paintings, prints, and mixed media pieces; attendees can mingle with artists among curated gallery installations in a convivial community arts setting.

Soft lit opening reception for a botanical focused exhibition, presenting floral paintings, prints, and mixed media pieces; attendees can mingle with artists among curated gallery installations in a convivial community arts setting.
Soft lit opening reception for a botanical focused exhibition, presenting floral paintings, prints, and mixed media pieces; attendees can mingle with artists among curated gallery installations in a convivial community arts setting.
Urban sketchers gather for a sketchbook meetup focused on drawing the River Arts District streetscape and sharpening on location techniques. Expect relaxed plein air pacing, skill sharing, and easy conversation with regional USk chapters.
Urban sketchers gather for a sketchbook meetup focused on drawing the River Arts District streetscape and sharpening on location techniques. Expect relaxed plein air pacing, skill sharing, and easy conversation with regional USk chapters.
Urban sketchers gather for a sketchbook meetup focused on drawing the River Arts District streetscape and sharpening on location techniques. Expect relaxed plein air pacing, skill sharing, and easy conversation with regional USk chapters.

Four-night improv festival across three Asheville venues, mixing quick-fire short form games with longform and narrative unscripted theater. Expect headliner sets, musical improv, and a rotating lineup of diverse teams.

Four-night improv festival across three Asheville venues, mixing quick-fire short form games with longform and narrative unscripted theater. Expect headliner sets, musical improv, and a rotating lineup of diverse teams.
Four-night improv festival across three Asheville venues, mixing quick-fire short form games with longform and narrative unscripted theater. Expect headliner sets, musical improv, and a rotating lineup of diverse teams.

Season-opening minor league baseball under the lights with first-pitch excitement, walk-up music, and hometown crowd energy at the Asheville Tourists ballpark. A classic spring night of ballpark vibes and local pride.

Season-opening minor league baseball under the lights with first-pitch excitement, walk-up music, and hometown crowd energy at the Asheville Tourists ballpark. A classic spring night of ballpark vibes and local pride.
Season-opening minor league baseball under the lights with first-pitch excitement, walk-up music, and hometown crowd energy at the Asheville Tourists ballpark. A classic spring night of ballpark vibes and local pride.

A festival-style night at a downtown concert hall with a rotating multi-artist lineup and high-energy crowd. Expect loud, late sets, pro sound and lights, and a packed-floor concert vibe.

A festival-style night at a downtown concert hall with a rotating multi-artist lineup and high-energy crowd. Expect loud, late sets, pro sound and lights, and a packed-floor concert vibe.
A festival-style night at a downtown concert hall with a rotating multi-artist lineup and high-energy crowd. Expect loud, late sets, pro sound and lights, and a packed-floor concert vibe.

A culminating MFA thesis show presenting three years of creative research through contemporary mixed media works by five graduating artists from WCU’s School of Art and Design. Expect a gallery-style exhibition with diverse materials, concepts, and visual approaches.

A culminating MFA thesis show presenting three years of creative research through contemporary mixed media works by five graduating artists from WCU’s School of Art and Design. Expect a gallery-style exhibition with diverse materials, concepts, and visual approaches.
A culminating MFA thesis show presenting three years of creative research through contemporary mixed media works by five graduating artists from WCU’s School of Art and Design. Expect a gallery-style exhibition with diverse materials, concepts, and visual approaches.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.
Zesty summer tasting of experimental pickles, fermented condiments, and crazy flavor mashups alongside local craft vendors; all food menu items priced ten dollars or less for budget friendly snack and shop fun.

A regional artists gallery exhibit fills the Black Mountain Center for the Arts with seasonal, flower-inspired visual work and curated display moments. Stroll, browse, and connect with the local arts community in a relaxed gallery setting.

A regional artists gallery exhibit fills the Black Mountain Center for the Arts with seasonal, flower-inspired visual work and curated display moments. Stroll, browse, and connect with the local arts community in a relaxed gallery setting.
A regional artists gallery exhibit fills the Black Mountain Center for the Arts with seasonal, flower-inspired visual work and curated display moments. Stroll, browse, and connect with the local arts community in a relaxed gallery setting.

Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.

Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.
Sunlit outdoor festival celebrating local honey with tasting tables, beekeeping demos, and vendor booths on Highland Brewing's beer garden; family friendly activities and brewery beer pairings highlight Asheville's pollinator-focused foodways.

Adrenaline-soaked paddling shorts and cinematic river adventures light up the screen for an Earth Day celebration. All-ages, mostly seated screening with first-come seating and proceeds supporting MountainTrue’s conservation work.

Adrenaline-soaked paddling shorts and cinematic river adventures light up the screen for an Earth Day celebration. All-ages, mostly seated screening with first-come seating and proceeds supporting MountainTrue’s conservation work.
Adrenaline-soaked paddling shorts and cinematic river adventures light up the screen for an Earth Day celebration. All-ages, mostly seated screening with first-come seating and proceeds supporting MountainTrue’s conservation work.

Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.

Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.
Outdoor community festival of movement, song, and playful creativity at Pack Square Park, including a Joy Parade with the Street Creature Puppet Collective, guided singing by Travis Redtail, and local artist vendors.

Derby themed decorating night with bold florals, racing inspired accents, and festive photo ready setups in a stylish hotel setting. Expect a social, hands on atmosphere geared toward pre party flair and group creativity.

Derby themed decorating night with bold florals, racing inspired accents, and festive photo ready setups in a stylish hotel setting. Expect a social, hands on atmosphere geared toward pre party flair and group creativity.
Derby themed decorating night with bold florals, racing inspired accents, and festive photo ready setups in a stylish hotel setting. Expect a social, hands on atmosphere geared toward pre party flair and group creativity.