
TEDxAsheville: Embrace the Mess
Visionary storytellers turn setbacks into creative opportunity across 12 TEDx talks interleaved with Stewart Owen Dance Company performances and Dixon Violin; includes audience participation, speaker Q&A, catered lunch, and theater networking.
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Community focused evening blending keynote talks by alumni David LaMotte and Nselaa Ward with a symbolic mic passing ceremony connecting established speakers to twelve incoming 2026 presenters, plus intimate reflections, networking, and heavy appetizers.

Community focused evening blending keynote talks by alumni David LaMotte and Nselaa Ward with a symbolic mic passing ceremony connecting established speakers to twelve incoming 2026 presenters, plus intimate reflections, networking, and heavy appetizers.
Community focused evening blending keynote talks by alumni David LaMotte and Nselaa Ward with a symbolic mic passing ceremony connecting established speakers to twelve incoming 2026 presenters, plus intimate reflections, networking, and heavy appetizers.·Open TEDx Matching

Forward-looking civic briefing on downtown Asheville's economic development, safety, and cultural vitality; city planners, business owners, and community leaders present updates and solicit public input in a public forum and stakeholder panel.

Forward-looking civic briefing on downtown Asheville's economic development, safety, and cultural vitality; city planners, business owners, and community leaders present updates and solicit public input in a public forum and stakeholder panel.
Forward-looking civic briefing on downtown Asheville's economic development, safety, and cultural vitality; city planners, business owners, and community leaders present updates and solicit public input in a public forum and stakeholder panel.

Eclectic fringe festival across multiple Asheville venues presenting short form experimental theater, performance art, boundary-pushing comedy, and indie music by local and touring artists with a community driven DIY ethos.

Eclectic fringe festival across multiple Asheville venues presenting short form experimental theater, performance art, boundary-pushing comedy, and indie music by local and touring artists with a community driven DIY ethos.
Eclectic fringe festival across multiple Asheville venues presenting short form experimental theater, performance art, boundary-pushing comedy, and indie music by local and touring artists with a community driven DIY ethos.

Paulo Freire–inspired TEDx-style talks and short presentations exploring public education as the foundation of democracy, with educators, students, and community leaders debating reform, pedagogy, and civic stewardship at A-B Tech.

Paulo Freire–inspired TEDx-style talks and short presentations exploring public education as the foundation of democracy, with educators, students, and community leaders debating reform, pedagogy, and civic stewardship at A-B Tech.
Paulo Freire–inspired TEDx-style talks and short presentations exploring public education as the foundation of democracy, with educators, students, and community leaders debating reform, pedagogy, and civic stewardship at A-B Tech.
True five-minute personal stories compete in a lively StorySLAM centered on "AMERICAN DREAMS," where participants sign up to share daring aspirations, failures, and reinventions while the audience cheers and judges decide.
True five-minute personal stories compete in a lively StorySLAM centered on "AMERICAN DREAMS," where participants sign up to share daring aspirations, failures, and reinventions while the audience cheers and judges decide.
True five-minute personal stories compete in a lively StorySLAM centered on "AMERICAN DREAMS," where participants sign up to share daring aspirations, failures, and reinventions while the audience cheers and judges decide.

Hands on game design festival delivering two days of interactive workshops, collaborative sprints, and networking for indie developers, artists, and beginners at the intimate Diana Wortham Theatre.

Hands on game design festival delivering two days of interactive workshops, collaborative sprints, and networking for indie developers, artists, and beginners at the intimate Diana Wortham Theatre.
Hands on game design festival delivering two days of interactive workshops, collaborative sprints, and networking for indie developers, artists, and beginners at the intimate Diana Wortham Theatre.

Elegant to electric contemporary dance featuring Stewart/Owen ensemble and guest choreographers, including the Asheville premiere of The Front, a sharply charged satire commissioned by the American Dance Festival.

Elegant to electric contemporary dance featuring Stewart/Owen ensemble and guest choreographers, including the Asheville premiere of The Front, a sharply charged satire commissioned by the American Dance Festival.
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Hands-on spinning demonstrations and community circle performances with skill showcases and audience participation, tailored as a family-friendly afternoon school assembly featuring touring performers and student involvement.
Hands-on spinning demonstrations and community circle performances with skill showcases and audience participation, tailored as a family-friendly afternoon school assembly featuring touring performers and student involvement.
Hands-on spinning demonstrations and community circle performances with skill showcases and audience participation, tailored as a family-friendly afternoon school assembly featuring touring performers and student involvement.

Five-minute original pieces across storytelling, music, poetry, comedy, literature, and dance fill an intimate parlor on First Sundays, inviting performers and audience to celebrate Asheville's local arts community.

Five-minute original pieces across storytelling, music, poetry, comedy, literature, and dance fill an intimate parlor on First Sundays, inviting performers and audience to celebrate Asheville's local arts community.
Five-minute original pieces across storytelling, music, poetry, comedy, literature, and dance fill an intimate parlor on First Sundays, inviting performers and audience to celebrate Asheville's local arts community.

Six week evening workshop guiding creatives through restorative rest, digestion, play based exercises, and gentle creative practices to overcome burnout; Thursdays at Story Parlor in West Asheville for group reflection, skillful pacing, and renewed making.

Six week evening workshop guiding creatives through restorative rest, digestion, play based exercises, and gentle creative practices to overcome burnout; Thursdays at Story Parlor in West Asheville for group reflection, skillful pacing, and renewed making.
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High-energy circus theater spectacle of acrobatics, aerial silks, clowning, and musical numbers by a local youth company in an intimate playhouse, delivering family-friendly stunts, theatrical storytelling, and community spirit.

High-energy circus theater spectacle of acrobatics, aerial silks, clowning, and musical numbers by a local youth company in an intimate playhouse, delivering family-friendly stunts, theatrical storytelling, and community spirit.
High-energy circus theater spectacle of acrobatics, aerial silks, clowning, and musical numbers by a local youth company in an intimate playhouse, delivering family-friendly stunts, theatrical storytelling, and community spirit.

Argentine tango immersion with six classes, a práctica, and three milongas—including an elegant Castle Milonga and neighborhood social dances—led by Veronika Kruta with guest DJs and private lesson options.

Argentine tango immersion with six classes, a práctica, and three milongas—including an elegant Castle Milonga and neighborhood social dances—led by Veronika Kruta with guest DJs and private lesson options.
Argentine tango immersion with six classes, a práctica, and three milongas—including an elegant Castle Milonga and neighborhood social dances—led by Veronika Kruta with guest DJs and private lesson options.
Community driven five minute true life tales about deception and suspicion performed live in a low lit music room; sign up to compete or settle in for humorous, awkward, and revealing personal nonfiction.
Community driven five minute true life tales about deception and suspicion performed live in a low lit music room; sign up to compete or settle in for humorous, awkward, and revealing personal nonfiction.
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Behind-the-scenes exploration of orchestral librarianship and upright-bass performance, as an Asheville Symphony principal librarian unpacks score preparation, rehearsal logistics, bowings, and backstage anecdotes in a 45-minute expert talk.

Behind-the-scenes exploration of orchestral librarianship and upright-bass performance, as an Asheville Symphony principal librarian unpacks score preparation, rehearsal logistics, bowings, and backstage anecdotes in a 45-minute expert talk.
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Facilitated workshop exploring spiritual dimensions of depolarization and practical listening techniques in a neighborhood community center; free ticketed session by Meaningful Conversations Asheville emphasizes compassionate dialogue, civic bridging, and reflective practices.
Facilitated workshop exploring spiritual dimensions of depolarization and practical listening techniques in a neighborhood community center; free ticketed session by Meaningful Conversations Asheville emphasizes compassionate dialogue, civic bridging, and reflective practices.
Facilitated workshop exploring spiritual dimensions of depolarization and practical listening techniques in a neighborhood community center; free ticketed session by Meaningful Conversations Asheville emphasizes compassionate dialogue, civic bridging, and reflective practices.

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Five-minute true personal stories under the "I Got It From My Mama" theme, exploring inherited habits, recipes, and generational quirks—humorous and raw—delivered in an intimate storytelling slam with audience signups.
Five-minute true personal stories under the "I Got It From My Mama" theme, exploring inherited habits, recipes, and generational quirks—humorous and raw—delivered in an intimate storytelling slam with audience signups.

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Monthly science salon delivering expert-led talks with vivid research visuals and a lively Q and A, followed by taproom mingling over beer, wine, or soda. Cultivates curiosity and community through enthusiastic, accessible presentations.
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Laughs, acoustic sets, and spoken word poetry mingle in an intimate Asheville night, with local comedians, singers, and poets sharing short sets; signups and audience participation create a supportive, beginner friendly showcase vibe.
Laughs, acoustic sets, and spoken word poetry mingle in an intimate Asheville night, with local comedians, singers, and poets sharing short sets; signups and audience participation create a supportive, beginner friendly showcase vibe.

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Regional resilience leaders and community partners convene for collaborative capacity-building sessions focused on emergency preparedness, mutual aid coordination, and network-building best practices to strengthen local response systems.
Regional resilience leaders and community partners convene for collaborative capacity-building sessions focused on emergency preparedness, mutual aid coordination, and network-building best practices to strengthen local response systems.