If the vibrancy of a city can be judged by the strength of its art scene, then Asheville certainly scores high as a bustling regional mecca. From the larger-scale Asheville Art Museum to one-room studios in the renovated warehouses of the River Arts District, artists want to live and create here.

And it seems that where artists are working, residential development follows. We thrive on the energy and creativity of those around us. Development downtown and in the RAD is growing – in fact, the Asheville City Council recently approved a new RAD apartment complex that will include artist studios along with restaurants and public parking. The open studios, neighborhood strolls, and rotating gallery exhibits are a huge draw for those who enjoy a bustling neighborhood.

Art in Asheville – and the entire Western North Carolina region – isn’t only about an oil painting hanging on the wall or a sculpture on a stand. It’s also about folk art. Asheville is home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild, which has four shops and hosts biannual fairs in the U.S. Cellular Center that draw thousands of people. The region was also home to Black Mountain College, which drew some of the 20th Century’s finest visual and performing artists in its 24-year history, and now exists in downtown Asheville as the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Center. A hotel and residential building are currently under construction across from the Asheville Art Museum and within easy walking distance to several of the larger galleries downtown.

The Asheville Art Museum, which is out of its permanent home due to construction, has opened a temporary annex in the South Slope neighborhood. The South Slope is also the home of the Asheville Area Arts Council, a collaborative voice for the arts in Buncombe County. It’s no coincidence that residential interest has increased in the South Slope, where loft apartments are available and more parcels of land are being developed as residential property.

There are many thriving towns and communities close to Asheville with smaller-scale but strong art scenes. There are galleries and studios worth exploring in places such as Black Mountain, Waynesville, and Burnsville, which is close to the world-famous Penland School of Crafts. If you’re seeking out property that puts you close to art and creativity, the blueblaze team’s strong connections to and understanding of Asheville and the Western North Carolina region can get you there. Contact us for more information and to get in touch with a blueblaze expert!