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Hope after Helene Arts Relief Fund
Provide relief for the unique needs of artists and nonprofit organizations that might not be addressed through of regional, state, or national relief funding efforts. We aim to support the artists of Watauga County as they recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene.
We are seeking funding to support our community by providing arts services and outlets for residents and offering critical resources to local creatives who have lost income, equipment, or supplies due to recent events.
More than 300 local artists have lost vital income due to there cancellation of art vending events like Buskers Fest, Wooly Worm Fest, and Valle Country Fair.
These funds will be used to supplement existing efforts and will not duplicate relief support available through other sources.
Some of the way these funds will be used is to provide travel and registration expenses related to creating new opportunities after all our local shows have been canceled. We will help to fund registration fees for artists who need to attend new vending opportunities. We will also provide support to travel expenses for artists who have to travel off the mountain to find work.
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Dear Community,
In the wake of the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene, Watauga County has faced incredible challenges. Our community has suffered extensive damage, leaving many without homes, businesses, and essential resources. Among those hardest hit are our local artists, whose livelihoods depend on the events, shows, and sales opportunities that have now been canceled. Studios have been damaged, and artwork, equipment, and supplies lost. The effects of the storm on the creative heart of Watauga County are profound, as artists not only bring beauty and culture to our region but also rely on these efforts for their income.
In response to this crisis, we are launching an Artist Relief Fund to support our local artists and the vital role they play in bringing hope, unity, and healing to our community during these difficult times. Your contribution will help restore their ability to work, create, and inspire. We are seeking donations to provide emergency assistance. We hope to match grants and other funding sources to help artists with loss of income, replacement of supplies, provision of opportunities, and more.
But the Artist Relief Fund is about more than financial support—it's about coming together as a community. We believe in the power of art to heal. This fund can help us offer free art classes to families while schools are closed, creating spaces for joy, creativity, and connection. We would pay are instructors to teach these classes to support them in times of struggle. These sessions will allow children and families to express themselves and find moments of peace in uncertain times.
Additionally, we will be hosting Cards of Hope drop-in sessions. This initiative invites everyone in the community to stop by and create hand-decorated cards with heartfelt messages—cards that will be delivered to victims of the storm to lift their spirits, and to the brave individuals who have sacrificed and stepped up to help others in this time of need.
We invite you to stand with us in supporting our artists and bringing hope to Watauga County. Every donation, large or small, will make a meaningful difference.
Let’s rebuild, heal, and inspire—together.
Sincerely,
Amber Bateman and Watauga Arts Council Board of Directors
Other places to donate: Donate to statewide initiatives here, at the NC Arts Foundation .
Organized by Watauga Arts Council (WAC)
[email protected]
