The RAD Creative Campus will serve as a dynamic hub for working artists, exhibitions, education, workforce development, cultural programming, and public engagement in Asheville’s River Arts District, home to one of the largest concentrations of working artists in the United States. The project is designed as a long-term investment in Asheville’s creative economy, cultural identity, and regional resilience.

More than a traditional arts facility, the RAD Creative Campus is envisioned as a resilience-driven, partner-powered ecosystem that unites artist production, workforce training, public performances, visitor experiences, and disaster resilience within a single platform.

Programming at the campus will include artist residencies, shared equipment labs, paid apprenticeships, creative workforce training, business and financial education for artists, interdisciplinary performances, youth programming, guided visitor experiences, and collector engagement initiatives. Pilot programs already underway, including ArtSeen Studios and Artways: Asheville, have demonstrated the impact of this model by connecting artists directly to mentorship, exhibition opportunities, audiences, and sustainable career pathways. These programs are already helping artists stabilize income, access professional development, reconnect with audiences, and rebuild sustainable careers following Hurricane Helene.

The RAD Creative Campus will also establish a regional Resilience Hub for artists, providing infrastructure and support systems for artists impacted by natural disasters and economic disruption. Planned initiatives include resilience residencies, mobile creative infrastructure, and regional partnerships across Western North Carolina designed to strengthen the long-term stability of creative communities.

In addition, the campus will house a Creative Resilience Lab exploring the intersection of art, economy, climate resilience, and community development through artist residencies, public forums, convenings, research partnerships, and cross-sector collaboration.

As a nationally recognized arts destination recovering from a major climate-related disaster, Asheville is uniquely positioned to help lead conversations around the future of resilient creative communities.

“This investment represents a pivotal moment for our creative community, and we are deeply grateful to Biltmore for believing in this vision and helping move it forward,” said Jeffrey Burroughs, speaking on behalf of the River Arts District Artists (RADA). “The RAD Creative Campus is designed not simply as a building, but as a long-term system for artist sustainability that combines creative production, workforce development, cultural tourism, and resilience into a model for how artists and creative communities can build long-term economic and cultural resilience.”

Biltmore shares our commitment to cultivating meaningful cultural experiences rooted in place, heritage, and creativity. The RAD Creative Campus aligns closely with the company’s philanthropic goals to create an accessible environment where artistic practice, education, economic opportunity, and public engagement intersect.

“At its core, our company purpose is to foster cultural experiences that enrich the spirit of our community and celebrate the distinct character of our region,” said Biltmore Vice President, Tim Rosebrock, who oversees the company’s philanthropy efforts. “The RAD Creative Campus embodies this vision by investing not only in artists, but in the long-term cultural and economic vitality of Western North Carolina.”

The RAD Creative Campus is designed to strengthen both artists and the broader River Arts District by increasing visitation, supporting small businesses, expanding cultural tourism, and reinforcing Asheville’s position as a leading arts destination. Because the River Arts District serves as both a cultural and economic driver for Asheville, investment in artist infrastructure directly supports tourism, hospitality, small business activity, and regional economic development.

By increasing visitation, expanding cultural programming, and improving artist infrastructure, the project is intended to support existing studios, galleries, small businesses, and creative entrepreneurs throughout the district.

Through partnerships with organizations including the Center for Craft, ArtsAVL, Asheville Poverty Initiative, Asheville Community Theatre, Asheville Symphony, Noir Collective, and Craft Your Commerce, the campus will operate as a collaborative platform connecting artists, institutions, businesses, and the public.

The project is intended to serve as a replicable national model for resilience-driven creative infrastructure, particularly for communities navigating climate disruption, economic transition, and cultural displacement.

As the 501(c)(3) entity leading this initiative, RADA Foundation, Inc. plays a central role in advancing charitable, educational, and community-focused programming that benefits artists and the public alike. The organization works in close collaboration with the River Arts District Artists, which represents the district’s artists.

The RAD Creative Campus arrives at a pivotal moment for Asheville and the River Arts District, supporting ongoing efforts to strengthen and future-proof the region’s creative sector following Hurricane Helene and broader economic pressures affecting artists nationwide. By investing in permanent creative infrastructure above the floodplain, the project seeks to preserve the district’s identity while establishing Asheville as a national leader in resilience-driven cultural infrastructure and creative economy development.