Open Hearts Art Center Awarded ArtsAVL Grant for Community Mural

Open Hearts Art Center is thrilled to announce we have been awarded an Arts Build Community (ABC) grant from ArtsAVL for the 2025-2026 funding cycle!

The ABC grant program supports innovative projects that promote civic engagement and connection through creativity. This funding will support a powerful collaborative initiative: a public mural celebrating resilience and unity.

Our artists—adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities—will co-design and paint the mural alongside residents from a local Buncombe County community in need of revitalization, particularly one affected by Hurricane Helene. This project ensures that art is not only accessible but also actively used as a tool for healing, connection, and empowerment in the places it is needed most.

The grant program, which recently awarded funds to 14 local groups, is dedicated to ensuring the arts remain free and open to the public, reflecting the vibrancy and diversity of the entire community.

The complete list of grantees can be found here.