BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — One year after Hurricane Helene reshaped lives and landscapes across Western North Carolina, the River Arts District (RAD) in Asheville is marking the anniversary with RAD Resilience—a powerful community-wide art event centered on healing, creativity, and collective strength.
The day-long celebration features new works from over 350 artists throughout the district and showcases 100 displaced artists in the RAD Art Market. Many of the featured pieces were created in direct response to Hurricane Helene and the broader realities of our changing climate. Attendees can also enjoy live music, food trucks, artist talks, and a large-scale interactive art project that spans the entire district.
RAD Resilience is more than just a local event—it’s part of a growing dialogue between two cities bound by storm and story. On the same day, in New Orleans, the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts (NOAFA), in partnership with ArtsvilleUSA, River Arts District Artists (RADA), and Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA), launches A Tale of Two Cities. This joint exhibition features arts and crafts from both New Orleans and Asheville artists, created in response to the devastating hurricanes that have shaped the identity and resilience of both communities…