River District Artists

What's the buzz?

What others are saying about the River Arts District:

River District 'Studio Stroll' worth attending
by Ted McIrvine, Arts Spectrum, Blue Ridge Now, June 3, 2007

"...the River Arts District arguably holds more arts per square block than anywhere else in Western North Carolina."
Read more...

Video Tour of Galleries and Studios of River Arts District

"The River Arts District is the hip and upcoming warehouse-turned-art-district in Asheville."
Watch a video tour on exploreasheville.com

The Art and Soul of Asheville, N.C.
by Stephen Poole, October, 2006, US Airways Magazine

"Urban hipness and breathtaking mountain vistas have made this North Carolina town one of the East Coast's hottest art destinations"...

River District’s vibe grows
Arts event a reminder of area’s thriving scene
by Constance E. Richards, published May 5, 2006, Asheville Citizen-Times

ASHEVILLE — Come to the triangle of Clingman, Lyman and Depot streets in Asheville’s River Arts District and the buzz is deafening....

Arts and Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains
by Wells Tower, published March 19, 2006, New York Times Magazine

History of the River Arts District

The River Arts District’s name pays homage to the French Broad River that runs beside it. The French Broad River is an anomaly in many ways. The Eastern Continental Divide is situated about 25 miles south of Asheville. As a result, the French Broad River runs north as it moves through Asheville, which can be disconcerting as most rivers tend to run south. In many other places, "a river running through it" creates focus, yet with natural beauty abounding in the area, the French Broad River gets little attention and visitation, which makes it one of the best kept secrets of Asheville.

In the late 1800’s, the population of Asheville knew about the river. There was a lovely stretch of park, filled with lagoons, gazeboes and strolling paths along the banks of the French Broad River... A riverboat took people up and down the river, and there were plans for a docking marina. With the Victorian Era marking the beginning of Asheville’s prominence as a tourist destination, many visitors arrived in Asheville by private train cars. These travelers would disembark near the river and stretch their legs along its banks...