Our Mission: Expanding Horizons
The Art League’s overarching mission is to continually expand our programs and opportunities, ensuring that every citizen has access to the visual arts. We aspire to create an environment where artistic expression knows no bounds, while offering opportunities for individuals to engage, learn, and find inspiration.
A Letter from the Executive Director:
2025 - What a year for the Art League!
The Art League of Henderson County exists because of a shared belief that art matters, and that a vibrant arts community is something we build together.
The generosity of individuals, patrons, foundations, businesses, and public partners sustains our work and allows the visual arts to remain accessible, relevant, and welcoming to all. This partnership—between private support and public purpose—is the lifeblood of our organization. It reflects the very best of community stewardship: neighbors investing in creativity, connection, and shared cultural life.
As we reflect on the past year, we do so with deep gratitude for those who make our work possible and with renewed purpose for what lies ahead. Together, we opened the Art Place Gallery in the Historic 7th Avenue District, expanded our ceramic studio, strengthened our organizational capacity, and continued serving artists and the public through a year shaped by recovery and growth. None of this would have been possible without flexible, unrestricted support that allowed us to respond thoughtfully, invest wisely, and plan with confidence.
Your belief in the power of art—your willingness to stand with us as partners—ensures that the Art League remains a place where creativity is nurtured, artists are supported, and the community is invited to gather, learn, and connect. This is a space that belongs to everyone.
Thank you for supporting our vision, for believing in our mission, and for helping build an arts organization that reflects the creativity, resilience, and generosity of Henderson County. Together, we will continue to strengthen a cultural resource that serves our community today and for generations to come.
With gratitude,
Diane Dean
Executive Director
Art League of Henderson County
By the Numbers
500+ active members
150+ exhibiting artists
12 Monthly Exhibits at Art Place
3 Exhibits at the Henderson Library
4 Special Events
Celebrate Art
Fiber Show
LaVie en Rose
Fabulous Fakes
70 ArtScape Banners
Nearly 100 workshops, and classes
Hundreds of students and adults served through outreach
Thousands of visitors welcomed annually
What Your Support Made Possible
A New Home for the Arts
This year, the Art League of Henderson County successfully relocated and opened the Art Place Gallery in Hendersonville’s Historic 7th Avenue District—establishing a more visible and accessible home for the visual arts. The new space allows us to better showcase the work of local and regional artists while welcoming the public into a vibrant environment designed for exhibitions, gatherings, and creative exchange. The gallery has quickly become a place where artists and community members connect, ideas are shared, and art is experienced as part of everyday life.
Expanded Clay Studio
Support from our community enabled the continued growth of the Stuart Glassman Ceramic Studio into a dynamic center for learning and making. New equipment, expanded studio access, and a broader range of classes increased opportunities for participation at every level. Emerging artists found space to explore and develop their skills, while experienced ceramicists benefited from professional-grade facilities and open studio access. The studio now serves as both a creative workspace and a learning environment—supporting artistic growth, experimentation, and connection.
Organizational Capacity & Sustainability
This year marked an important investment in the Art League’s long-term strength. With added professional leadership and improved systems for finance, governance, and operations, the organization strengthened its ability to manage growth responsibly. These behind-the-scenes improvements—often made possible through unrestricted support—provide stability, improve planning, and ensure that programs, facilities, and people are supported in a sustainable way.
Youth & Community Programs
The Art League expanded its commitment to arts education and community engagement by launching new youth programs, workshops, and learning opportunities designed to serve a broader cross-section of our community. Through partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations, we extended access to creative experiences for individuals and families who might not otherwise have opportunities to participate. These programs help nurture creativity, build confidence, and strengthen connections across generations.
Recovery & Resilience
Throughout the year, the Art League continued to navigate the lingering impacts of Hurricane Helene with flexibility and resolve. By adapting programming, managing uncertainty, and remaining focused on our mission, we rebuilt momentum while maintaining program quality and community trust. The resilience shown by artists, staff, volunteers, and supporters reaffirmed the Art League’s role as a steady and responsive presence in challenging times.
Why Unrestricted Support Matters
Unrestricted funding is the foundation that makes everything else possible. It is the flexible support that allows the Art League of Henderson County to operate with stability, respond with agility, and plan with intention.
Unlike restricted program funding, unrestricted support strengthens the entire organization. It allows us to keep the gallery doors open and the lights on, ensuring that exhibitions, studios, and community spaces remain accessible year-round. It enables us to retain skilled staff and teaching artists who provide consistency, expertise, and care—building relationships with artists, students, and visitors over time.
Unrestricted funding also gives us the ability to respond quickly when circumstances change. Whether navigating unexpected challenges, addressing urgent facility needs, or adapting programs to meet community demand, flexible support allows us to act responsibly and decisively without disrupting our mission.
Perhaps most importantly, unrestricted support allows us to invest in people, systems, and long-term growth. It supports thoughtful planning, strengthens infrastructure, and creates the capacity needed to say yes to opportunities that expand access, deepen impact, and strengthen the arts ecosystem in Henderson County.
Our patrons don’t simply support individual programs—they provide the stability, flexibility, and confidence that allow the Art League to thrive. Their investment ensures that creativity remains visible, accessible, and valued in our community today and into the future.
2025 Upcoming Events & Exhibits
January - Board Members and Members Exhibit - Art Place January 6 - 30th
Opening Event - Friday, January 9th 5 - 7 pm
New in downtown Hendersonville: Art Place Gallery
730 Locust Street, 7th Avenue District, Hendersonville
Stuart Glassman Clay Studio: Classes & Memberships
The Art League of Henderson County proudly welcomes visitors to our Artists Studios, a dynamic working artist space. Currently home to 10 active studio artists, the building offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative process, with artists working in a range of media including oil, acrylic, watercolor, clay, encaustic, mixed media, and more.
Art Place Gallery
730 Locust Street, 7th Avenue District Hendersonville 28782
Open: Wednesday - Thursday 11 AM - 4 PM
Friday & Saturday 11 AM - 5 PM
Artist Studios
2015 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville 28791
Open: Thursday - Saturday 11 AM - 4 PM
Or by appointment
Mailing Address for The Art League
PO Box 514, Hendersonville 28793
Stuart Glassman Clay Studio
2015 Asheville Hwy, Hendersonville 28791
Open: 24/7 for Clay Studio Members, during classes or by appointment and during Art Place Studios open hours
Recent Events: In partnership with Village Potters and Local Cloth
Both organizations lost their buildings in Hurricane Helene
