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When Worry Shows Up and How to Invite It to Soften
by Ashley Cooper with Teresa Posakony I’m talking to a 10 year-old who trusts me. I know this because he’s mentioned that I am someone that looks out for him and he appreciates that. One evening we are talking and the tone of our conversation shifts. He summons the courage to tell me something that…
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Fall of Freedom
On November 21 and 22, 2025, independent artists and arts organizations across the country will come together under the umbrella of FALL OF FREEDOM, to produce a wave of cultural events, in all disciplines, from music and visual art to theater and comedy. Each event will be independently organized, yet united by the shared value…
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A Conversation With Semilla de Vida Huertos
Since 2019, Asheville Creative Arts has been assisting artists with low incomes and the organizations that benefit them. Our approach to art making and to technical assistance is consistent: with encouragement, resources and spaces that nurture trust, creativity and accountability, audiences, artists, activists and community leaders are able to reach their full potential. ACA’s Carolina…
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A Conversation with Nehprii Amenii
Asheville Creative Arts was founded to address the lack of high-quality, inclusive professional children’s theatre in Western North Carolina. While ACA continues to create and produce innovative theatrical experiences for youth and their families, we have since expanded the scope of our work to support artists and community-based organizations. Our approach to art making and…
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A Conversation with Daniele Martin
In the 10 years since its founding, Asheville Creative Arts has consistently created theatrical experiences that are both aesthetically innovative and supportive of social-emotional growth. Its programs for children and youth are designed to encourage young people to amplify their voices, and productions for all audiences are designed to encourage listening, reflection, and empathy, as…
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Spotlight on Hood Huggers International
Asheville Creative Arts was founded to address the lack of high-quality, inclusive professional children’s theatre in Western North Carolina. While ACA continues to create and produce innovative theatrical experiences for youth and their families, we have since expanded the scope of our work to support artists and community-based organizations. Our approach to art making and…
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Learn More About the Art of Recovery
Asheville Creative Arts was proud to partner with Hood Huggers International, Slay the Mic, Umoja and Sister Soul Sessions to bring together professional and youth artists for an exhibit at Pink Dog Gallery in Asheville’s River Arts District from Dec – Jan 2025. The exhibit explored the impacts of Helene, how they overlaid on existing…
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A Conversation with Gina Stewart and Brenda Gambill
Asheville Creative Arts supports artists working in different mediums to develop new works that invite young audiences in particular to see themselves and their stories in a new, creative light. The contributing artists are part of what makes the organization unique. Gina Stewart and Brenda Gambill have been with the company since the beginning and…
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Spotlight on Swannanoa Communities Together
Part of Asheville Creative Arts’ model is to support the organizations that are providing critical resources to the audiences in the communities we serve. One such organization is Swannanoa Communities Together, which is supporting housing justice and community resilience in a community that disproportionately experienced residential damage and displacement from Helene.
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Asheville Creative Arts premieres its first baby theater production
Posted on March 9, 2023 by Amber Adams Niven Abby Felder, executive artistic director at Asheville Creative Arts, conceived of the local youth theater production’s latest show, Shell, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Like many, Felder was devastated by the turmoil and trauma New Orleans residents faced in the wake of the 2005 storm’s destruction. She responded…
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“Goal: Complex, Experimental Theater. Audience: Children” (Blue Ridge Public Radio)
“Goal: Complex, Experimental Theater. Audience: Children”Blue Ridge Public RadioMatt PeikenApril 17, 2019 Abby Felder wanted to pursue experimental theater after college, so the North Carolina native moved to Asheville seven years ago and co-founded Asheville Creative Arts. It’s the only company devoted solely to producing children’s theater in Western North Carolina. “Working with younger audiences in…
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“Asheville Creative Arts debuts its latest original production” (Thomas Calder, Mountain Express)
“Asheville Creative Arts debuts its latest original production”Mountain ExpressThomas CalderApril 3, 2019 There is plenty to unpack in Asheville Creative Arts’ latest original production, The Warp & The Weft. The professional children’s theater group will debut the hourlong performance on Friday, April 19, at The Magnetic Theatre. Combining puppetry, live folk music, video and storytelling,…
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Bugs: Reencontrando la humanidad desde la perspectiva de los insectos
Por Judith Barriga | jbarriga@norsanmedia.com Charlotte NC. – En una era en donde la información se diluye tan rápido entre mensajes, videos y fotografías sin sentido, es difícil entender la cultura de amarse a uno mismo, sin perder la empatía por los demás. Es común, entre humanos, interactuar sin realmente comunicarse. ‘BUGS’ o ‘Insectos’, es una…
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Theater review: ‘Failure, A Love Story’ by Asheville Creative Arts
Posted on April 9, 2018 by Jeff Messer LIFE LESSONS: Daniele Martin, Julia Cunnigham and Kelsey Sewell take audiences on a journey of love, loss and time in Failure: A Love Story, the latest production by Asheville Creative Arts. Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Malinak Asheville Creative Arts has accomplished something haunting, romantic, nostalgic and innovative in Failure: A Love Story by…
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A Response to Loss: How Do We Lead the Conversation for our Young People?
When we founded ACA it was with the belief that our young audiences are intelligent, sensitive, and capable of creative thinking. Our work never takes them for granted, and strives to challenge their imaginations and acknowledge the complexity of their emotions. Our current production, FAILURE: A LOVE STORY, addresses themes of love, as well…
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Asheville Creative Arts Announces the Launch of Summer Theatre Camp 2018
Asheville, NC- Asheville Creative Arts (ACA), Asheville’s professional children’s theatre, announces expanded educational opportunities in its 6th milestone season with an inaugural session of Summer Theatre Camp for ages 8-11, to be held at Hanger Hall (64 W. T. Weaver Blvd). This week-long camp will run from 9am-5pm with early drop-off and late pick-up available…
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FAILURE: A LOVE STORY Announced as ACA’s Spring Show April 2018
Asheville, NC- Asheville Creative Arts (ACA), Asheville’s professional children’s theatre announces the first production of its 6th Season, FAILURE: A LOVE STORY, a whimsical modern fairytale with direction by Abby Felder and Eva von Schweinitz, and musical direction and arranging by Gina Stewart and Brenda Gambill of Jonesalee. The show, which will be…
