The Asheville Lyric Opera - www.ashevillelyric.org  - was founded with the rather ambitious idea of building a professional opera company - in Ashveille- presenting an educational outreach in the area schools and universities, and becoming part of and enhancing the life arts and culture in Western North Carolina. I think they have succeeded admirably!

The Asheville Area Arts Council - www.ashevillearts.com - (AAAC) was founded more than forty years ago as a community arts council serving the needs of Western North Carolina. The AAAC is dedicated to developing cultural resources, city and audience development, fund raising and grant allocations, and administrative service assistance.

The North Carolina Arts Council - www.ncarts.org  - celebrates those who create and enjoy art in all 100 counties of the state. Whether it’s contemporary art, crafts, dance, the folk arts, historical drama, literature, music, or theater, we have something for everyone.

The North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources - http://www.ncdcr.gov  - knows that cultural activities are integral to the daily lives of North Carolinians and a healthy economy, so they work to preserve, develop, promote, and share the state's artistic, historic, and informational treasures.

You can find more information about the Greater Asheville Area through: www.ashevilleguidebook.com  - home of the Best Selling Guidebook to Asheville, Hendersonville & The Western North Carolina Mountains.