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ArtsvilleUSAAuthor: ArtsvilleUSA
Straight from the Blue Ridge Mountains, join host Elise Wilson from ArtsvilleUSA for a top-ranked craftsmanship podcast exploring heritage craft, contemporary art, and the stories behind Western North Carolina artists. Create a deeper connection to artists and the arts history of WNC as we explore handcrafted pottery, woodworking, glass blowing, metal sculpture, from Asheville, Boone, and beyond. Listen now and celebrate creativity with ArtsvilleUSA. Language: en Genres: Arts, Design, Visual Arts Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Under Pressure: Jewelry Artist Jeffrey Burroughs Transforms Hardship Into Hope for Asheville’s Arts District
Episode 34
Wednesday, 23 September, 2026
Editor’s note: This episode contains discussion of a near-death experience and suicidal ideation. The views expressed by Jeffrey Burroughs are their own and do not reflect the positions of ArtsvilleUSA or its parent, Arterial Inc. This podcast is intended to highlight the artistic work and community impact of our guest. It does not reflect support or opposition for any political candidate, party, or ballot measure.Jeffrey Burroughs doesn’t believe in luck. “There’s no such thing,” says the president of the River Arts District Artists Association (RADA), repeating a bit of wisdom they once received from a mentor during their days as a musical theater major. “It’s preparation met with opportunity.”Those words became reality when, just three days after Hurricane Helene left Asheville’s low-lying arts district underwater, RADA was granted nonprofit status. Suddenly, all that paperwork became a lifeline for hundreds of artists, studios, and small creative businesses struggling to recover. According to Jeffrey, the funds raised in the storm’s aftermath remain the only significant financial investment in the district to date. As an artist, an active community advocate, and now a candidate for city council, Jeffrey has seen firsthand how policy decisions impact working artists. Today, they join us to discuss how financial investment and community action have shaped the River Arts District’s recovery, the intersection of art and civic life in Asheville, and how themes from our fall exhibition—mortality, memory, and impact—resonate through their art, business, and advocacy.Episode CreditsHost: Elise Wilson, ArtsvilleUSA Executive DirectorGuest: Jeffrey Burroughs, President, RADAProduced by: ArtsvilleUSA / Arterial Inc.Audio editing: Maggi Van DornNewsletter: Subscribe to the ArtsvilleUSA Newsletter for more stories and updates on the arts and crafts scene in Western North Carolina.
