Menu
As we come together in the wake of hurricane Helene, we recognize the devastating impact on our artistic community. So many artists and musicians are left without venues, gigs, and income to take care of their families, pets, homes & more. Artists are the heart and soul of our community.
LEAF Global Arts is grateful for anyone who is able to give in order to directly support our beloved artists.
These are the performers, musicians, and artists who work in schools to uplift our youth through global and cultural arts, and bring so much joy, love, and light to our community.
In this crucial moment Dan Lucas Memorial Fund is leading forward to support local WNC & LEAF Artists.
This is a MATCHING GIFT GRANT- when you GIVE, your gift is doubled.
Dan Lucas Memorial Fund is dedicated to local Musicians and Cultural Institutions. Over the years, Dan Lucas’ family has guided and generously supported LEAF Global Arts and has been a catalyst keeping culture and music alive!
Please consider giving to the LEAF Artist Relief Fund. 100% directly support our local artists.
BELOVED ASHEVILLE – Distributing critical necessities like food, water, and healthcare while securing warm and safe housing for the displaced.
YMI CULTURAL ARTS CENTER – Ensuring the most marginalized members of our community are being connected with necessary supplies and support.
BOUNTY & SOUL – Working with businesses and organizations like World Central Kitchen & Hearts with Hands to provide hot meals, fresh food, and essential household supplies and equipment to hard hit areas of Swannanoa Valley at no cost.
CARDINALS AT THE WINDOW – Funding mutual aid organizations in WNC and disseminating funds to direct individuals in need.
So much LEAF LOVE to our friends, family, artists, healers, volunteers/Wex, and kids who love LEAF!
LEAF Global Arts community and all of Western North Carolina are facing immeasurable losses and challenges in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Our region was hit with unimaginable devastating floods and landslides leading to loss of roadways and all water-power-communication systems, as well as loss of vehicles, homes, and — most tragically — lives. Thank you for your patience as we are all navigating so many layers of life, and survival, as well as coming together.
Thank you to all who have checked in on us and offered to be there for us — we will need your support in so many ways! The LEAF staff, teaching artists, Board and our families are all safe now – we are taking things day by day. Our main priority is caring for our community and making sure our loved ones and neighbors have their basic needs met. Thankfully LEAF Global Experience in downtown Asheville is ok, and when services are restored we will see the needs it can serve.
LEAF is dedicated to our community, our mission, and our LEAF community — YOU!
It’s with heavy hearts we must announce that this year’s LEAF Global Arts Festival, October 17-20, is canceled at Lake Eden. Thankfully our beloved Lake Eden is resilient; we are grateful the buildings are in good shape. The big challenges are roads, fallen trees, lack of services, and the surrounding devastation. The World Changer Festival we had created for you was so excellent- we have put so much love into this event with a super star team. World Drum Day will be able to happen (see below), and there are Disaster WeLEAF Concerts & Popups brewing for when and where it is safe and best for our community to uplift each other through music, culture, and connection.
Did you know that LEAF Festival is our No.1 fundraiser of the year? Not only does the festival fuels our mission and work across our community and globally, it is the time we come together to CONNECT with each other especially our treasured Members, the best of world music, and revive our joy. We want to make sure YOU are taken care of as best we can. Please complete the below form to help guide us. In this moment we’re caring for each other and dreaming of a brighter future. If you had Festival tickets, please Fill out Festival Transform Tickets *Hurricane Form* to help guide us.
Stay safe and take care of each other! Community is our most valuable resource and a little kindness goes a long way. Thank you for your LEAF love and support! We’ll share more soon.
Thank you for your patience while communications are limited. Info@theLEAF.org is the main connect. If you have an ASAP need, contact Alli at communications@theLEAF.org, and she will do her best to respond within 24 hours.
Pick up the Drum & Come Together … anyone anywhere in the world can join!
24 hours of drumming for unity and your best version of the world. Drum as short or long as you want.
LEAF’s mission comes to life as an agent for positive social impact in many ways and places.
The “ways” include: cultural exchanges, residencies, programs, workshops, mentoring, Easel Rider Mobile Art Lab, Learning Journeys, Signature Events, and immersive experiences. “Places” include: LEAF Global Arts Center in downtown Asheville, in communities across the world, in schools, in community centers, at event locations such as Lake Eden in Black Mountain, and downtown Asheville.
Our vision is to create relationships with communities around the world in order to strengthen cultural and global arts education program with which to engage youths in their rich cultural heritage, while cultivating community and connection. These are our guiding tools:
LEAF global arts education program goals, curriculum, teacher & student evaluations are aligned with the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP), developed by the Search Institute. The Search Institute has identified 40 assets which comprise a set of skills, experiences, relationships, and behaviors that enable young people to develop into successful and contributing adults. Building these assets prepare youth for success in some type of college or education, a career, and citizenship.
LEAF has identified and prioritized 6 assets that exemplify the types of skills our programs help to develop in our youth participants:
LEAF’s Global Arts Education programs align with Common Core State and NC Essential Standards to supplement what teachers are doing in their classrooms.
The UNESCO Culture for Development Indicators Suite identifies several dimensions that address the interrelations between culture and development. LEAF International aligns with 5 indicators that provide a guiding framework for quantifying the contribution of culture in development.
The 5 indicators that guide the design and evaluate global programs:
Within these 5 dimensions, 9 indicators are utilized by LEAF as direct indications of how our programs are enriching individual lives, communities, and preserving forms of cultural expression:
Since 2018, LEAF Community Arts as a team with Buncombe County Schools (BCS) are John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – Partners in Education Program. This national recognition is only the 3rd cohort in NC! The SHARED purpose of LEAF and BCS as Kennedy Center – Partners i
533,788+
LEAFers at Events
56
Signature Festivals
116
Countries Represented
26,615+
Performers
4
Virtual Events
85,606
Youth Participants
8,831
Youth Performers
621
Arts Education Programs
23,650
Easel Rider Youth
36
Kennedy Center Cohort BCSTeachers
6,230+
Youth Participants
10
Countries
15
Programs
5
ONEmic Studios
22
Culture Keepers
98
Cultural Exchanges
Mayani is a Maasai boy from longido Arusha. He went to boarding school at 6 years old and lost his Maasai language and tradition. Since joining the LEAF program, he has learned to sing Maasai songs, practiced the ‘jump’ tradition and wear Maasai shukas (traditional clothing). Mayani is extremely happy and is currently teaching other youth the culture.
