Lamplight AVL is an arts nonprofit based in Asheville, NC. Through our residency programs, we support artists by providing space, time, and resources for the creation of innovative art that they share with our community. Founded by Adam and Emily McDaniel, Lamplight AVL builds on our region’s rich legacy of supporting inventive, original art that bends genres, pushes boundaries, and moves the cultural conversation forward.
Founders of Lamplight AVL Adam and Emily McDaniel with their dog Dolly. Photo by Travis Gillett.
The building above houses both Drop of Sun Studios and The Residency at 821. Lamplight AVL runs The Residency at 821 and several other programs that will occur within Drop of Sun Studios. The event pictured here was a public art opening by the Artists in Residence in December, 2023.
Lamplight AVL hosts artists in residencies that enable them to create innovative work and share it publicly with our community.
Lamplight’s first program, launched in 2022, is The Residency at 821. It allows artists of any discipline to live in our residency space and create new work for periods of up to 28 days. The artists’ use of the space is fully funded by donor contributions. Learn more about The Residency here.
Swannatopia’s Bug Mall
Lamplight AVL hosts mini-residencies for musicians at Drop of Sun Studios in collaboration with DOSed Records, an independent record label emerging from the vibrant community there. Through this collaboration, DOSed supports a curated roster of hand-selected artists by providing exceptional production that is distinctive, collaborative, equitable, transparent, and accessible. Focusing on artist sustainability and community, DOSed is dedicated to amplifying and empowering artists who create unique sounds and offer innovative perspectives.
*Please note: this program is currently FULL and is not accepting applications at this time. If you are interested in this program, please feel free to email emily@lamplightavl.org to be added to our waitlist, but there are no openings available at the moment.
Drop of Sun Studios Live Room
Lamplight AVL is currently working to expand our programming to offer more support to artists and to bring more art to our own community. Our long term goal is to partner with other residency programs to allow the artists who create work in our spaces to bring their art to other communities.
Drop of Sun Live Room
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Lamplight AVL. We’re so excited about the programming we are creating and the potentially transformative impact it will have for art and artists in Asheville.
If our mission moves you and you would like to support our efforts, you can make a donation to Lamplight AVL through our fiscal sponsor, Weathervane Music. Please make checks out to “Weathervane Music” (and then write “for Lamplight AVL” in the memo). Mail to Weathervane Music, PO Box 29498, Philadelphia PA 19125. Donations can also be made online here. All donations made to Lamplight AVL through Weathervane Music are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. You can also reach out to us at emily@lamplightavl.org to hear more!
The Big Beautiful Crankie Project Show
Lamplight AVL supports the community through engagement with music and the arts. While in the process of obtaining non-profit status, Lamplight AVL is fiscally sponsored by the 501(c)3 organization Weathervane Music.