Lamplight AVL is a new nonprofit for the arts based in Asheville, NC. Founded by Adam and Emily McDaniel, Lamplight AVL supports innovative artists and creates spaces for art to be shared broadly with our community. We build 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 a series of individual programs that enable artists to create and share work publicly.
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. To start, the artists’ use of the space is fully funded by donor contributions, though eventually we hope to also provide a stipend to cover their living expenses as well. Learn more about The Residency here.
Swannatopia’s Bug Mall
Lamplight AVL’s second program is currently under development and is as of yet unnamed, but it will be launching in 2023. This program will be geared specifically toward local musical artists in the Asheville area, and will utilize the beautiful Drop of Sun Studios recording space. In partnership with Drop of Sun, this new program will allow musicians to record in a truly top tier recording studio – an experience that many of these worthy artists might never otherwise be able to afford on their own. Like The Residency at 821, Lamplight AVL will share the music created with the community in a way that benefits not only the artists but also the public at large. Learn more about Drop of Sun Collaborations here.
Drop of Sun Studios Live Room
The third Lamplight AVL program is also currently untitled, but we expect it will be developed and launched in 2024. This will be Lamplight AVL’s most ambitious program for sure, bringing exceptional non-regional and/or international musicians to make music in Asheville. It will make our special arts community a small piece in their important work history, and by doing so, will further expand the vibrant culture of arts and music in our cherished city.
In some ways this program seeks to counteract a reality that, since Asheville is situated in a remote region of the country, it is often too far out of the way for national and international artists to visit when touring or performing other music-related activities. Our intention is to begin the reversal of that trend by attracting exceptional established and up-and-coming artists from outside our region to participate in an inspiring creative music project, both for and with the Asheville creative community. Like Lamplight’s recording program for local artists this program will undoubtedly benefit from Drop of Sun’s attractive recording facilities, stellar reputation and extensive contact list of potential high caliber artists to support the program.
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
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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.