Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
RADical Change: The Economic Story of Asheville’s River Arts District
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Asheville’s once-industrial River Arts District (RAD) is now a thriving arts district with many artist studios, hip coffee shops and breweries, and a new greenway and residential buildings under construction. When tourist trolleys and studio stroll-ers abound, the influx of new economic realities influences the composition of artists making a living in the RAD as well as their production. This research presents an overview of the changes that have taken place in the RAD over the last few decades including an economic census of property ownership, artist representation, and other activities. We raise the question of whether this process has served to enhance resident, visitor, and/or artists’ quality of life, and whether the gentrification that draws visitors and new artist residents helps retain or redefine Asheville’s cultural identity.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Leah Greden Mathews is Professor of Economics and Interdisciplinary Distinguished Professor of the Mountain South at UNC Asheville. She studies those things that can’t be purchased, including the process by which people come to the values that influence preferences, attitudes and behaviors.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Melissa Mahoney is an assistant professor of economics at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Her work focuses on the economics of well-being, gender, and public K-12 education. She has conducted research in these areas in wide detail, from Amartya Sen’s capability approach to economic development to the assessment of measured economic well-being of American households. Mahoney received her doctorate in economics from The New School for Social Research.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #3
Mary Stapleton is a senior at UNC Asheville majoring in economics and minoring in art. As a student of both subjects, she has a passion for researching Asheville’s local economy and arts community. After finishing her bachelor’s degree, she hopes to become a policy analyst and work in economic growth and development.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #4
Holly Fraser-Corp is an Economics major at UNC Asheville.
RADical Change: The Economic Story of Asheville’s River Arts District
Asheville’s once-industrial River Arts District (RAD) is now a thriving arts district with many artist studios, hip coffee shops and breweries, and a new greenway and residential buildings under construction. When tourist trolleys and studio stroll-ers abound, the influx of new economic realities influences the composition of artists making a living in the RAD as well as their production. This research presents an overview of the changes that have taken place in the RAD over the last few decades including an economic census of property ownership, artist representation, and other activities. We raise the question of whether this process has served to enhance resident, visitor, and/or artists’ quality of life, and whether the gentrification that draws visitors and new artist residents helps retain or redefine Asheville’s cultural identity.
