ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — In an open letter to the community, Leaf Global Arts announced that Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, would mark the end of the arts programming organization in its current form, citing financial difficulties.
The letter, published to Facebook yesterday, Aug. 20, by Mike Hale, president of the Leaf Global Arts Board of Directors, stated that the financial challenges for the organization started during the Covid-19 pandemic, were made worse by Tropical Storm Helene and deepened by reductions in arts and education funding and member and donor contributions.
Hale said that the decision to end the organization was based on that financial difficulty, not the work that Leaf Global Arts does in the community.
“For more than 25 years, Leaf has brought people together through arts, culture, education, and community. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has made that work possible — our staff, artists, teaching artists, participants, families, volunteers, members, donors, funders, partners, and friends,” Hale wrote.
“This decision is based on the organization’s financial circumstances. It does not diminish the strength of Leaf’s mission, the quality of its programming or the extraordinary contributions of its staff and community.”
The letter stated that the Leaf Global Arts board of directors will maintain the organization’s 501(c)(3) status while it explores whether its programming can be transferred to another organization. However, no transition has been determined yet.
Hale thanked the community for their support of Leaf Global Arts over the years.
“To the entire Leaf Community: Thank you for believing in Leaf and for being part of the community it has nurtured for more than a quarter century. Wherever the future leads us, the relationships, experiences and impact created through Leaf will remain deeply meaningful,” Hale said.
Leaf Global Arts has produced a wide variety of programming in the Asheville area, including the Lake Eden Arts Festival, and several events are left on its 2026 calendar.
The immediate future of that programming, the downtown headquarters at 19 Eagle St., Asheville, N.C., and other Leaf enterprises is unclear. 828newsNOW has reached out to Leaf Global Arts for more information.
