Last Updated on April 2, 2025
In addition to its high peaks and shady valleys, Yancey County, NC is known for its extraordinarily rich artistic output. The county boasts more than 400 full-time and 200 part-time working artists of all possible mediums. Many reside in Burnsville, the seat of the county. Neighboring Mitchell County is also a renowned destination for art lovers, in part because it is home to the Penland School of Crafts.
Unfortunately, these were some of the very areas hardest hit by Hurricane Helene in late September 2024. Many local artists are still focused on recovery and rebuilding. But even those who remain professionally displaced have online shops up and running!
If you are looking for high-quality local art and craftwork, there are few hotspots more significant than Yancey and Mitchell Counties. We encourage you to support local artists in and around Burnsville, NC, now—when they need it most. Here are a few ways:
Shop Burnsville galleries and studios in person
The best way to show your love for Burnsville artists is by showing up in person. Downtown Burnsville is open and ready to welcome visitors, including local shops, restaurants, and taprooms. Stroll Main Street, take in the colorful street murals, spot blocks from the WNC Quilt Blocks Trail, and don’t miss the town’s quaint art galleries. There are at least half a dozen in the area that are back open for regular hours, gallery shows, and other events. Spring is the perfect time to catch local artists in person and connect with them over their original art.
Shop online for work by Burnsville artists
If you can’t make it to Burnsville this spring, you can still support local artists by purchasing art online. Online sales help support local galleries and individual artists—especially those who are still rebuilding their studio spaces and are not yet reopened to the public. A quick internet search should direct you to dozens of local artists that match your criteria. Or, the Toe River Arts Council website allows you to search members by name, location, or media. Whether you’re looking for metals, textiles, woven baskets, or literary arts, you can home in on artists with pieces available for purchase online.
Commission artwork
Been looking around and still not see what you want for your home? You can still support Burnsville artists by commissioning artwork that works for you. If you need a specific piece of art for your home or collection, a commissioned project may be the perfect solution. It will be tailor made to your specifications, but with the originality and artistry that mass market art pieces could never achieve. Some local studios, including Page Pottery, even offer gift registries.
Attend a big annual event
If you can’t get to Burnsville now, save the dates for these upcoming annual events. Twice a year, the Toe River Arts Council sponsors the Toe River Studio Tours. The event is one of the largest and longest running studio tours in the country. More than 100 local artists in Yancey and Mitchell Counties open their studios for free, up-close looks inside the creative process. Meet the artists, see where they create, and experience where they live.
And each August, Downtown Burnsville comes alive with local art at the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair. The fair has been celebrated for more than 50 years and features dozens of craft vendors, demonstrations, singing, and dancing in Burnsville’s picturesque town center.
Donate to local arts organizations
Support local artists by supporting the organizations that help promote and support local artists. Local arts councils, like Toe River Arts, support hundreds of local artists each year through public exhibitions, arts education programs, generating art opportunities, and grant funding. If you’d like to make a big impact right now, and you’re not sure where to direct your efforts, start here. It may be the best way to help as many artists as possible.
Take art classes or workshops
For many of our mountain communities, including Burnsville, fine arts and traditional Appalachian craftworks have led the way in the revitalization of downtown centers and community camaraderie. Joining this tradition is as simple as taking your first class. Art classes and workshops led by local artists are the perfect way to learn new skills while supporting their teaching. And who knows—you may just make a few friends along the way.
Spread the word about Burnsville artists
Our last way to support local artists in Burnsville affected by Hurricane Helene may be the most important. A thriving arts community is built on just that: community. That means you can’t support Burnsville artists silently. Help Burnsville-area artists recover by promoting their great work and engaging with them directly. Follow local artists on social media. Engage with their content and share it to your own followers. And take your support offline, as well. Suggest local artists to friends, family, or colleagues who might be interested in their art. And participate in discussions about individual artists, the Burnsville arts community, and what we can all do to help it continue to recover and succeed in the coming months.
Find your next home in Burnsville, NC!
Burnsville is located among some of the highest mountains to be found in the eastern U.S. The town offers living situations and outdoor experiences that go above and beyond the norm. Burnsville is also known for its extraordinarily rich artistic output. Yancey County is home to more than 400 full-time and 200 part-time working artists, including basket makers, glassblowers, metalsmiths, and more.
Does that sound like the perfect lifestyle for you? Find homes for sale in Burnsville, NC!
