WNC Creative Economy

2026 Creative Economy Snapshot

Western North Carolina’s creative economy is a major economic force, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in economic activity across the region’s 28 counties.

Following Hurricane Helene, ArtsAVL expanded its Creative Economy Snapshot research to all 28 westernmost counties as part of its role as the lead point organization coordinating regional arts recovery. The goal was to establish a consistent baseline for understanding the storm’s impact on the creative sector and track recovery over time.

With a second year of comprehensive regional data now available, the 2026 Creative Economy Snapshot provides the first opportunity to begin seeing how that recovery is unfolding.

A Complex Recovery

In 2025, Western North Carolina’s creative economy supported 34,796 jobs, an increase of 1.3% from 2024.

At the same time, economic output declined. Creative industries generated approximately $3.05 billion in sales, a decrease of 2.6%, while GRP earnings declined 1.8% to approximately $1.07 billion.

Together, these numbers point to a complicated recovery: the region continued to support and add creative jobs even as businesses and industries faced ongoing economic pressure.

That picture is consistent with other recent recovery research. A one-year follow-up survey of 97 arts businesses receiving ArtsAVL Arts Business Relief Grants found that 87.6% had fully reopened, but 56% were still reporting revenue below pre-Helene levels, including 26% whose revenue remained at least 25% below pre-storm levels.

Measuring the Creative Sector

The Creative Economy Snapshot captures the breadth of creative work across Western North Carolina using two national classification systems.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) tracks economic activity across 56 creative industries, while the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) System identifies 66 creative occupations across four worker classes.

Together, these measures capture a creative economy that extends well beyond nonprofit arts organizations. It includes independent artists and performers, design, photography, film, publishing, cultural institutions, events, and a significant creative manufacturing sector.

A Regional Economy with Local Differences

Regional totals tell only part of the story. Hurricane Helene affected Western North Carolina communities differently, and recovery is unfolding differently across the region.

Individual Creative Economy Snapshots for each of WNC’s 28 counties provide a closer look at local jobs, industries, occupations, earnings, and economic activity. Together, the county and regional reports allow communities to understand both their own creative economies and how they contribute to the larger Western North Carolina creative sector.

Tracking Recovery Over Time

This is the second year Creative Economy Snapshots have been produced consistently across all 28 westernmost counties, building on years of creative economy research conducted for Buncombe County and other Western North Carolina communities.

Continuing this research annually will allow WNC Arts partners, local governments, economic development organizations, funders, and community leaders to track changes in the creative economy and better understand where recovery is occurring, where challenges remain, and where investment may be needed.

County Snapshots 

Resources