[The Asheville Area Arts Council.]

Person: Kitty Love; new Executive Director for the AAAC
Place: 346 Depot Street
Passion: Advocating the arts

Kitty Love is a self-proclaimed workaholic. This fact is great for her new position as Executive Director for the Asheville Area Art Council. She goes out of her way to get things done, putting together power points unasked, giving well received presentations to people who like herself, like to make things happen. Kitty has visions and with Kitty, visions become reality...

Back in 2001, Kitty had a big vision. She previously owned a shop on Lexington Avenue, a hub for creative artists, designers and visitors. She wanted these people to display their talents, discover others and have some fun along the way. This idea soon became a reality, and the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival was created, by Kitty, out of her own pocket. She and her husband put together the festival, which has become a local favorite event. Artists, musicians and performers come together for a day of art, performances and loads of fun. After a few years, under the auspices of Arts 2 People the festival started to make some revenue, and A2P used the money in to help artists out.

In 2011 the Artist Resource Center was formed, a place where artists can take basic businesses knowledge classes, such as book-keeping or web marketing, to help market themselves and their art. Kitty hopes that the Artery [the multi-purpose exhibition and event facility and headquarters to the Asheville Area Arts Council on Depot Street] will help the Artists Resource Center vision stay vital, for local artists and the community. The Artery is also open to the public as an event space, a gathering spot for artists to have classes and for the community connect and learn.

Kitty's idea for the AAAC is simple; to be a cultural Rolodex for the arts industry and visitors; to connect them to the resources and experiences they need. The Artery has three computers for available for use and the space to host events, classes and discussions. She strives to build bridges between the arts community and the business community, to advocate the arts in Asheville, and show the potential of economic development within the arts.

And to listen. Kitty is dedicated to the community in which she serves, and wants to be an open ear for artists. She loves feedback and ideas, and you can tell her, next Friday [the 27th] at 8am. She will be hanging out with local artist and River Arts District community advocate, Pattiy Torno at the Clingman Cafe, sipping on coffee and talking to people with ideas, visions, and passions. If you can't make the early morning cafe stop, then send her an e-mail [kitty@ashevillearts.com] and tell her what's on your mind. You can also catch Kitty next Friday [the 27th] evening for Pecha Kucha night at the Phil Mechanic building as she presents 20 slides of visuals , each with a 20 second description. Yep, Kitty's a pretty busy lady, and that's why we love her; she will be getting things done for the arts community this year, and many to come.