A Resilient Arts Institution
The Flood Gallery Fine Art Center is a nonprofit contemporary art institution that has served the Asheville community for over 20 years. Named for the flood of 1994 - the gallery has demonstrated remarkable resilience - moving locations multiple times throughout its history and rebuilding after Hurricane Helene in 2024. Currently located in east Asheville at 802 Fairview Road in the River Ridge Business Center - the gallery has reestablished its connection to the Asheville community after previous locations in the River Arts District - downtown Asheville and Black Mountain.
The Longest-Running Open Mic
Flood Gallery hosts what is recognized as the longest-running open mic in Asheville - a tradition that began in 2004 when the gallery was located at the Courtyard Gallery in downtown Asheville. The Thursday night True Home Open Mic runs from 6-8:30pm and features music - poetry and storytelling performed by local artists. Sign-up begins at 6pm with the show starting at 6:30pm. This event has maintained its welcoming and supportive atmosphere for over two decades - with some participants having attended since the very beginning. Gallery director Carlos Steward and manager Ivana Rosenblatt have fostered an environment where both seasoned performers and newcomers feel comfortable sharing their creative work.
Weekly Programming
In addition to the Thursday open mic - Flood Gallery hosts Flooded Poetry open mic on Monday evenings at 6:30pm and Foreign Film Fridays at 7pm featuring world cinema. These regular events have made the gallery a cultural hub for the arts community - providing consistent programming for poetry - music and film enthusiasts.
Contemporary Art Exhibitions
The gallery showcases an ambitious exhibitions program featuring both local artists and national and international creators. Flood Gallery has made significant contributions to the region by cultivating strong exhibitions that bring contemporary art to Asheville. The gallery accepts group exhibitions with themes like The Power of Voice - typically featuring work from 25 local artists across various mediums including ceramics - collage - digital media - drawing - enamel - fiber arts - mixed media - painting - photography - printmaking and stained glass.
Educational Mission
Flood Gallery is dedicated to promoting the arts through artist residency programs - public events - workshops and educational activities. The organization seeks to make art a vital and important part of life in Asheville. The gallery maintains a library featuring over 1000 books and films - and provides resources for artists in residence.
Post-Hurricane Recovery
After Hurricane Helene destroyed their previous venue in Black Mountain - the Flood Gallery reopened in Asheville with renewed energy and community support. The move back to Asheville has allowed the gallery to reconnect with longtime supporters while also attracting new faces who have moved to the area. Director Carlos Steward and his wife Cynthia Potter-Steward run the nonprofit with dedication to maintaining these important cultural traditions. The gallery maintains a good sense of humor about its name and history with flooding - displaying framed photos of each of Asheville's major floods on the walls.
Twin Rivers Media Festival
Flood Gallery serves as the venue for the Twin Rivers International Media and Film Festival - now in its 30th year. This annual event celebrates independent features - documentaries - short and animated films from around the world - with 20 countries represented in recent years. The festival highlights world and regional premieres and connects audiences to compelling documentaries and award-winning international releases with discussions with visiting filmmakers.
Community Impact
Open daily from 12-4pm with extended hours for events - Flood Gallery has become a gathering place for Asheville's arts community. The gallery is available for venue rentals and continues to serve as a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to fostering creativity - community connection and cultural experiences through visual arts - live performance - poetry and film.