SPONSORSHIP OPTIONS
LEAF TO BE A SPONSOR PARTNER!
Since 1995! LEAF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit on a Mission:
LEAF Global Arts connects cultures and creates community through music, arts education, and experiences, to cultivate curiosity, preserve cultures, and promote global understanding.
“The closest distance between two people is a story, a song, or a dance.”
-Masankho, Malawi LEAF Artist & Compass Advisor for 25 years
GRATEFUL TO OUR SPONSOR PARTNERS
Let's work together to keep LEAF, Arts, and Culture alive and thriving in our community! LEAF invites Sponsor Partners whose missions and values align, and we believe YOU are a great community partner.
LEAF is so grateful and proud to have been able to create our in-person signature events consistently, especially over the past few years. That is because our SPONSORS, PARTNERS, and MEMBERS continue to stand with us. THANK YOU! We have pivoted, modified, flexed, and kept our entrepreneurial skills and optimism going. It was not easy, yet the events were some of our favorites in our history and have given us new platforms, confidence, creativity, and connections. We are grateful and excited to be able to continue moving forward with our Signature Events, Summer Camps, Classes, and Field Trips.
We are thrilled to welcome sponsors, like you, whose business resonates with our values and helps make LEAF come alive for so many youths, artists, visitors, and families. We CAN NOT CREATE EVENTS (large or small, special signature or everyday magical) WITHOUT YOU! Your support is essential and has a positive ripple effect on the vast array of communities and people that LEAF collaborates with and serves not just in our community, but around the world! It has been beautiful to be empowered during these really difficult times for events by an extraordinary community that LOVES LEAF and values its diverse global programming and unique mission. We find that LEAF is even more relevant in today's world as we are all Global Citizens! Together we are making a difference in the world and we hope to continue doing that with you for many years to come!
For your 2025 Festive calendars:
LEAF Global Arts Retreat May 8-11, 2025
LEAF Global Arts Festival October 16-19, 2025
LEAF Global Experience In Downtown AVL on the corner of Eagle & Market Streets all year long with Workshops, Field Trips, Cultural Tours, Special Events, Private Rentals & Visitors.
The transformation of our sponsorships from event based into year-round partnerships in 2019 has and continues to provide expanded connection and awareness of YOUR business. This recognition to how you support YEAR-ROUND has been one of our most favorite shifts. We look forward to continuing to create new points of engagement with you all year! As always, we are happy to customize your sponsorship, as each relationship is unique. Thank you. Truly, we can’t say it enough: Your partnership is crucial for our organization and sends the missive that LEAF is a meaningful, positive, world-changing tool that YOU believe is of value.
The LEAF Team works to take care of our Sponsor Partners! Gratitude!
Jennifer & Chelcie
ABOUT LEAF GLOBAL ARTS
LEAF Global Arts, often referred to as just LEAF, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect cultures and create community through music, arts education, and experiences, and to cultivate curiosity, preserve cultures, and promote global understanding.
LEAF began in 1995 as the Lake Eden Arts Festival In 2004, LEAF transformed into a non-profit organization to better fulfill the mission and community gaps of cultural music and arts LEAF rose as an entrepreneur in the festival field by creating a festival targeting intergenerational families and presenting a wide expanse of musical genres and cultural arts to its patrons. It was created as a small festival gathering with a global vision and has transformed over the years to a medium-size non-profit on a mission dedicated to local and global youth development, cultural preservation, creating engagement that helps breaks down “isms,” builds understanding, ignites cultural curiosity, educates, informs, honors family traditions, and cultivates positive global citizenship through music and arts LEAF has 4 pillars that serve our mission
LEAF SIGNATURE EVENTS
Gather together in Black Mountain to travel across the world through music & arts Explore new cultures while having great times at the beautiful Lake Eden setting. LEAF’s event size is limited – this is part of the magic.
LEAF
LEAF SCHOOLS & STREETS INTERNATIONAL
LEAF Schools & Streets provides residencies in schools, after-school programs, camps, and workshops within the community. Our Resident Teaching Artists are leaders in global arts education!
LEAF International is dedicated to cultural preservation, the fostering of global citizenship, and cultural exchange. LEAF collaborates with communities to support Culture Keepers who teach local youths their traditional arts.
LEAF GLOBAL EXPERIENCE
The LEAF Global Experience is a creative immersive experience that weaves together elements of an interactive museum and an arts center Step inside to explore the world without ever leaving Asheville. We’re Cultivating Cultural Curiosity & Connection!
IMPACT & HIGHLIGHTS
LEAF GLOBAL ARTS HIGHLIGHTS
600+ youths learning their cultural music and traditions weekly in LEAF International programs
4,533+ Local YOUTHS in LEAF Schools & Streets Programs!
Visiting Teaching Artists in WNC — 31
Resident Teaching Artists — 20 (14 POC)
Culture Keepers & Teaching Artists Internationally — 22
Performing Artists 615
Different Cultures Presented 40
Total Countries 19
Artists from 15 First Nations
6 ONEmic Studios giving VOICE to YOUTHS weekly in Rwanda, Tanzania, Haiti, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Asheville.
31 Cultural Field Trips to LEAF Global Experience for almost 1,000 local kids!
18 Cultural Exchanges: Locally & Globally from Rwanda to Tanzania, Masaii to Rwanda, Guatemala to US and Uganda.
FUN FACTS:
98 Cultural Exchanges to Date (since 2009) 18 were in 2023 thanks to Members & new Cultural Exchange Fund
LEAF IS GRATEFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT & VALUING THE UNIQUE GLOBAL ARTS THAT WE BRING TO WNC IN A VARIETY OF WAYS:
1ST PLACE BEST OF WNC HALL OF FAME:
LEAF FESTIVAL, Local Music Festival ~ Category: Arts & Entertainment
GLOBAL ARTS, Music-Related Nonprofit ~ Category: Arts & Entertainment
LEAF Global Arts FESTIVAL, Cultural or Arts Event ~ Category: Regional - Swannanoa & Black Mountain
GRATITUDE TO 3 NATIONAL PARTNERS IN 2023:
Kennedy Center Partner in Arts Education with the team of LEAF Global Arts and Buncombe County Schools
National Endowment for the Arts: Legends of the Americas
Chorus America: Songs for Peace Project at WD Williams Elementary and Buncombe County Middle Schools: AC Reynolds, CA Erwin, CD Owen, and Enka) led all year by Teaching Artist Melissa McKinney.
Safely In Person + Virtual
SIGNATURE EVENTS
LEAF GLOBAL ARTS RETREAT
MAY 8-11, 2025
"LEAF Global Arts Retreat was MAGIC and restored my soul." People who experienced the Retreats continue to ask to PLEASE keep this extraordinary experience going. The Retreat centers on a beautiful secluded place in which you can relax, rejuvenate, and get away from it all. This is a premier experience with a limited size. While maintaining the same footprint, connecting with nature and the outdoors is an essential part of the experience. Retreats focus on LEAF’s community, specifically honoring Members and fulfilling our mission of building more connections. We are thrilled to keep the smaller model of the Retreat each Spring to deepen our relationships with our LEAF Community, strengthen our partnerships, and dive deeper into the culture all around us.
Safely In Person + Virtual
SIGNATURE EVENTS LEAF GLOBAL ARTS FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 16-19, 2025
LEAF Global Arts Festival is our award-winning founding event that has been the core of family and friend traditions over the past 27 years. LEAF is one of the BEST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL for families on the planet and our community agrees, stating that LEAF is, "The one place our family meets up every year, " "Where I have taught my kids to explore other cultures," "Where I have learned about music and met artists from all over the world," "Where I met my husband," "Where I found the BEST of me, " and "where I feel ALIVE " More than 500,000 people have gathered at this beautiful historical site of Lake Eden to learn and connect with artists from 104 countries LEAF is more than a festival, it is a sacred space were individuals of all ages can step beyond their comforts to explore arts and culture by CONNECTING WITH THE WORLD, OTHERS, and THE BEST OF THEMSELVES. Drawing an audience of 12k annually, with people from across the Southeast and beyond, LEAF has become a family and friend tradition as well as a household name for many across the world!
LEAF Global Arts Festival is a spirited celebration of our local and global community. Stages are elaborate and captivating with headline performers and global artists. This is a fun-filled weekend with activities bursting at the seams that our community has come to know and love
LEAF SCHOOLS & STREETS
SUMMER & WINTER CAMPS
LEAF Global Arts Experience is excited to once again host 8 weeks of LEAF Schools & Streets Summer Camp from June to August! This amazing camp features dance, drumming, songwriting, and so much more These camps help to bolster youths and create cultural curiosity So much more than just a Camp! In addition to Summer Camp LEAF Schools & Streets also hosts Winter Camp at the LEAF Global Arts Experience
LEAF GLOBAL ARTS EXPERIENCE
LEAF FIELD TRIPS
LEAF Schools & Streets is pleased to offer field trips at the LEAF Global Arts Experience in Downtown Asheville! This is a great way for students and teachers to step into our rich local history on The Block while also stepping into the World. A standard field trip package is 2.5 hours long, for up to 30 students, and includes workshops with 3 teaching artists in the areas of movement, music, and dance. Students will also have the opportunity to tour the space, interacting with more than 10 engagement stations and the supersized world map to help them explore and learn about the world and other cultures. Every student and teacher gains a greater sense of cultural curiosity, connection, and global understanding. These field trips are customized for every group of any age!
SPONSORSHIP OPTIONS
We here at LEAF are proud to build long-standing and beautiful relationships with our sponsors and partners. We would love to establish a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship and invite you to join us. We're hopeful to continue a partnership with you for many years to come! Below we have outlined a few different ways to activate with you! We are always happy to customize a sponsorship for your business to ensure it is truly mutually beneficial and serves both of our missions and values.
GENERAL SPONSORSHIP
LET’S CREATE BEAUTIFUL THINGS TOGETHER BUILD YOUR OPTIONS
Starting at $5,000
Supports all aspects of LEAF year round
Defined levels & benefits
FIELD TRIP SPONSORSHIP
Starting at $5,000
Benefits schools in WNC to provide field trip scholarships
Academic year based; Can be done for a single semester
LEAF SCHOOLS & STREETS RESIDENCY SPONSORSHIP
Starting at $3,000
Benefits schools in WNC to provide weekly after school classes
Academic year based; Can be done for a single semester
LEAF SCHOOLS & STREETS VISITING ARTIST RESIDENCY SPONSORSHIP
Starting at $3,000
Benefits schools in WNC to provide a residency program & performance in May and/or October
Aligned with LEAF Signature Events in May & October
LEAF EASEL RIDER SPONSORSHIP
Starting at $5,000
Community program providing free arts & crafts
Happens year round; timeframe is customizable
LEAF SCHOOLS & STREETS CAMP SPONSORSHIP
Starting at $3,000
Benefits elementary & middle school age children in WNC
Camps held when schools are out in June, July, August, and December
LEAF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP
Starting at $5,000
Provides instruments, instrument repair, infrastructure to one of our International Programs
Full year of support
LEAF INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE SPONSORSHIP
$10,000
Provides visas, airfare, lodging, and meals to 6
LEAF International youths for a week long cultural exchange with a LEAF Schools & Streets partner school
1 Week in May or October
LEAF ONEMIC SPONSORSHIP
Starting at $5,000
Community & international program to bring youths together by recording together in a LEAF oneMIC studio
Happens year round; timeframe is customizable
SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS
MARKETING & BRANDING
All Levels
Logo on every newsletter
Minimum of 2 Newsletter promotions
Listed in all event guides
Logo on LEAF Website
Logo on LEAF event posters
Listed in Annual Report
Invite to Special Experiences
Share marketing materials at events & Global Experience
$10,000 Community Connector
Logo on event T-Shirts
$15,000 Supporter
Promoted on Facebook event
$20,000 Advocate
Mentioned in Radio Ads
LEAF RETREAT MAY 9-12, 2024
LEAF GLOBAL EXPERIENCE
All Levels
Annual Supporter Pass (minimum of 4)
Discount on events at LEAF Global Experience
Discount on merchandise at LEAF Global Experience VIP Tour of LEAF Global Experience
at LEAF Global Experience
LEAF FESTIVAL OCTOBER 17-20, 2024
SPONSORSHIP VISIBILITY
that it’s important for your brand to be visible. We want our supporters and attendees to support you, too! Our goal is for support to be full circle to help us all achieve our missions. Here are some highlights of how we ’ re making sure you ’ re visible and showcasing your brand.
28 Years of Loyal Supporters
LEAF Global Arts Experience
Event Guides + Posters
30,000+ eNewsletter Subscribers
440k Annual Website Hits
25,000+ Social Media Followers
45,000+ Annual Event Attendees
Families, All Ages & Mixed
Demographics From: 55% WNC
40% Southeast 5% Global
