Saturday's reopening of the Center for Craft felt far more like a festival than a ribbon-cutting. There were performances by the UNC-Asheville Afro Music and Dance Ensemble, a DJ, hands-on artmaking stations and performance-art installations. Hundreds of people streamed through the doors Saturday afternoon and, wherever they strolled along the Center's three floors, there were things to do, see, nibble on or experience.

Saturday's reopening of the Center for Craft felt far more like a festival than a ribbon-cutting. There were performances by the UNC-Asheville Afro Music and Dance Ensemble, a DJ, hands-on artmaking stations and performance-art installations. Hundreds of people streamed through the doors Saturday afternoon and, wherever they strolled along the Center's three floors, there were things to do, see, nibble on or experience.

Saturday's reopening of the Center for Craft felt far more like a festival than a ribbon-cutting. There were performances by the UNC-Asheville Afro Music and Dance Ensemble, a DJ, hands-on artmaking stations and performance-art installations. Hundreds of people streamed through the doors Saturday afternoon and, wherever they strolled along the Center's three floors, there were things to do, see, nibble on or experience.

"Come on in, welcome to the museum." And with that, at 11am Thursday morning, the Asheville Art Museum reopened to the general public. David and Olivia Franklin, in town from Atlanta on their honeymoon, stepped in from the cold to become the museum's first general-admission patrons. "We always make it a point to go to the art museum wherever we go, and we felt like we needed to be able to be a part of history," David Franklin said. "It seemed like a wonderful little bit of serendipity."

"Come on in, welcome to the museum." And with that, at 11am Thursday morning, the Asheville Art Museum reopened to the general public. David and Olivia Franklin, in town from Atlanta on their honeymoon, stepped in from the cold to become the museum's first general-admission patrons. "We always make it a point to go to the art museum wherever we go, and we felt like we needed to be able to be a part of history," David Franklin said. "It seemed like a wonderful little bit of serendipity."

"Come on in, welcome to the museum." And with that, at 11am Thursday morning, the Asheville Art Museum reopened to the general public. David and Olivia Franklin, in town from Atlanta on their honeymoon, stepped in from the cold to become the museum's first general-admission patrons. "We always make it a point to go to the art museum wherever we go, and we felt like we needed to be able to be a part of history," David Franklin said. "It seemed like a wonderful little bit of serendipity."

"Come on in, welcome to the museum." And with that, at 11am Thursday morning, the Asheville Art Museum reopened to the general public. David and Olivia Franklin, in town from Atlanta on their honeymoon, stepped in from the cold to become the museum's first general-admission patrons. "We always make it a point to go to the art museum wherever we go, and we felt like we needed to be able to be a part of history," David Franklin said. "It seemed like a wonderful little bit of serendipity."

This is a monumental week for Asheville's arts scene. The Asheville Art Museum reopens this Thursday and, two days later, the Center for Craft reopens. Both are emerging from major renovations.

This is a monumental week for Asheville's arts scene. The Asheville Art Museum reopens this Thursday and, two days later, the Center for Craft reopens. Both are emerging from major renovations.

This is a monumental week for Asheville's arts scene. The Asheville Art Museum reopens this Thursday and, two days later, the Center for Craft reopens. Both are emerging from major renovations.