Art 4 Aid & Our Impact
Caravan Art Bazaar (CAB) is an artist-led and community-driven arts initiative founded in 2023 by Mike Talladen of Jungle Branch, who has organized art events, markets, and workshops since 2016. CAB seeks to disrupt art industry norms and challenge systemic barriers for BIPOC artists by providing free access to markets, exhibition spaces, and professional connections, ensuring artists can thrive within Asheville’s creative economy.
CAB is deeply collaborative and aims to expand artist education, cooperative network structures, and year-round markets for sustained income. CAB is not just supporting artists - it is reshaping WNC's art economy to be more inclusive and equitable. Cross-pollinating partnerships between artists, businesses, and organizations helps expand networks and opportunities for artists, businesses, and art lovers alike.
CAB operates entirely on volunteer basis, relying on funding from donations or grants to support operational needs.
Since its launch in late 2023, CAB has evolved to achieve big impact with small footprints. As of August 16th, our accomplishments are as follows;
- Supported 20+ local BIPOC artists in Western North Carolina in online presence, local markets, and exhibitions.
- Secured community venues for rotating art displays, increasing public access to diverse artists.
- January 2024 – Collaborated with WNC AAPI on the Asian Culture Festival Gala, a fundraiser event that helped raise over $4,000 in mutual aid funds for community and land stewardship initiatives in WNC.
- Spring 2024 – Partnered with Soul & Soil Project on a free mask-making and storytelling program for youth.
- Post-Hurricane Helene (Sept 2024) – Helped raise over $5,800 in mutual aid/disaster relief funds for Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP) and Asheville-Buncome Community Land Trust (ABCLT).
In September 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, further disrupting BIPOC artists’ already limited access to markets, studio space, and exhibition opportunities. Many lost materials, completed works, and creative workspaces, intensifying inequities in Asheville’s predominantly white art scene, where BIPOC artists have long struggled for visibility and economic stability.
- 2025 Spring & Summer – Collaborated with CAB Artists to organize a weekend-long mask-making workshop and a nature journaling workshop, paying facilitating artists over $3,000.
- To date, CAB has helped artists earn over $9,600 in profit from collective art sales, with no obligation from participating artists. This means an artist makes 100% of their sales, unless;
- Some artists have participated in the Art4Aid program, donating a portion of their sales to various mutual aid initiatives, which has helped raise over $13,600 in mutual aid funds in conjunction with other fundraising efforts.
