Post-Helene Symposium

Name: Post-Helene Symposium
Start: 2025-09-24T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-09-24T17:00:00-04:00
Location: 1 University Hts, Asheville, NC, United States, North Carolina 28804

Schedule

Wed Sep 24 2025 at 09:00 am to 05:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

1 University Hts, Asheville, NC, United States, North Carolina 28804 | Asheville, NC

"Post-Helene: Remembering, Rebuilding, Reimagining" is a faculty-led, campus-wide, community-engaged symposium, funded by the NEH Professorship under the direction of Dr. William Bares (humanities/arts), with assistance from Dr. Megan Underhill (social sciences) and Dr. David Gillette (natural sciences).
The symposium will bring together storytellers, scholars, students, and community voices from across the region to explore the themes of “Remembering, Rebuilding, and Reimagining” on the anniversary of Hurricane Helene. This free, three-day event will feature panels, concerts, art exhibitions, interactive activities, and more to amplify the voices of Western North Carolina and position Asheville as a leader in the conversation about the storm, its aftermath, and the city's vision for its future.
The three-day symposium runs Sept. 24–26, 2025, and will support the planned remembrance by the City of Asheville on the anniversary of the storm, September 27. Symposium events will mostly be held on the UNC Asheville campus, in academic halls, the Highsmith Student Union, and on the Quad. All on-campus events are free and open to the public. Additional ticketed evening and weekend special events will offer further opportunities for reflection, connection, and creative expression throughout the city.
For more information, and to register for the event, visit: posthelenesymposium.com
Below are a few highlights of scheduled events...
Looking Back to Move Forward:
“Looking Back to Move Forward” is an art exhibition featuring work by students, faculty, and alumni that addresses both the devastation and the ongoing recovery around Hurricane Helene. To help shape the exhibition’s narrative, faculty who engaged in sustainability efforts across campus were invited to select works that, together, tell the story of Helene and highlight the broader impacts of climate change. The exhibition will open September 8 and run through October 5 in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery in Owen Hall, open from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily.
Hard Times, No More showcase:
“Hard Times, No More” is a Music faculty showcase concert that will feature a roster of Helene-related musical performances. From intimate, short works to grander compositions and large ensembles, audiences will be introduced to original compositions and arrangements by professors in a range of styles, from classical to jazz, pop to folk. Performances will include “Miracles of St. Helene” by Professor of Music William Bares, “Lifted” by Professor of Music Brian Felix, and “Asheville My Home” arranged by Associate Professor of Music Christine Boone. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. on September 25 in the Blue Ridge Room.
Impacts of Helene on the Outdoor Recreation Industry:
Millions of visitors each year come to Western North Carolina to enjoy beautiful trails, waterways, and wildlife, but Hurricane Helene had a devastating impact on the region’s natural spaces and the businesses that they support. Professor of Biology and Director of Undergraduate Research Rebecca Hale will facilitate a panel to explore the impact of the storm and recovery efforts around the recreation industry in the area at 10:30 a.m. on September 25 in the Mountain Suites.
Screening of Small Town, Mountain Strong:
Filmmakers from Here for Good Films will host a screening of their full-length feature Small Mountain Strong: The Documentary, on rebuilding and resilience in the communities of Western North Carolina heavily impacted by Helene. Professor of Mass Communication Don Diefenbach will moderate an audience conversation with filmmakers on media coverage of the storm and its aftermath. The screening and panel discussion will take place at 3 p.m. on September 25 in the Mullen & James Humanities Hall.
Tuned In: How Local Radio Served As A Lifeline Through Helene:
Featuring local DJs and broadcasters from KISS Country, Blue Ridge Public Radio, and iHeart Radio, the panel “Tuned In: How Local Radio Served As A Lifeline Through Helene” will explore how twice-daily briefings and community-driven broadcasts kept Asheville informed and united when power and internet outages left radio as the region’s most trusted lifeline. The panel discussion will take place at 4:30 p.m. on September 24 in the Blue Ridge Room in the Highsmith Student Union.
Dedication reception for alum Sami Zoobi
As part of the symposium, UNC Asheville’s New Media Department will celebrate the art and design of alum Sami Zoobi—who perished in the flood of Hurricane Helene—through a dedicated exhibition and the naming of the 3rd floor Owen Gallery in their honor. The exhibition, opening September 27 with a reception, will remain on view through October 31.
Blue Ridge Orchestra premieres Sinfonietta Helene
Closing the symposium, the Blue Ridge Orchestra will perform the world premiere of Sinfonietta Helene, an original work by Asheville-based composer Jay Sanders. Made possible through the Dan Lucas Memorial Fund—established in 2010 to honor the life and legacy of UNC Asheville music alum Dan Lucas—the concert will be held Sunday, September 28, at the Wortham Theater. This is a ticketed event.
To register for the event and view the full schedule, visit posthelenesymposium.com.
Visitor Parking
All visitors must adhere to the University’s parking policy. Please visit the UNC Asheville Visitor Parking Permit Registration site (https://parking.unca.edu/parking-permits/visitor-parking/) to acquire a visitor permit to park on campus.