The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina has recently approved two focus area grants totaling $100,000, marking a pivotal moment for cultural and environmental engagement in the region. The NC Arboretum Society earned a $40,000 grant from the Cultural Resources focus area to support the upcoming exhibit, "Trolls - A Field Study Exhibit: Art, Hope, Economic and Environmental Inspiration for WNC." This premier U.S. exhibit of celebrated Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s handcrafted Trolls is set to run from November 2025 through February 2026, offering a rare blend of art, optimism, and regional revival.

Set against the backdrop of Asheville, NC, near the mighty Blue Ridge Parkway, the Arboretum serves as a living gallery where nature and creativity intersect. Dambo’s trolls—crafted from reclaimed wood and materials—do more than decorate; they invite visitors into a narrative that touches on environmental sustainability, acknowledges the area's efforts to recover from recent hurricanes, and nurtures a renewed respect for the natural world.

This exhibit promises to be the largest and most impactful that the Arboretum has hosted. It aligns perfectly with the Arboretum’s annual Winter Lights event, creating a surge in visitor counts throughout the cold months. This intersection of events ignites local businesses, drawing tourism that supports Asheville’s economy during an otherwise quieter season. From The Grove’s artisan shops to nearby eateries, the spread of visitors nurtures the community beyond the Arboretum’s gates.

The Trolls exhibit’s environmental message is a quietly fierce reminder wrapped in approachable art. Visitors can expect to encounter each sculpture embedded in the landscape, encouraging a physical exploration that feels like a hike through an enchanted forest stirred to life. These trolls push visitors to engage with the terrain, cross trails lightly, and listen to the whispers of recovery in surrounding flood-impacted areas.

For planners, travel between November and February requires practical preparation. Asheville’s winter softens the landscape but brings unpredictable weather—dress in layers, expect muddy sections along the Arboretum trails, and bring sturdy footwear. The exhibit’s relationship with Winter Lights creates evenings rich with illumination against the darkened forest, a perfect time to experience the trolls bathed in light.

Behind the scenes, an anonymous fund co-invested in the grant, showing strong community belief in the project’s potential. Visitors are invited not only to witness art but to become part of a movement that balances cultural pride, economic resilience, and environmental respect.

Exploring the NC Arboretum during this exhibit is more than a walk—it's a chance to observe how art animates hope while environmental recovery quietly, insistently marches forward. Planning a trip here means tuning into the dialogue between human creativity and nature’s fierce pulse, a challenge that promises reward at every turn.