EHREN CRUZ
Ehren Cruz is the Artistic Director & Co-Event Director for LEAF Community Arts, a non-profit that has for 24 years has served WNC with a mission to connect cultures, create community, and enrich lives through music & arts. LEAF hosts three annual signature events, an expansive cultural arts outreach program in WNC, and an international global cultural preservation program thriving in 10 countries. Over the past six years, Ehren has successfully produced ten consecutive sellout LEAF Festivals, welcoming 12,000 patrons and over 400 artists each iteration into the heart of Western North Carolina. He is also the lead producer of LEAF Downtown AVL, the largest, free non-ticketed event in Downtown Asheville hosting over 25,000 patrons each event focusing on inclusion, families, and creative celebration. Above and beyond event curation, Ehren Cruz serves as the Advocacy Chair for Asheville Area Arts Council and leads workshops, panels, and presentations throughout North America on topics such as: Mission-centric event design, city & county arts resourcing, Artist professional development, enhancing creativity, diversity & equity in programming, art as a spiritual practice, advocacy and community building through the arts.