Jennifer Pickering
Connecting cultures and people through music, arts, and creative placemaking — to build a better world.
As Founder of LEAF Global Arts…
Jennifer led the organization for 30 years, transforming it from a business into a non-profit, to better serve the community and extend impact in the world. Under her leadership, the qualitative impact ripples throughout the world. Her dream is to welcome an artist from EVERY country in the world to her home at Lake Eden—only 78 more to go!
By the numbers…
signature & festival events
80+
staff (year around 350 & other festival staff most repeating annually)
1,500
40,000
performing & mixed medium artists
600,000
audience
local and global youth with LEAF Schools & Streets & LEAF International
89,000
directly fundraised (sponsorships, memberships, donations)
$12 M+
endowment fund visioned, created and funded
$1M
countries represented by artists
117
book on the way to press!
ONE
Lake Eden Retreat
A place to connect, unwind, and create memories that last a lifetime.
Retreats inspire connection and creativity in serene spaces with breathtaking views.
Weddings become unforgettable celebrations, blending rustic charm with natural beauty.
Vacations transform into peaceful escapes, offering a chance to recharge by the lake,
surrounded by nature’s tranquility.
Located on the historic grounds of Black Mountain College, just 5 minutes from downtown Black Mountain and 20 minutes from Asheville, Lake Eden Retreat combines convenience with the peace of seclusion.
What if you could carry the spirit of the LEAF festival with you every day?
Live Life Like a Festival is a vibrant 240-page interactive coffee table book that celebrates 30 years of LEAF Global Arts and invites you to carry its creative spark into your own life.
Born on the historic grounds of Black Mountain College—once home to artists like Buckminster Fuller, Anni Albers, and Merce Cunningham—LEAF, originally Lake Eden Arts Festival, has built a global village of musicians, teachers, change-makers, and joyful creators like Bootsy Collins, Doc Watson, Angelique Kidjo, and Rising Appalachia. This book is their story—and your invitation.
Inside, you’ll discover rare archival photos, reflections from LEAF artists and educators, creative prompts, and soulful stories from around the world. Whether you’ve danced under the stars at Lake Eden or never heard of LEAF until now, this book offers something real: a chance to slow down, reflect, and live more fully.
More than nostalgia, this is a call to action, a reminder that LEAF is not just a ‘festival’— it’s a way of life!
Visionary connector. Cultural Strategist.
Let’s create together.
• What do you need to move your life or business forward?
• Are you looking to host and create a retreat or special experience?
• Hire Jennifer for strategic visioning, speaking, or workshops.
