4 Fantastic Creative Opportunities

Look alive, Queen City creatives! Tim’s got his giant foam fists on and he’s swinging your way with four fantastic opportunities that’ll knock your socks off — or at least get your creative gears turning. Deadlines are creeping up, so don’t dawdle.

OPEN CALL: Charlotte SHOUT! 2025
Presented by Charlotte SHOUT!
NEW DEADLINE: August 29, 2025
LEARN MORE AND APPLY. CLICK HERE.

Charlotte Center City Partners is seeking artists, performers and creatives of all kinds to help shape the 2026 Charlotte SHOUT! Festival (April 3-19) — a citywide celebration of creativity, innovation and community spirit. In the past, these have been remarkable opportunities for local creatives to show what they’re capable of and promote their services to thousands and thousands of visitors throughout this 17-day festival. Open opportunities include: 

• 2026 SHOUT! Poster
• Easter Eggs on Parade 
• !cons 
• Interactive Art 
• Music 

Please Note: The SHOUT! Website may still say the deadline is August 1, but Charlotte Center City Partners has asked us to share that the new deadline is, in fact, August 29.

OPEN CALL: ASC Culture Blocks
Presented by Arts & Science Council
DEADLINE: August 11, 2025
LEARN MORE AND APPLY. CLICK HERE.

Funded by Mecklenburg County and managed by ASC, Culture Blocks supports free cultural experiences — planned with resident involvement and hosted in libraries, rec centers, parks and more. Open to individual creatives and organizations.

OPEN APPLICATION: McColl Center Studio
Presented by Charlotte Is Creative
DEADLINE: August 18
LEARN MORE AND APPLY. CLICK HERE.

Charlotte Is Creative is covering 4 months of rent (Aug. 18–Dec. 14) for one visual artist to work 20–40+ hours/week in a private 90 sq. ft. studio at McColl Center. Yup — FREE. But, we are asking something important from the artist granted the space: ENGAGEMENT.

CIC is ooking for an artist ready to engage fully with the shared tools, creative life and community at McColl Center — not just occupy a studio.⁣ This opportunity includes:⁣

✔️ Private 90 sq. ft. studio with locking door⁣

✔️ Access to tool lab & community events⁣

✔️ Immersion with McColl’s resident artist community⁣

OPEN CALL: Artist-in-Residency Program
Presented by McColl Center
DEADLINE: Sept. 1, 2025
LEARN MORE AND APPLY. CLICK HERE.

Artists working in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, film, video, new media, writing or interdisciplinary practices are invited to apply. Artists-in-Residence receive: 

• private housing adjacent to McColl Center
• a large-scale private studio 
• access to shared labs
• curatorial guidance
• marketing and PR support
• a stipend

OPEN APPLICATION: Creative Growth Grants
Presented by City of Charlotte
DEADLINE: Aug. 4, 2025
LEARN MORE AND APPLY. CLICK HERE.

Don’t sleep on this one. With just one week left to apply, creatives can pursue three different grant types — professional development, project support or operational funding. Open to individuals and nonprofits.