NOW OPEN: Opportunities for Creatives (1/9/25)

Open Opportunities for CLT Area Creatives (and More)!
Last Updated: 1/9/25

Here are a ton of opportunities with deadlines we don’t want you to miss out on.

FUNDING, AWARDS AND GRANTS

APPLY: 2025 CULTURE BLOCKS FUNDING
FROM: Arts & Science Council (ASC)
DEADLINE: Feb. 7, 2025 at Noon
PROGRAM DATES: July 1-Dec. 31, 2025
Culture Blocks provides funding for cultural experiences shaped by residents and delivered through libraries, recreation centers, parks, and community spaces in underserved neighborhoods. An additional call for funding will open in Fall 2025 for programs running January-June 2026. APPLY HERE.

Upcoming Information Sessions: Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. (Zoom), Jan. 20 at 5:30 p.m. (Tentative: Goodyear Arts), Jan. 30 at Noon (Zoom)

NOMINATE: SPARK AWARDS FOR FEMALE LEADERS
FROM: Women’s Impact Fund (WIF)
DEADLINE: Jan. 24, 2025
Nominate female leaders in Charlotte-Mecklenburg driving transformational change. Eligible nominees include employees or volunteers with nonprofits, grassroots leaders, community organizers, and activists. Awards include a cash prize with no restrictions and a one-year WIF membership. MORE INFO HERE.

APPLY: MULTIPLE 2025 GRANTS FOR CREATIVES
FROM: North Carolina Arts Council
DEADLINE: March 3, 2025
Grant applications for the FY2025-26 cycle are now open. Explore the grant guidelines at ncarts.org to learn more about available opportunities, requirements and the application process for creative individuals and organizations. MORE INFO HERE.

APPLY: H.U.G. MICRO-GRANTS
FROM: Charlotte Is Creative
DEADLINE: Rolling
H.U.G. micro-grants are $250 awards to remove obstacles for creative projects. Applications take 10-15 minutes and require a clear explanation of how funds will be used. Sponsored by: LISC HQ, LPL Financial, Wray Ward, Hot Sake Sound, and individual donors. MORE INFO HERE.

OPEN CALLS FOR ALL CREATIVES

APPLY: BOOM CHARLOTTE 2025 FESTIVAL
FROM: BOOM Charlotte
DEADLINE: Jan. 15, 2024
Artists, performers, and creators are invited to showcase their talent at Charlotte’s most vibrant art festival. Applications are open for intersection and site-specific works. Vendor applications open on Jan. 10, 2025, for handmade product sellers. MORE INFO HERE.

OPEN CALLS FOR CRAFTING CREATIVES & WRITERS

VENDOR CALL: CRAFT FEST 2025
FROM: Craft CLT
EVENT DATES: March 29-30, 2025
Showcase your handmade goods at this vibrant festival at Petty Thieves Brewing Co. Vendor costs apply. APPLY HERE.

CALL FOR AUTHORS: YORK COUNTY ARTS
FROM: York County Arts
DEADLINE: Feb. 9, 2025
Submit short stories or poetry for adult and youth competitions. Winning works will be featured in Cotton Alley Writers’ Review. MORE INFO HERE

OPEN CALLS FOR VISUAL ARTISTS 

APPLY: TENNIS WALL MURAL PROJECT
FROM: Clearwater Arts
DEADLINE: Jan. 13, 2025
Local mural artists are invited to design the Tennis Wall Mural at Les Myers Park. MORE INFO HERE

APPLY: LATTA PLACE PUBLIC ART
FROM: Arts & Science Council (ASC)
DEADLINE: Jan. 13, 2025
Artists are encouraged to create reflective public art honoring enslaved individuals at Mecklenburg County’s Latta Place. MORE INFO HERE

APPLY: WAXHAW CROSSWALK MURAL PROJECT
FROM: Downtown Waxhaw Association (DWA) and Waxhaw Public Art Committee
DEADLINE: Jan. 15, 2025
Visual artists are invited to submit designs for Waxhaw’s inaugural crosswalk mural project. With help of the selected creative, four crosswalks at the intersection of N. Church St. and W. N. Main St. will be transformed to beautify the area, increase pedestrian visibility, improve driver attention and reduce vehicle speeds. Applications must be submitted to: anowell@waxhaw.com MORE INFO HERE

APPLY: CHARLOTTE SHOUT! POSTER DESIGN CONTEST
FROM: Charlotte Center City Partners
DEADLINE: Feb. 3, 2025
Create the official poster for Charlotte SHOUT! 2025. Submissions should be creative, vibrant and inspiring, reflecting the festival’s spirit. This contest is open to all, regardless of experience, including students, seniors, professional artists and novices. The selected artist will receive 100 posters and $1,000. Physical submissions must be delivered to Charlotte Center City Partners office by the deadline. MORE INFO HERE

FOR MUSICAL ARTISTS

APPLY: TOSCO MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP
FROM: Tosco Music
DEADLINE: Jan. 15, 2025
The Tosco Music Scholarship funds lessons, instruments, or attendance at music camps for musicians at all levels. APPLY HERE.

AUDITION: ONEVOICE CHORUS SPRING REHEARSALS
FROM: OneVoice Chorus
DATE: Jan. 14, 2025
TIME: 7 p.m. (new singers); 7:30 p.m. (returning singers)
LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte

Join an inclusive community chorus with no auditions required. Rehearsals for “Sing Me a Story” begin this January, with performances scheduled for March 28 and 29. MORE INFO HERE.

JOIN: ONEBAND’S “ALL 90’S” SHOW
FROM: Charlotte Is Creative
DATES: Feb. 11, 2025 | 6:30 p.m.
LOCATIONS: Divine Barrel Brewing
OneBand is back with its signature one-rehearsal (on Feb. 6), one-performance format! Musicians of all skill levels are invited to join this collaborative experience centered on connection, not perfection. February’s “All 90’s” theme features:

• “I’ll Be There For You” (The Rembrandts – short Friends version)
• “All Star” (Smash Mouth)
• “Dreams” (The Cranberries)
• “Criminal” (Fiona Apple)
• “Army” (Ben Folds Five)
• “No Scrubs” (TLC)
• “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (Ricky Martin)

Chord and lyric sheets provided prior to rehearsal. MORE INFO HERE

CALL FOR MUSICIANS: GIBSON MILL 2025
FROM: Gibson Mill
DEADLINE: Rolling
Gibson Mill seeks diverse musicians for its 2025 performer lineup in the Charlotte-Concord area. Submit an audio or video clip to the events coordinator. MORE INFO HERE.

OPEN MIC NIGHTS

• Goldie’s
  Second and Fourth Wednesdays | 6-9:30 p.m.
  Open mic night for musicians with a full backline.
  MORE INFO HERE
• Starlight on 22nd
  Mondays | 7-10 p.m. | Open mic for comedy
  Wednesdays | 7-10 p.m. | Open mic for music, comedy, and spoken word
  MORE INFO HERE
• The Evening Muse
• Feb. 10 and March 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Find Your Muse Open MicMORE INFO HERE