Meet 10 Creatives in Five Minutes
Earlier this summer, we invited a group of creatives in Charlotte to gather at Summit Coffee NoDa to collaborate, brainstorm and network. This was part of Charlotte Is Creative’s “Coffee/Crushin’ With Creatives” series, which offers one morning and one evening meet-up each month. It was a morning of productive conversation about Charlotte’s art scene and what it means to be an artist in the Queen City. Here are some of the artists we had the pleasure of meeting: - Amber Bounds
- Becca Nipper
- Brianna Osorio
- Daniel Arena
- Dave Ordog
- Julie McElmurry
- KJ & Mila Sanchz Ugueto
- Tara Spil
- Sara Hornung
Read more about these incredible creatives and find links to their work here. And, if you are interested in taking part in a future meet-up, follow the Charlotte Is Creative Instagram page for announcements. 
13 Local Artists Highlighted at the Charlotte International Arts FestivalOver the course of 17 days, the Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF) will feature over 200 events, installations and activations across uptown and south Charlotte through Oct. 2. Among the events and installations planned are original works of art from 13 local creatives. These installations were originally planned for exhibition in 2021, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These large-scale projects range from historical storytelling of Charlotte’s most prominent leaders and neighborhoods to multi-sensory, interactive installations. They will remain on view throughout CIAF at locations ranging from Romare Bearden Park to Ballantyne’s Backyard. Many of these new works will be placed in close proximity to installations from international artists. Read more about the installations and the artists behind them.
PHOTO ABOVE: Creatives Kat Cornelius and Angela Kollmer (along with Matt Conroy) pose with their “Tree of Life” under construction.
Open Invitations to Contribute to the City of Charlotte’s Cultural Arts PlanThe City of Charlotte, working through the Arts & Culture Advisory Board led by arts officer Priya Sircar, is developing a long-term cultural arts plan. The aim of the plan is to chart the future of creative resources available in Charlotte while addressing how to create a sustainable cultural ecosystem. To aid this effort, the cultural planning team has released a survey for Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents; everyone is invited to participate. Surveys in Spanish and other languages are available upon request. Take the survey. The cultural planning team has also released a list of upcoming public conversations. They are a mix of in-person and virtual events. Some meetings are designed for all residents. Others are specific to creative disciplines. Find a complete list, with sign-up links, here. ABOVE: The first community input session on the arts on Aug. 23. PHOTO CREDIT: Priya Sircar
Applications Due Sunday for the Charlotte Space Program StudioThis Sunday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. is the last chance to apply for a mini-residency at McColl Center. The creative selected for this space will receive a free, dedicated studio space for four months through the Charlotte Space Program courtesy of McColl Center and Charlotte Is Creative. The studio also includes access to the facility’s shared creative resources, including printmaking, sculpture, ceramic, 3-D and media equipment. ▶️ APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. ▶️ Grantee Notified: Sept. 30 ▶️ Studio Space Begins: Oct. 7, 2022 Find more information and application here. 
Five Available Resources for CreativesONE: City of Charlotte Unveils The Opportunity FundLast week, the City of Charlotte, working through the Arts & Culture Advisory Board, opened applications for the new Opportunity Fund. Powered by the three-year Infusion Fund, which blends public and private dollars, the Opportunity Fund was established as a new source of arts and culture funding open to individuals and arts groups with ideas that do not fit within existing grant cycles. It’s also open to independent artists and groups seeking to collaborate on a project with another or a larger arts organization. Applications are rolling. MORE INFO. PHOTO ABOVE: Courtesy of City of Charlotte TWO: Apply for The Southern Prize or State FellowshipsSouthArts, an organization dedicated to supporting the artists, arts organizations and communities that help Southeast regions thrive, has an open grant that will unlock a second possible grant for those selected. Nine $5,000 state fellowships are state-specific prizes given to visual artists whose work is deemed to represent the best the South has to offer. Once selected, the nine State Fellows will vie for the Southern Prize, a $25,000 and $10,000 award. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on October 10. MORE INFO. THREE: Paid Art Opportunities Through Charlotte SHOUT!2023 isn’t far away. Charlotte SHOUT! is returning March 31 to April 16 next year. Charlotte Center City Partners, organizers of SHOUT!, have issued an open call for visual artists, illumination artists, projection mapping, music and more. Applications are due Oct 10. MORE INFO. FOUR: Find the Artist’s WayFeed your creative side. VisArt Video is sponsoring a series of Tuesday morning classes designed to help you explore your imagination and discover (or recover) your creative self. Classes are based on the book, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and take place from 10 a.m. to noon and are open to all. Admission is “pay as you can.” E-mail ginavisart@gmail.com for more information. FIVE: Make Beautiful Music (and Friendships) with OneBandThe concept of OneBand is simple: Musicians of all skill levels sign up to learn three songs together. There is one rehearsal (Oct. 12) and one performance (Oct. 18). Then, the group will disband and a whole new band will form a month later. MORE INFO. The next setlist is: - “Rock and Roll” (Led Zeppelin)
- “One” (U2)
- “Good As Hell” (Lizzo)
The public performance at Divine Barrel Brewing at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 will be free and open to the public.
NEW ART ALERT! This may seem like a daily occurrence in Crown Town, but we’ll always get excited about it: Charlotte has a new mural! The next time you’re headed from uptown toward the intersection of Queens Rd. and Providence Rd., look left for a new mural by CHEEKS on the side of the John Dabbs, Ltd. building. The company commissioned it to commemorate its 50th anniversary. CHEEKS shared this with us about his newest work: “It’s been a pleasant challenge working with the subtle value changes in the glaze of the plate and extra fun to attempt the water-colored look in the birds and details.” Check it out now, but swing back here soon when we tell you the full story behind the mural. OK … OK … one more to grow on. We’re not sure of the artist, but check out this gem we discovered on an abandoned building near Splatter CLT off Music Factory Blvd. (If you know the artist — even an alias — tell us here.) 
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