AFTER SHOUT! … COMES THE BOOM!  AFTER SHOUT! … COMES THE BOOM!If you’re concerned that the local creative community is going to be quiet after 17 days of Charlotte SHOUT!, fear not. In fact, you may want to invest in some good earmuffs. Because …
The Queen City creative scene is never silent. Something amazing is always going on in every corner of the city. Especially this weekend. BOOM Charlotte, Charlotte’s fringe art festival, is back. EXPLORE. EXPLORE. EXPLORE.This is a big year for BOOM. In 2025, they are collaborating with University City Partners to bring the festival to the University City Lakefront.
For a long-running annual festival, that’s a big deal. For those of us who know BOOM, it’s a fresh perspective. If you’ve not explored University City … get out there. Make sure to look into what UNC Charlotte offers. Here’s a sneak peek.
For those in the University area who have never experienced BOOM, it’s a chance to fall in love with grassroots arts organizations and independent artists from across the creative spectrum. GET READY TO BOOKAll of us are in for a jam-packed weekend of performances and visual art from Friday, April 25 to Sunday, April 27. This three-day showcase invites attendees to two experiences: BOOM Intersections and BOOM Fringe. These family-friendly, contemporary works by local and regional creatives range from free to ticketed. BOOM is a vital space for creative exploration and experimentation. Many of us create with like-minded friends in our studios and practice spaces—but BOOM gives those ideas a stage and receptive audience. It’s a chance to be open-minded, take creative risks and dive into Charlotte’s vibrant arts scene. SEVEN EXPERIENCES TO CATCH AT BOOM CHARLOTTEAcross all mediums, BOOM delivers boundary-pushing performances and unforgettable creative experiences. Here are seven we’re especially excited about: 
DANCELove Notes
FROM: JOYEMOVEMENT
WHEN: Friday, April 25 to Sunday., April 27 | Various Evening Times
WHERE: 8929 J M Keynes Dr., Ste. 390
GET TICKETS Choreographed by Alexandra Joye Warren in collaboration with poet Lavinia Jackson, Love Notes explores human connection through movement and interactive dance. That’s right. This work invites the audience to influence the performance and experience it from multiple perspectives. Rooted in Her: She is the Rhythm
FROM: SHAE Movement African Arts
WHEN: Fri., April 25 to Sun., April 27 | Various Evening Times
WHERE: Fringe Dance Studio Theater, 8929 J M Keynes Dr.
GET TICKETS Experience a vibrant celebration of Black women through African dance and drumming. Rooted in Her: She is the Rhythm honors strength, resilience and creativity, blending ancestral traditions with modern expressions. Expect electrifying rhythms and soul-stirring movement in this powerful cultural tribute. 
MUSICFROM: 6 Cardinal
WHEN: Sun., April 27 | 6:40-7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Dock Stage
FREE ADMISSION | MORE INFO Charlotte-based hip-hop artist 6 Cardinal will perform selections from their catalog – 2012 to the present – plus brand-new, never-before-heard tracks performed live for the first time. 
POETRY/SPOKEN WORDI Promise Not to Die in This One
FROM: Jordan Bailey
WHEN: Sat., April 26 and Sun., April 27 | 1:30-2:30 p.m., 8-9 p.m., and 5-6 p.m.
WHERE: Fringe Boutique Theater, 9015 J M Keynes Dr.
FREE ADMISSION | MORE INFO Charlotte poet and rapper Jordan Bailey explores the intersection of Blackness and mental health in a raw, intimate performance that revisits his beginnings through powerful spoken word. 
HANDS-ON VISUAL ARTArtist Trading Card Booth
FROM: Emily Little
WHEN: Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 | 12–7 p.m.
WHERE: Make Space Extension
FREE ADMISSION | MORE INFO Create, connect and collect your own trading cards with help from Charlotte artist Emily Little. Take home a work of art you designed yourself. On one side of your card, you’ll highlight your “artist stats.” On the other, you’ll create a work of art showcasing your style. Once you’re done, you can trade with friends and fellow creatives or purchase cards from other BOOM artists. Leave your mark! Indigo Art
FROM: Nativa Studio
WHEN: Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 | 12–10 p.m. and 11:30 a.m.–6 p.m.
WHERE: Make Space Extension
FREE ADMISSION | MORE INFO Don’t just appreciate art … dive into dye and get your hand dirty making it! Nativa Studio invites you to explore traditional Salvadoran shibori techniques using organic indigo. Create your own one-of-a-kind textile. This is open to beginners and artist of all skill levels. Nativa will collect a small participation fee from participants. 
MULTI-DISCIPLINARYGuateke Sessions: Intersection
FROM: La Casa de la Cultura
WHEN: Friday, April 25 | 8–8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Library Stage
FREE ADMISSION | MORE INFO La Casa de la Cultura invites you to celebrate and feel the pulse of Afro-Caribbean heritage tradition on Friday night. Like the events above, this one invites you to be part of making the event happen. Guateke Sessions: Intersection channels the bold rhythms of Puerto Rican Bomba through drum, song and dance – a collective experience of movement and memory. 
Creatives, get reading, get thinking and get to work! Here are four immediate (in MAY!) and one long-term opportunities to consider, share and apply for. 
“A Slice of Life” Art Exhibit
FROM: Novant Health & Arts Ampersand
DEADLINE: May 7, 2025
MORE INFO Novant Health and Arts Ampersand are curating a new exhibition, A Slice of Life: The Art of Everyday, celebrating beauty in the ordinary — the quiet rituals and small moments that shape our days. The call is open to artists working in 2D media (painting, photography, drawing and more). Applicants may submit up to two ready-to-hang works (max 36” x 36”). There are no entry fees and artists keep 100% of sales. Exhibit Dates: - May 30–Nov. 10, 2025
- Café Gallery, Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
- Opening Reception: May 30 at 3 p.m.
Email stemplin@novanthealth.org by May 2 with questions. 
Transit Pass Design Contest
FROM: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
DEADLINE: May 16, 2025, at 5 p.m.
MORE INFO CATS has launched its fifth annual Transit Pass Design Contest, inviting North and South Carolina residents to submit original artwork inspired by the theme 50 Years of Moving People Forward. Three winning designs will be featured on 2026 Local, Express and Express Plus bus passes. Winners will also receive: - First place: $500 + monthly transit pass
- Second place: $250 + monthly transit pass
- Third place: $100 + monthly transit pass
This is the first in a series of initiatives leading up to CATS’ 50th anniversary in 2026. Applications, contest rules and design templates are available at the link above. 
Emerging City Champions Program
FROM: Knight Foundation & 880 Cities
DEADLINE: May 28, 2025
MORE INFO The Knight Emerging City Champions (KECC) program is back and accepting applications for the 2025–2026 cohort — with a special focus on emerging leaders from Charlotte’s Historic West End. KECC is designed to equip a new generation of civic changemakers with funding, tools and mentorship. This program supports Charlotteans ready to develop bold, creative solutions to local challenges. Proposed projects should aim to: - Strengthen community connection through public space and civic engagement
- Foster creative expression by preserving and advancing arts and culture
- Build resilience through entrepreneurship and local economic growth
Small Project Grants
FROM: North Carolina Humanities
DEADLINE: Sept. 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
MORE INFO NC Humanities is offering Small Project Grants of up to $5,000 to support public-facing humanities projects — including exhibitions, lectures, workshops and more. To be eligible, proposed activities must begin at least eight weeks after the submission deadline. This is the second of two annual funding cycles. We suggest spending time exploring if your project idea matches the provided definitions of a humanities-based project or scheduling a consultation meeting here. Applicants will be notified of award decisions about 1.5 months after submission via their online Applicant Dashboard. | The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |
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