Meet the Fall 2023 Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative Cohort
Charlotte Is Creative is thrilled to announce the 15 local artists selected for the Fall 2023 Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative Cohort (CEI). This immensely talented group represents a fraction of the impressive applicant pool and showcases a diversity in background, experience and creative disciplines including music, apparel, poetry, photography, arts education, digital art, visual art and community theater. WHAT IS CEI?Beginning in August, cohort members will be paid to take part in introductory business training courses and workshops, many of which will be available for public audit. They will network with fellow CEI members, alumni and Charlotte’s expanding creative and business community. After successful completion of the CEI program, cohort members will receive a $1,500 honorarium to invest in their creative business. CEI is intended to help cohort members bolster their creative and artistic skills with the knowledge and framework needed to succeed as small businesses in a business-oriented city. CEI was developed by Charlotte Is Creative and supported by Wells Fargo and Mecklenburg County with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as support from Aspire Community Capital, Interact Studio and the DoGreater Foundation. Applications for the Spring 2024 CEI cohort will open in September. MEET THE FALL 2023 COHORT
TY ANDINO-MCBRIDE
Visual Art | WEB | IG 
UMAYAL ANNAMALAI
Visual Art | WEB | IG
KATHERINE BANKSTON
Music | WEB | IG
ESTHER BARRAGAN
Visual Art | WEB
TERRY CREECH
Poetry, Arts Education | WEB | IG 
WES CURRY
Theater | WEB | IG
DENEER DAVIS
Visual Art | WEB | IG
DELILAH EBY
Knitwear/Apparel | WEB | IG 
JASON HACKNER
Music | WEB | IG
ALI LONCAR
Visual Art | WEB | IG 
NIGEL MALONE
Music, Photography, Digital Art | WEB | IG 
MELANEE MARSHALL
Visual Art | WEB | IG 
CHALICE MEIKLE
Visual Art | WEB | IG
CORINE OLARTE
Photographer | WEB | IG
CLAUDE WHITFIELD
Music | WEB | IG
What’s the Spring 2023 Cohort Up To?The spring 2023 CEI cohort met from January to April. Cohort members remain extremely active in the Charlotte community. Here’s just a brief snapshot of what they’re doing right now. 
- Gladece Knights, through her nonprofit, the Holiday Wish Foundation, is playing host to the third annual Queen Sugar Bash this Saturday (July 22) from 6 to 10 p.m. This year’s immersive celebration of LGBTQ+ culture offers a vibrant fusion of music, art and community under a canopy of stars. MORE INFO.
- WBTV’S QC Life program celebrated National Fashion Day last month by interviewing CEI graduate and local fashion designer, Will White. WATCH HERE. He’ll also be the keynote spark at the August 4 gathering of CreativeMornings/Charlotte. FREE TICKETS HERE.
- Mathew Seneca hosts Tango Thursdays, a weekly social Argentine tango event every Thursday evening, alternating between Plaza Midwood and Uptown. And, his newest endeavor, opening a dance/event space called The Long Room, was just featured in The Charlotte Observer. READ THE STORY.
- Teil Buck of Phoenix Down RPG was recently awarded an “Emerging Artist” grant from the Arts & Science Council and an Opportunity Fund grant, from the Infusion Fund. These grants will help her launch Campfire Tales, a live tabletop gaming experience with interactive music, and Video Game Mixtape, live performances of video game music that culminate in interactive gaming tournaments. MORE INFO.
- And, speaking of Phoenix Down RPG, fellow CEI graduate Alexys Carrasquillo of Familia Creative Media is building a new website for the organization. MORE INFO.
- Eternity Philops is performing with crystal singing bowls (accompanied by service of herbal tea) at The Pauline Tea Bar and Apothecary on Arty Ave. from 5:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on August 2.
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