Find Community and Make Creative Friends (With US!)

By Tim Miner & Makayla Binter

Find Community and Make Creative Friends (With US!)

Charlotte Reciprocity Circles
Saturday, February 21, 2026
10 a.m. | Seoul Food Meat Company Mill District
SIGN UP

In the last issue of The Biscuit, the team at Charlotte Is Creative (CIC) reflected on our creative work in 2025 and shared our hopes for 2026.

And while our small but mighty team brings a lot of heart to this work, none of it happens without our community. Our creative friends. Our collaborators.

As we continue building relationships and partnerships this year, we also want to invite you the be part of it. Let 2026 be your year to find community, make creative friends and lean into collaboration. Starting with participating in Charlotte Reciprocity Circles (CRC).

Show Up for Yourself and Who You Might Meet

One of the best ways to plug into Charlotte’s creative culture is simple: Show up. Not just for yourself, but for the people you haven’t met yet. Start with us.

This social capital exchange event:

  • Brings together creatives, business owners and entrepreneurs to ask for what they need and offer what they have
  • Leaves you with a ton of ideas from the people you interacted with
  • Provides a database of everyone who attended

We even asked a few of our facilitators—many of whom are Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative alumni—to share what makes this experience special and why you should attend.

Yash Mistry | Woodworking and Carpentry
Class of 2021
“People leave with a fresh, clear state of mind after finally talking through their challenges with real people instead of overthinking alone. Everyone walks away energized and with new creative friends.”

Dionna Bright | Photographer
Class of 2022
“Charlotte Is Creative has cultivated a vibrant, supportive space where people show up fully for themselves and one another. Collaboration and social support naturally blossom, creating an intentional experience that reflects the magic of Charlotte and the people who make this city what it is.”

What are you waiting for? Sign up and click HERE to save your spot.

Opportunities

There are lots of opportunities for you in the air right now. Here are a few tantalizing ones to look into.

Mural at the Stowe Family YMCA
Request for Qualification (RFQ) for a 14 ft. by 18 ft. mural at a newly renovated building at the Stowe Family YMCA.

Venue Access Grants from ASC
These grants – for individuals and organizations – enable you to rent venues for uses that engage the public in arts, science and history. Events must take place: Between Sept.1 and Dec. 2026.

  • DEADLINE: Rolling deadline with preference to applications received by Wednesday, Feb.11 at 12 p.m./Noon.
  • APPLY AT: www.artsandscience.org

40 Over 40 Award Nominations
Nominate the difference-makers, the change catalysts and the community stalwarts who, by some standards, are over the hill.

Annual Submission for the Sharin Gallery
Submissions are open for the eighth “Up and Coming Invitational” at the Shain Gallery. Competition will be steep this year with submissions open to even more states. Send your best 5 images to ALL THREE emails below. The show is July 24.

Craft Fest Applications
Charlotte Region Arts, Fibers, & Textiles Guild (CRAFT) is seeking applications from artists, vendors and instructors for their annual Craft Fair, March 28 and 29.

CLT Pride Applications
CLT Pride is accepting applications for neighborhood markets, vendors, entertainers and those who want to organize a float in the annual parade.

National Endowment for the Arts Grants
For projects taking place in 2027.

  • DEADLINES: Feb. 12 and July 9
  • MORE INFO: arts.gov

Apply now!