ONE: City of Charlotte Unveils The Opportunity Fund

Last 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 Fellowships

SouthArts, 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 Way

Feed 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 OneBand

The 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.