Charlotte Is Creative is proud to be in partnership with McColl Center to make a HUG Micro-Grant available for four months of a granted, dedicated 90 sq. ft. studio space within the studios at McColl Center rental program. Please note that, while open to an array of mediums, this opportunity is best suited for a visual artist.

The selected applicant will enjoy access to full use of the McColl Center’s facilities and tools, as well as an individual, private studio from August 22 to Nov. 23, 2025.

PLEASE read this entire page to ensure your work is eligible for consideration. If you have any questions, please reach out to hello@charlotteiscreative.com

APPLICATION TIMELINE:

• Applications Open: Thursday, July 24, 2025
• Applications Close: Sunday, Aug. 10 at 11:59 p.m.
• Grantees Notified: Week of Aug. 18

Incomplete applications and applications received after 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 10, 2025 will not be eligible for consideration.

Requirements & Ineligible Art Forms

We expect that the creative selected for use of this space will use it 25-40+ hours per week. And, special consideration will be given to creatives who both live and work in Mecklenburg County. While artists within a 100-mile radius of the McColl Center are invited to apply, those residing and working outside of that radius will not be considered.

While we love to support a wide array of creative disciplines through our work at Charlotte Is Creative and McColl Center, the studio is not designed for all purposes. The studio space is 90 sq. ft. It is best for the creation visual artwork.

For this grant, we WILL NOT consider applications that seek to use the space for:

• Podcast production/Sound recording
• Performing arts rehearsal
• Musical performance/recording
• Community engagement meetings
• Video editing
• Retail art sales (onsite/in the studio)

THIS GRANT CYCLE IS NOW CLOSED.

About the Studios

The studios at McColl Center are designed to build a creative community and support regional, emerging artists. The studios are available for rent by artists at a below-market rate, while offering access to other resources including printmaking, sculpture, ceramic, 3-D and media equipment.

In making this space available, McColl Center’s goal is to establish a thriving community of artists who will participate in public events, share their practices, ideas and engage with fellow artists both within the building and in the local community. Renters are expected to work at least 15 hours per week in their studios.

About the Partnership

As part of the partnership between the McColl Center and Charlotte Is Creative’s HUG Micro-Grant program, creatives working in Charlotte are eligible to apply for a four-month granted residency in one of the studios described above. The McColl Center and Charlotte Is Creative will cover all monthly rental fees for the four-month tenure.

In the application below, artists to be considered will present a plan for how they intend to use their four-month studio residency and will be evaluated, in part, on the strength of this plan, in addition to their previous body of work and references. As you complete the application, please be thoughtful and specific on what outcome you hope to achieve and what product, of any, you will produce by the end of your four months.