North Charlotte Today

The City of Charlotte Arts and Culture Advisory Board is distributing nearly $1.2 million to local artists and arts and cultural groups via Opportunity Fund grants, bringing the total of the Opportunity Fund's investments to more than $2.7 million in the last two years.

The Opportunity Fund offers support for near-term projects and initiatives that align with the recently approved Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan. The grants fund projects, programs, and initiatives that advance strategies in the plan.

"These grants signify the first action to implement the Charlotte Arts and Culture Plan, investing over $1 million while advancing five priorities of the plan," said Priya Sircar, the city's arts and culture officer. "It is inspiring to see the creativity and ambition that fuels our arts and culture ecosystem and is so critical to vibrancy and character of our city and region. The volume and variety of proposals demonstrate the breadth of incredible work being done around the Queen City."

The 2024 grantees are organized alphabetically within the plan priority their project supports.

The Opportunity Fund is a flexible mechanism of the Infusion Fund, a public-private partnership involving the city, Foundation For The Carolinas, and private donors aimed at stabilizing Charlotte-Mecklenburg's arts and culture sector from fiscal years 2022 to 2024 (ending June 30, 2024).

In keeping with strategies in the Arts and Culture Plan to strengthen capacity and skills of artists/groups as well as enhance reach/visibility through partnerships, grant recipients will receive additional support such as:

- Guidance from UNC Charlotte on measurement/evaluation of their projects.

- Marketing support from Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

Over 300 individuals/groups submitted applications requesting up to $40,000 each, totaling nearly $10 million. Applicants who met eligibility requirements then submitted full proposals. A unique addition this cycle was grant writing coaches provided at no cost to applicants, helping them develop strong proposals for future fundraising endeavors.

Of awardees, two-thirds are nonprofits while one-third are individual artists/other groups. The funded projects will advance 13 strategies across five priorities: ensuring sustainable/reliable funding; providing access to affordable space; eliminating barriers to creation/participation; fostering collaboration/cooperation; expanding arts education experiences.

Another priority is equitable/inclusive support/funding. Reflecting this, half indicated their mission serves ALAANA communities (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab Native American); over one-third serve Corridors of Opportunity communities or people with different abilities/disabilities; nearly one-third serve LGBTQ+ community members.

Grants will be distributed in July. More information about investment in arts/culture in Charlotte can be found including details on an historic $11 million dedication in fiscal year 2025 budget.