North Charlotte Today

The City of Charlotte has announced the winners of its Creative Spaces Initiative grants. This initiative aims to increase access to the arts in Charlotte's Corridors of Opportunity by transforming vacant spaces into affordable, permanent workspaces for creative entrepreneurs.

The 2024 grant recipients include Rebrand Collective LLC and Three Bone Theatre, both located in the Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry Corridor; Do Greater Foundation, Inc. and Dear Soul Music Company in the Freedom/Wilkinson Corridor; and YMCA of Greater Charlotte in the Albemarle/Central Corridor.

Erin Gillespie, executive program manager for Corridors of Opportunity, stated: “This initiative represents a partnership between the City of Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity Program, local creatives, property owners, and the community. By working together, we are transforming underutilized spaces into vibrant, sustainable art hubs that will continue to serve the corridors long after the projects are completed. We look forward to experiencing the art spaces that our grantees create!”

The selection process was based on various criteria including project location within each corridor, financial stability, readiness to begin by year-end 2024, and community impact. Evaluators also considered applicants' experience, space suitability for intended use, and compliance with zoning and building codes. Only projects contributing to permanent creative spaces were eligible.

These projects highlight diverse voices and talents across Charlotte's corridors while ensuring inclusivity for artists and audiences alike. The city allocated $532,724 in grant funding with plans for these new spaces to open early next year.