Charlotte Is Creative

SPECIAL OFFER: “Rouge” on Feb. 13 - 14
Just in time of Valentine’s Day, Caroline Calouche and Co. () is offering “Rouge,” a show filled with daring aerial acts, poetic dance and humor.

Available two nights – Feb. 13 and 14 – this show puts the full world of cirque and modern dance on display. And you can enjoy Buy One, Get a Second for 50% off tickets.

Just go to tinyurl.com/mrxpmhks and use the code “CREATIVE” to get your discount!

🎨 LOCAL TALENT 🖼️

We are following creatives from around the city and wanted to do a few special editions of Local Talent Tuesday and Artist Feature Friday highlighting specific mediums starting with local tattooers.

Meet five of them below!

1️⃣ Kimora Garvin -
Tattooer and Cosmetic Tattoos

“Never limit yourself and always give yourself grace.”

2️⃣ Xavier “MASE” Lamberth -
Tattoos, Custom Pieces, Murals

“I have clients and collectors from with in the art community that is thriving and growing in the Charlotte community, however the community who doesn’t know the art community is struggling to find it. I would love to expand my tattoo clientele into a new experience of shop and community while also expanding their view on art and how to collect it.”

3️⃣ Stephanie Woody -
Tattooing Dramatic and Fun Oddities

“My favorite part of my job is the connections I have made with my clients. I work with mostly women, and I hear their stories, their hardships, their dreams…and they show me so much kindness, trust, and unwavering support. And it has deeply inspired me to want to really lean in to other artistic pursuits, outside of tattooing. I’ve never had anyone believe in me quite like my clients do.”

4️⃣ Andrew Willis -
Tattoos and Paintings

“I’d love to learn how to complete murals. I want to do bigger projects within the city!”

5️⃣ Justin Banks-Walker -
Tattoos, Digital Art and Murals

“A dream project I would love to tackle soon is doing a big mural project for the city/community”

Want to be featured? Fill out the survey here: https://cltiscreative.survey.fm/tuesdayprofile

‼️CREATIVE VENUE ALERT‼️
📍 230 N. Tryon St. | thecarolina.com

The Carolina Theatre first opened in 1927 as a silent picture palace. Now, thanks to Foundation For The Carolinas, this beautifully restored treasure is BACK — and ready to welcome Charlotte again.

🎥 What’s coming? A full movie series (sCarolina this October) plus curated events in the lobby + the 100 Club.

🎉 Want to rent it? Absolutely. The Carolina Theatre is here for our community — a space that captivates, connects and sparks courageous conversations.

‼️ VENUE ALERT ‼️

We got the chance to check out the newest, fall inspired and curated dinner selection from Sophia’s Lounge in Uptown Monday night and we found out that this is not only a spot for the perfect pre-show spot (hey Blumenthal Arts and Carolina Theatre 😉) but is also perfect for special dinners and exploration in Charlotte.

What other celebrations could be held here? 🤔 Tell us below!

We had the pleasure of celebrating and attending the “Words Matter” community call to action honoring Jocelyn (11) and Gabby (13), two young Latinas who tragically ended their lives after being bullied about their parents’ immigration status.

Art can transcend languages and abilities and calls upon all communities to come together to celebrate, mourn and engage in conversation that facilitates change.

Haven’t seen the piece yet? Be on the lookout for more events at the mural site on Arrowood Rd.

Check out the artists, Red Calaca Studio, Eva Crawford and Matt Moore

SKETCHNOTES! Check out these INSANE sketchnotes created by Lauren “Bambi” Reid — .twilight_ — at last week’s CreativeMornings Charlotte. She did this in 90 minutes as she does every month.

The detail! Just look at the caricatures she does of the people who cross the stage! If you need a sketch artists, we highly recommend Bambi!

OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU!

For creatives of all ages and mediums, we collected these opportunities for YOU! Some are application deadlines, some are workshops and others are vending opportunities. Check them out below:

✅ DUE 9/10- Make a Mark: 12-hour Make-A-Thon
📍Do Greater Charlotte Foundation| Hosted Nov. 12 | Submit at https://www.makeforgoodclt.org/

✅ 2025 Urbie Nominations
📍Charlotte Urban Design Center| DUE 9/12 | Submit at https://charlottenc.seamlessdocs.com/f/8qbdngvy8kwo

✅ Upcoming Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative Classes - Starts 9/15
📍 Do Greater Charlotte Foundation | 6-8 PM (one class is 5-8 PM) | Link in bio to register

✅ 9/15- For Youth By Youth: Think Tank with My Brothers Keeper
📍Do Greater Charlotte Foundation | 6-7:30 PM | RSVP: bit.ly/yifthinktank

✅ VegFest Vendor Opportunities- OPEN NOW!
📍 | Due 9/19 | Apply at

✅ 9/26- Poética – The Creative Exchange
📍 | 7:30 PM | Tickets at

✅ 9/15- Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative 2026 Cohort Applications OPEN!
Application Info Session: 9/17 | Due 10/12 | Click here to learn more: https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/ceiresources/

Send to a creative friend and SUBMIT!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀?⁣
𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙇𝙔 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝘾𝙀𝙄!⁣

Charlotte’s creative energy is undeniable. But in a city built on business, even the most talented creatives need more than passion — they need tools, mentors, and a community to thrive. That’s where the Creative Entrepreneurs Initiative (CEI) comes in.⁣

Applications for the Spring 2026 Cohort open Sept. 15. We’ve got 15 spots — and one of them could be yours.⁣

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗘𝗜:⁣

💡 10 classes on topics like project management, finance, marketing, and contracts⁣

🤝 1-on-1 business consultations & creative mentors⁣

⁣📣 Promotion through Charlotte Is Creative’s media channels⁣

⁣🌱 A supportive alumni network⁣

⁣💵 A $50 stipend for every class you attend⁣

⁣💰 A $1,500 grant at the end to invest directly in your creative business⁣

⁣𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Every creative is a small business. Whether you’re part-time or full-time, CEI gives you the confidence and knowledge to chart a sustainable path forward.⁣

⁣👉 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺! You’re invited to audit 6 of this fall’s CEI classes for FREE — starting Sept. 15 at . The sign-up link for classes is here: https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/cei/

⁣9/15 – Project Management & Budgets⁣
9/22 – Budgeting & Business Finance (ASPIRE)⁣
9/29 – Contracting for Creatives⁣
10/6 – Overcoming Fear & Imposter Syndrome⁣
10/13 – Relationship Building & Communication⁣
10/20 – Marketing & Promotion⁣

⁣📆 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦:⁣

⁣Sept. 15: Applications open⁣
Sept. 17: Online Info Session⁣
Oct. 12: Applications close⁣

⁣🔗The application link goes live on 9/15, but the page is already up: https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/cei/

Don’t wait — seats fill fast, and this is your chance to invest in yourself.⁣

CEI is managed by Charlotte Is Creative and with funds from Wells Fargo, Mecklenburg County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) with support from Aspire Community Capital, Interact Studio and Do Greater, Inc. | DG Creative Labs .⁣

The next CreativeMornings/Charlotte is 9/5! Ticket link in our bio!

REPOST! CreativeMornings Charlotte— What a wonderful, beautiful thing it is to experience this every month:.. to feel like this.. to celebrate creative life like.. with you.

We’ll do it all again — together — on Sept. 5 with the amazing Brian LaFontaine at Project 658 And, we want you in the room with us. Get your ticket right now or free HERE: https://creativemornings.com/talks/brian-lafontaine

📸PHOTO CREDIT: Many, many thanks to the insanely talented photographer Asa Kryst for capturing the true spirit of the room when the unstoppable Davita Galloway spoke to CM/CLT at Johnson C. Smith University in July.

𝗔 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄𝘀 ⁣
On Monday, Aug. 11, artist Carol Z. Hambridge () celebrated the installation of a large, new work of her art at Novant’s Matthews Medical Center ( health).⁣
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Hambridge donated the design to the hospital to celebrate the hospital and 30th anniversary of service to the Matthews community. She created the work to capture the spirit of the facility and the community around it and hopes it will be a comfort to patients, their families and the hospital staff.⁣
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Matthews Medical Center president and CEO, Zack Landry, said the new mural has already become a “moment of beauty and serenity in what otherwise might be a stressful day.”⁣
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Hambridge created the mural — a vinyl photo collage spanning a large wall in the main lobby — from more than 1,000 layers of photographs she took of the hospital, its grounds, and flowers (one of her personal passions) using digital painting and other techniques. Flowers accent the work throughout, from large blossoms in the sky to impressions of flowers rippling in the water or hidden in the foreground. On the edges, Hambridge included photographs of actual trees she found on the hospital grounds.⁣
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The artist was intentional in her use of colors across the piece, each with different meanings:⁣
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💛 Shades of yellow symbolize healing.⁣
🌅 The sky was designed to give the warm, comforting appearance of both sunrise and sunset.⁣
💜 Hints of aubergine represent Novant.⁣
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In her closing remarks, Hambridge, who recently moved to another city, said she was thankful for the opportunity to leave behind “… a greeting card on the wall for everyone who comes here.”⁣
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