City Announces Winners of Creative Spaces Initiative Grants

Published on November 14, 2024

A young woman looks back at the camera while painting her next masterpiece on the easel in front of her.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Nov. 12, 2024) – The City of Charlotte has selected recipients of its Creative Spaces Initiative grants, which are dedicated to increasing access to the arts in Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity by supporting the conversion of vacant spaces into affordable, permanent workspaces for creative entrepreneurs.

The 2024 Creative Spaces Initiative grant winners are:

  • Rebrand Collective LLC in the Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry Corridor
  • Do Greater Foundation, Inc. in the Freedom/Wilkinson Corridor
  • Three Bone Theatre in the Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry Corridor
  • YMCA of Greater Charlotte in the Albemarle/Central Corridor
  • Dear Soul Music Company in the Freedom/Wilkinson Corridor

“This initiative represents a partnership between the City of Charlotte’s Corridors of Opportunity Program, local creatives, property owners, and the community,” said Erin Gillespie, executive program manager for Corridors of Opportunity. “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!”

Grantees were selected based on several criteria, including:

  • Location of the project within each corridor.
  • Financial stability.
  • Readiness to begin the project by the end of 2024.
  • Impact of project on the broader community. 

The evaluation also considered the applicant’s experience, the appropriateness of the space for its intended use, and the compliance with various zoning and building codes. Only projects that contributed to permanent creative spaces were eligible. 

These projects, spread across Charlotte’s corridors, showcase the varied voices and talents within the community and ensure that creative spaces will be as inclusive as the artists and audiences they serve.

The city distributed $532,724 in grant funding. The spaces are set to open in early 2025. 

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