Culture Blocks for Creative Individuals in North Carolina

The Arts & Science Council (ASC) of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, a designated Local Arts Agency, serves as a pivotal cultural catalyst for the community, advocating for arts, sciences, and culture to fuel economic growth and support community retention. Through partnerships with public libraries and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation, ASC administers the Culture Blocks program, a Mecklenburg County-funded initiative that provides free, community-shaped cultural programming within historically underserved neighborhoods. Culture Blocks aims to remove access barriers by organizing and funding diverse arts, science, and history experiences delivered in close proximity to where residents live. These programs are hosted at public libraries, recreation centers, parks, and other community spaces, with a focus on neighborhoods in Charlotte and the towns of Cornelius, Huntersville, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville. Eligible programming includes but is not limited to visual arts, dance, music, film, culinary arts, theater, writing, festivals, and multicultural events. The program emphasizes community ownership by requiring all proposals to clearly reflect community feedback collected through ASC-led community gatherings. Applications for the upcoming Culture Blocks cycle open on July 11, 2025, and close on August 18, 2025, at noon EST. Programming must take place between January 1 and June 30, 2026. Funding is provided to cover direct programming costs and may not exceed $20,000 per applicant. Programs that include operating costs, capital purchases, or fundraising components are ineligible. Additionally, applications must be submitted using the Official CB Creative Individuals Budget template, and advertising expenses cannot exceed 10% of the project budget. Content creation costs are capped at $750, and an automatic 15% administrative fee is applied. To ensure equitable access and community alignment, Culture Blocks evaluates applications based on several criteria: feasibility of implementation, alignment with the program’s mission, demonstrated community engagement, and the clarity of the applicant’s marketing strategy. Programs must offer enriching, inclusive, and flexible experiences without requiring prior training or professional credentials from participants. Special attention is paid to equitable program distribution across geographic blocks and the diversity of program types and audiences served. ASC will offer three information sessions—two virtual and one in-person—between July 15 and July 30, 2025. Applicants are also encouraged to submit draft applications and budgets by August 1 for optional review and may schedule a single 15-minute feedback meeting during July and early August. Final notifications regarding application outcomes will be sent by September 30, 2025. Applicants with questions or seeking further guidance should contact the ASC Culture Blocks program at cultureblocks@artsandscience.org.

Submit draft applications for review by August 1 and schedule only one 15-minute feedback session between July 14 and August 6.