McColl Center for Art Innovation

STUDIOS, CO-OP, + LABSTHE STUDIOS AT MCCOLL CENTER IS A STUDIO RENTAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO BUILD A CREATIVE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT EMERGING LOCAL ARTISTS IN THE REGION. OUR STUDIOS ARE AVAILABLE FOR RENT BY ARTISTS AT SUBSIDIZED RATES, WHILE OFFERING ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNAL LABS FOR PRINTMAKING, 3D PRINTING AND LASER CUTTING, DIGITAL MEDIA, CERAMICS, WOODWORKING, AND SCULPTURE FABRICATION. ARTIST STUDIOS AT MCCOLL CENTER MAINTAIN A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC EVENTS, SHARE THEIR PRACTICES AND IDEAS, AND ENRICH FELLOW ARTISTS BOTH WITHIN THE BUILDING AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.THE CO-OP PROGRAM IS AN ADDITIONAL WAY TO OFFER TANGIBLE, DIRECT OPTIONS THAT EMPOWER ARTISTS AND CREATIVES TO THRIVE BY OPENING FLEXIBLE ACCESS TO MCCOLL CENTER LABS, TOOLS, SPACE AND RESOURCES. OUR CO-OP PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO GIVE LOCAL ARTISTS ACCESS TO OUR FACILITIES AND JOIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE LOOKED FOR ARTISTS WHO RECEIVED A GRANT AND NEEDED FACILITIES AND SPACE TO CREATE THE WORK, WERE EXPANDING THEIR CURRENT CONCEPT IN SCALE OR MEDIUM, NEEDED TEMPORARY ACCESS TO OUR LABS TO CREATE NEW WORK OR DEVELOP AN IDEA, AND WERE PROFICIENT IN THEIR CHOSEN MEDIUM BUT WANTED TO HAVE ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT LIKE A LARGER PRINTING PRESS OR TABLE SAW TO WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY OR TRY OUT BEFORE THEY PURCHASE ONE FOR THEIR OWN STUDIO.MCCOLL CENTERS CO-OP PROGRAM GIVES CHARLOTTE ARTISTS ACCESS TO OUR COMMUNAL LABS FROM A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS WITH 24/7 ACCESS. UNLIKE OUR STUDIO RENTAL PROGRAM, THIS DOES NOT REQUIRE A YEAR-LONG LEASE. THE MCCOLL CENTER IS EQUIPPED WITH A WOODSHOP, CERAMIC LAB, METAL LAB, MEDIA LAB, PRINTMAKING LAB, AND A 3D PRINTING AND LASER CUTTING LAB ALONG WITH VARIOUS TOOLS

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTCREATIVITY CAMPS (JULY-AUGUST 2024, JUNE 2025) ARE A SERIES OF WEEK-LONG, FULL DAY ART CAMPS DESIGNED FOR YOUNG ARTISTS TO SPARK IMAGINATION, ENCOURAGE SELF-DISCOVERY, AND MAKE LIFELONG CONNECTIONS TO MANY EXPRESSIONS OF ART. CAMPS INCLUDED CERAMICS, DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION, MIXED MEDIA, FASHION, SCULPTURE, PRINTMAKING, DRAWING, AND PAINTING.YOUNG ARTIST STUDIO SERIES (6-WEEK SERIES) IS DESIGNED FOR YOUNG ARTISTS IN GRADES 2ND THROUGH 8TH WHO WANT TO DELVE INTO AND MASTER THE BASICS OF A SPECIFIC MEDIUM. PARTICIPANTS CHOSE FROM SEVERAL EXCITING COURSES: FASHION, DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION AND CERAMIC SCULPTURE. TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDED STUDENTS THROUGH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THEIR CHOSEN MEDIUM; FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND ENCOURAGING EXPLORATION.ADULT ARTIST STUDIO SERIES (6-WEEK SERIES) IS FOR ARTISTS OF ANY SKILL LEVEL WHO WANT TO LEARN NEW TECHNIQUES AND EXPAND THEIR PRACTICE. WHETHER THEY ARE JUST BEGINNING THEIR JOURNEY OR LOOKING TO TRY A NEW MEDIUM, OUR TEACHING ARTISTS GUIDED THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS AND HELPED THEM MAKE IT THEIR OWN. RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS OR A FINISHED PRODUCT, THESE CLASSES HELPED ARTISTS APPLY NEW SKILLS TO PLAY AND TAKE RISKS AND CREATE WORK IN THEIR OWN VOICE. WE HELD 14 ARTIST STUDIO SERIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.BEYOND THE STUDIO SERIES (2 WORKSHOPS) EXPLORED EVERYTHING AN ARTIST NEEDS TO KNOW BEYOND MAKING ART TO GROW AND EXPAND THEIR PRACTICE. ONE WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON SPREADSHEETS AND ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS FOR ARTISTS, INCLUDING DATA MANAGEMENT FOR COLLECTORS, ARCHIVES, AND FINANCES. THE OTHER WORKSHOP FEATURED AN ARTIST WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND SHARED INSIGHT ON LICENSING ARTWORK, NAVIGATING DESIGN-BASED MARKETS, AND EXPANDING AUDIENCES. THESE WORKSHOPS WERE LED BY ART PROFESSIONALS WHO GUIDED PARTICIPANTS THROUGH THE MANY PATHWAYS OF A CREATIVE CAREER. MCCOLL CENTER AIMED TO HELP ARTISTS CLARIFY WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO THEM AND SUPPORT THEM IN BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE, LONG-TERM PRACTICE.EACH ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PARTICIPATED IN A UNIQUE AND INTENTIONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY, FULFILLING OUR MISSION TO SPARK CREATIVE, RELEVANT, AND ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCES FOR AN ENGAGED PUBLIC. PROGRAMING INCLUDED A RANGE OF WORKSHOPS, ARTIST TALKS, OPEN STUDIOS, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES THAT CONNECTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY WITH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS AND THEIR PRACTICES.MCCOLL CENTER ALSO HOSTED EIGHT FAMILY DAYS, EACH FEATURING HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES INSPIRED BY THE EXHIBITIONS AND ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE ON VIEW. THESE FREE, MULTIGENERATIONAL EVENTS INVITED TODDLERS, TEENS, AND ADULTS TO CREATE ARTWORKS TOGETHER AND EXPLORE THE GALLERIES THROUGH ACCESSIBLE, FAMILY-FRIENDLY PROGRAMMING.WORKSHOPS INCLUDED SENSORY-INCLUSIVE TEXTILE DYEING WITH RECLAIMED MATERIALS; COLLABORATIVE ART-MAKING EXPLORING NATURE AND CULTURE; TRANSFORMING BATTERY-OPERATED TOYS INTO KINETIC SCULPTURES; AN INTRODUCTION TO WEAVING; A TEEN ZINE WORKSHOP USING HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY IMAGERY OF CHARLOTTE; A SESSION ON RESTARTING AND SUSTAINING AN ART PRACTICE; A MASTER-LEVEL PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP; AND AN ALL-AGES FRANKENSTUFFIES WORKSHOP WHERE PARTICIPANTS DECONSTRUCTED AND REASSEMBLED SOFT TOYS TO CREATE NEW, ORIGINAL CREATURES. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDED MULTIPLE ENTRY POINTS INTO CONTEMPORARY ART AND OFFERED PARTICIPANTS DIRECT INSIGHT INTO ARTISTS PROCESSES.MCCOLL CENTER ALSO HOSTED NINE ARTIST TALKS, INCLUDING THREE SETS FEATURING THE ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE AND ADDITIONAL TALKS FOR EACH EXHIBITION, WITH TWO OFFERED VIRTUALLY TO EXPAND ACCESS.THE CENTER PRESENTED TWO OPEN STUDIO SATURDAYS AND A STUDIO SOCIAL EVENING EVENT, PROVIDING FREE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO VISIT STUDIOS, LEARN ABOUT WORK IN PROGRESS, AND ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE ARTISTS.A YOGA WORKSHOP OFFERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ONE EXHIBITION WAS PROVIDED AT A BELOW-MARKET, ACCESSIBLE RATE TO ENCOURAGE BROADER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.THE WINTER ART MARKET FEATURED FIFTEEN CHARLOTTE-BASED ARTISTS PRESENTING AFFORDABLE SMALL-SCALE FINE ART, SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS AND INCREASING COMMUNITY ACCESS TO ORIGINAL WORK.