McColl Center

10/06/2026

What does it mean to be a contemporary?

By definition, it’s a person living at the same time as another.

At McColl Center, we think of it a little differently: someone who wants to be part of what artists are making right now.

The Contemporaries is McColl Center’s year-round social circle for those who create, appreciate, and collect contemporary art.

Through artist experiences, conversations, workshops, special access, and off-site adventures, the Contemporaries creates opportunities to spend meaningful time with artists, discover new work, learn about collecting and commissioning, and connect with McColl Center’s global network of artists.

It is also a community of philanthropic supporters helping sustain McColl Center and create meaningful opportunities for artists to develop their practices.

Participation begins at $250 annually, with additional opportunities to engage as a Collector or directly support an artist through Empower Living Artists.

Our next gathering is Collect Well on October 22, an evening exploring the art of collecting, commissioning + supporting artists. Whether you already collect or are simply curious about where to begin, you’re invited to come experience the Contemporaries.

Because the best way to discover art is through the people who create it.

More art. More artists. More connection. More collecting.

https://mccollcenter.org/thecontemporaries

09/17/2026

We are thrilled to partner with SE CLT to welcome Edel Rodriguez to Charlotte this October! More to come.

08/06/2026

This summer, emerging teen artists and aspiring arts administrators in McColl Center's Summer Apprenticeship Program explored the meaning of evolving from their roots and how our origins continue to shape who we become. We invite you to experience their creative journeys in "Roots/Routes" and join us for the opening reception on Saturday, August 8, from 6:00–8:00 PM.

The exhibiting Apprentices developed a wide range of artwork, including everything from national monuments littered along the side of the road to the portrayal of biological organisms. As these teen artists emerged from their prior shells, they discovered the duality of change; loss and growth, the balance between waxing and waning. From all different walks of life, with mediums ranging from paint to metalwork, the artists unearthed varied perspectives on social & cultural evolution.

Behind the scenes, the Arts Administration Apprentices transformed these ideas into a public experience. From developing exhibition plans and marketing materials to coordinating logistics, installation, and opening reception details, they gained hands-on experience in the many facets of producing a contemporary art exhibition.

Together, both cohorts demonstrated that creative evolution extends beyond the making of art to include the collaboration, planning, and leadership required to bring it to life.

McColl Center + Admin Track Apprentices presents Roots/Routes featuring Mya Berkman, Camila Bonilla, Gia Kadar, Tyto Nguyen, Hex Rivas, Ahriel Steadman, and Cannon Turkas. The Admin Track is a collaborative group of creative directors and curators that includes Jess Adam, Lana Hendrix, EJ Jackson. Lin Mace, and Leah Wright.

Join us on Saturday, August 8, 2026 for the opening reception of “Roots/Routes” from 6 - 8 PM. Register via the link in our bio.

“Roots/Routes” will be on view at McColl Center August 8 - 22, 2026. Learn more and register here: https://mccollcenter.org/events/roots-routes

07/14/2026

At McColl Center, we believe that Art Thrives When Artists Do. Now entering its third year, our Exhibition Fellowship has evolved to respond to the needs of our artists. This program reflects our commitment to investing in Charlotte artists by providing time, space, resources, and community they need to grow their practices. We’re excited to invite you to apply!

The Exhibition Fellowship supports six emerging Charlotte-based artists through nine months of dedicated studio space, mentorship, professional development, technical support, a stipend, and a vibrant community of peers and collaborators. The Exhibition Fellowship begins September 26, 2026 and culminates in a group exhibition curated by Carla Aaron-Lopez, opening June 12, 2027.

Applications open July 10, 2026 and close August 3, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Find out more information and apply via mccollcenter.org/fellowship.

This program is generously supported by the Ingrid + John Amols Creative Community Development Fund.

06/26/2026

We are excited to share that by the end of this summer, thirteen high school and college-aged artists will have spent five weeks immersed in McColl Center's Summer Apprenticeship + Internship Programs, working alongside professional artists, developing their practice, and gaining firsthand experience within a professional arts environment.

For many, these experiences arrive at a pivotal moment. A moment when encouragement matters. When access to space, guidance, and community can help transform curiosity into commitment and possibility into purpose.

These programs provide high school and college-aged artists with compensation, private studios, and direct support from working artists. This hands-on experience, mentorship, and immersion in an artist residency environment helps apprentices and interns develop their practice, expand their skills, and explore new possibilities for their future.

At the heart of this work is a simple and powerful belief: artists thrive when they are surrounded by people who believe in them. Through apprenticeships, internships, and mentorship, high-school and college-ages artists are welcomed into a community that spans generations, one built on shared knowledge, artistic exchange, and a belief in supporting those who come next.

As our fiscal year comes to a close, we are grateful for everyone who helps create a place where artists can learn, grow, and find their footing.

With $20,000 in support from the Arts & Science Council, we're already on our way. Now, we're inviting our community to help us raise $20,000 in matching funds by June 30 so we can deepen and extend this work together.

Help the next generation leave its mark.

Donate Now: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fyea2026/?blm_aid=85212

06/22/2026

Help the next generation leave its mark.

This year, McColl Center continued nurturing young artists through our Summer Apprenticeship + Internship Programs. These programs provide high school and college-aged artists with compensation, private studios, and direct support from working artists. This hands-on experience, mentorship, and immersion in an artist residency environment helps apprentices and interns develop their practice, expand their skills, and explore new possibilities for their future.

More than a learning opportunity, the program welcomes artists into a community that spans generations, becoming part of an artistic lineage built on shared knowledge, creative exchange, and mutual support. Throughout the program, apprentices gain insight into both studio practice and the broader arts ecosystem, learning firsthand how artists sustain their work, build careers, and contribute to their communities.

As one cohort completes its journey and another prepares to begin, we are grateful for the community that encourages, empowers, and believes in them. With $20,000 in support from the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (ASC), we're already on our way.

Now, we're inviting our community to help us raise $20,000 in matching funds by June 30 so we can deepen and extend this work together.

Help the next generation leave its mark.

Donate now: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/fyea2026/?blm_aid=60516

06/13/2026

FlopHAUS behind the scenes: 'Je ne t'aime pas ( I don't love you)' by Kurt Weill, sung by Amber Rose @‌amberrosecoloraturasoprano.

FlopHAUS Cabaret: Ballads of a Dark Horse
June 17 -20, Wednesday – Saturday 7:30pm
McColl Center
721 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC

Tickets: McColl Center website (see the link in our bio!) and at the door.

FlopHAUS CABARET is inspired by the famously provocative 'ThreePenny Opera' and the legendary Kurt Weill, Lotte Lenya and Bertholt Brecht.

For this edgy, cabaret style social satire Moving Poets has transformed McColl Center into a cabaret club theater and will take you on a thrilling time travel from the 1920s until today.

Defiantly sharp as Mack the Knife's blade, the dark comedy includes nineteen original and contemporary adaptations of Weill's music such as 'Pimp Ballad ’, 'Moon of Alabama', ' Je ne t'aime pas', and ‘Pirate Jenny’.

In the tradition of the witty yet politically dissonant 'ThreePenny Opera', FlopHAUS Cabaret not only entertains, but cunningly challenges hypocrisy, corruption and moral ambiguity in society - with a sharp sense of humor and a wink and nod “Happy End”.

Expressed through theater, dance, jazz and opera, this multi-media music production is performed by national, regional and Charlotte-based actors, dancers, musicians, and singers.

FlopHAUS Cabaret is a Moving Poets and McColl Center collaboration.

Intended for mature audiences.

06/04/2026

For this edition of Artist Unscripted, we sat down with Spring 2026 Artist-in-Residence Kandy G Lopez to talk about process, persistence, and the evolution of a practice rooted in representation, experimentation, and curiosity.

Originally from New Jersey and raised in South Florida, Lopez reflects on the unexpected path that led her to art - from dance and theater to painting, fibers, printmaking, and beyond. Throughout the conversation, she speaks candidly about learning through experimentation, embracing failure as part of the process, and the importance of continuing to challenge herself across materials and mediums.

Known for her large-scale portraits that elevate Black and Brown subjects through both grandeur and vulnerability, Lopez discusses how her work pushes back against historical depictions of marginalized bodies while creating space for humanity, dignity, and power. What began as painting eventually expanded into fiber-based works almost accidentally - through material experiments, motherhood, and a desire to keep learning.

Lopez continued that spirit of exploration at McColl Center, experimenting across studios and processes while developing new work in fiber, painting, and print. At the core of the conversation is a belief that art is less about innate talent and more about commitment: showing up consistently, staying curious, and allowing yourself to evolve.

As Lopez shares near the end of the conversation: “Once you understand where you go wrong, you understand how to get to the next thing.”

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About the series:

Artist Unscripted is a new video series that invites you into artists’ studios for relaxed, candid conversations. Each episode features a sit-down between an artist and our Marketing Director, Makeia Carrier, offering an unscripted look at process, practice, and the realities of making art work.

For this edition of Artist Unscripted, we sat down with Spring 2026...

05/01/2026

Applications are now open for McColl Center’s Summer 2026 Apprenticeship Program!

Designed for aspiring artists who are rising juniors, seniors, and recent high school graduates ready to step into the arts, this paid, five-week program (July 6 – August 8) offers hands-on experience, mentorship, and real-world insight into creative careers.

We offer two tracks:

1. Studio Artist Track – develop your own work, access professional studios, and work alongside Artists-in-Residence

2. New Professional Track – learn exhibition planning, art handling, marketing, and how arts organizations operate

All apprentices will collaborate as one cohort, connect with working artists, visit cultural spaces across Charlotte, and contribute to a final exhibition.

Apprentices are required to attend weekly, Mon–Thurs, 10 AM–3 PM (on-site), and will receive a $1200 stipend. Transportation support available.

Application Deadline: 11:59 PM on May 31
Notification: June 12

Learn more about this opportunity and apply here: https://mccollcenter.org/programs/summer-apprenticeship