Often the educators who make the greatest impact in our lives do so not only through classroom instruction, but through the ways they inspire students to become all they are meant to be.
Like a painter with a brush or a sculptor with clay, educators use creativity to develop something bigger than any single lesson, performance, or project: they create spaces of learning, optimism, and hope.
At the Arts & Science Council, we believe integrating the arts, sciences, and history into a wide range of subjects and experiential learning opportunities is essential to nurturing the next generation of artists, leaders, and community members.
In that spirit, ASC is now accepting nominations for the 2026 CATO Excellence in Teaching and CATO Lifetime Achievement in Teaching awards.
Each year, ASC invites public nominations for exceptionally creative classroom teachers who have distinguished themselves in teaching the arts, sciences, or history, either as core disciplines or across the general curriculum more broadly.
Six recipients of the CATO Excellence in Teaching Awards will receive $1,500, presented through the support of ASC’s CATO Excellence in Teaching Endowment.
In addition to the annual award, nominations are also open for the CATO Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Awards, which are presented every three years to recognize exceptionally creative teachers with a distinguished career of more than 15 years teaching the arts, sciences, or history, or who have demonstrated creative infusion of the arts, sciences, or history into the core curriculum.
Three $5,000 awards will be presented to Lifetime Achievement recipients, made possible through the support of ASC’s CATO Excellence in Teaching Endowment.
Teachers, principals, school administrators, parents, students, or other community members may nominate teachers for consideration. Teachers may also self-nominate.
Nominations for both awards are due by 11:59pm on February 27th. Awardees will be announced in early spring.
To be eligible for either award, teachers must be currently employed, or have retired within the last two years, from a public or independent Pre-K through 12th grade school in one of the following counties: Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, or Union in North Carolina, or Lancaster or York in South Carolina.
For more information about the ASC CATO Excellence in Teaching Awards, email Ashley Lam, Arts & Education Partnerships Program Officer at Ashley.Lam@artsandscience.org.
This award celebrates exceptionally creative classroom teachers who have distinguished themselves in teaching the Arts, Sciences or History or who have demonstrated creative infusion of the Arts, Sciences or History into the core curriculum
This award recognizes exceptionally creative teachers who have a distinguished career of more than 15 years teaching the arts, sciences or history or who have demonstrated creative infusion of the Arts, Sciences or History into the core curriculum.
Description | About Foundation For The Carolinas
OUR MISSION | REMARKABLE IMPACT
Remarkable impact is the heart of Foundation For The Carolinas’ mission, and the driving force behind our mission is the collective impact of thousands of nonprofits, families, companies, and organizations who partner with us to amplify the power of giving.
A supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas, the Arts & Science Council (ASC) is a nonprofit organization committed to creating a vibrant cultural ecosystem in Charlotte-Mecklenburg through investment in arts, science, and history. As a catalyst for cultural growth, ASC empowers local creatives, supports innovative programming, and enhances community engagement.
HOW YOU’LL ADVANCE OUR MISSION | POSITION OVERVIEW
The Individual Giving Officer will lead ASC’s individual giving strategy and execution, with a primary focus on donor acquisition and re-engagement, relationship-based fundraising and disciplined prospect management. This role will manage a portfolio of donors and prospects and develop a fundraising plan to increase philanthropic support in support of ASC’s mission.
Reporting to the Vice President of Advancement, this dynamic leader will build relationships, drive donor engagement and align development initiatives with ASC’s goals to create a vibrant cultural ecosystem in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. This position requires a dynamic leader who is passionate about arts, science, and culture and skilled in relationship building, strategy development and donor engagement.
YOUR UNIQUE IMPACT | ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR SUCCESS: QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred Skills
Apply HERE.
Every day, on average, about 160,000 people pass through Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
And close to 70% of those passengers see nothing more of the Queen City than the inside of our airport, which Lauri Golden calls “the portal to our city for the millions who are here just long enough to make a connecting flight.”
Golden, who’s worked at the airport since 2007, is CLT’s customer engagement manager. She and her team aim to ensure that travelers — even those who are here for a short time — come away with a positive impression.
“When you’re in an airport, you’re generally trying to get from one plane to the next,” Golden said. “You may have just 20 minutes. You may have two hours. You may have all day.”
No matter how long or short your duration inside CLT, Golden wants it to be a good experience, and public art is a big contributor to that. That’s where ASC comes in.
“Charlotte-Douglas has an amazing art program, thanks to the city of Charlotte’s 1% percent for art ordinance,” said Todd Stewart who, along with his team, manages that program while working closely with Golden. (Stewart was referring to the Mecklenburg County Commissioners and the Charlotte City Council ordinances that appropriate 1% of eligible capital improvement project funds for public art.)
“With each capital improvement project,” he said, “my team asks: How can we integrate the artwork so that it feels like part of the built environment rather than something tacked on?”
The art installed at the airport (see it on CLT’s website here) has to do some heavy lifting.
Not only is it designed to spark joy in weary travelers; it’s also got to leave a powerful first impression of Charlotte. Stewart said, “The airport is many people’s first impression of the city. For travelers just connecting here, the airport gives them a glimpse of our culture.”
Improvements are being made to the airport all the time. Unlike other construction projects that are, sooner or later, finished, construction at the airport seems eternal. (There’s even a page on the airport’s website devoted just to construction.)
“If you’ve lived in Charlotte for any amount of time, you’ve experienced the ongoing construction at our airport,” Golden said. “We’re always working to enhance the airport experience, and we know construction is a pain point for visitors.”
Golden and her team try to minimize the impact construction has on visitors.
When construction alters pathways frequent flyers know well, for instance, airport staff will work all hours to help guide people. Golden said, “I’ll never forget working an early shift, and a woman walking past me at about 5 a.m. and saying, ‘I came early just to see the new art.’”
ASC led the public art planning and artist selection process for the terminal lobby expansion — the largest capital improvement program in airport history.
What’s known as the “pre-security lobby” — which includes everything before the TSA check — has been expanded into one massive, but unified, space. The project began in 2019 and was just completed in September 2025, with the final artwork placed in January 2026. During those years, 8 works were selected, completed and installed.
Artwork elsewhere in CLT is seen by only the people headed for that particular terminal. But art in the pre-security lobby has the potential to be seen by everyone who comes to the airport. That’s an honor — and an opportunity — for artists.
“These are very competitive commissions,” Stewart said. “CLT is such an amazing venue given the thousands of people who travel through it daily.”
Artists are given creative license in proposing work for the airport, although Stewart asks them to consider the site.
“The task I give every artist,” he said, “is to think about being as specific to the site as possible. Some look outside the walls of the airport … to let travelers glean a little bit about Charlotte as a region. Others depict what happens within the airport walls. And some speak to flight and travel, and they all do that in beautiful ways.”
For instance:
Additional projects (pictured below) recently completed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport include an artwork that invites visitors to direct their gaze to the skies, or at least the clerestory ceiling Concourse A. Weightless Monument, Benjamin Ball‘s 90-foot suspension of stainless steel ball chain, gently sways and dances with the soft glow of nearby windows.
At Domestic Arrivals, airport visitors are treated to the work of Nigerian-born, Brooklyn-based artist Olalekan “LEk” Jeyifous.‘ His creation, Nurture and Nature, an engaging collection of boldly hued geometric patterns is representative of Charlotte’s diverse and growing business industries and regional, native flora and fauna. Known for addressing social themes through his art, Jeyifous says this piece does more than just “solve spatial challenges,” as he told the Airport.
Just because the terminal lobby project has been completed doesn’t mean construction at the airport has stopped. Or that the last art installation has been placed.
The modernization of Concourse D, a major hub for international travel, began in early 2025 and will be completed later this year. Look for new seating with charging stations, refreshed restrooms, updated lighting and improved traffic flow.
The art in CLT contributes mightily to Charlotte’s status as North Carolina’s public art powerhouse. But it also has the potential to elevate Charlotte in the minds of travelers just passing through.
On a recent trip to New York, Stewart flew into LaGuardia, which Forbes named the country’s best airport in 2024 and 2025. Looking at the art, he thought CLT really measured up. “I would put us on the same level when it comes to the amount of forethought, planning and integration of our works into the airport,” he said. “I think we’re leaders in that regard.”
Learn more about public art on ASC’s website, artsandscience.org and see photos of some of the works ASC has helped bring to life.
And consider “Becoming a Dream Maker,” and give to ASC. When you support the Arts & Science Council, you help Charlotte-Mecklenburg serve as North Carolina’s public art powerhouse.
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural leader, serving as a resource hub, funder, and advocate for arts, science, and history.
A supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas, ASC champions local creatives by investing in the arts, sciences, and culture to drive economic growth, community retention, and cultural engagement.
Our mission is to build inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich communities where creativity drives belonging, growth, and opportunity. From artist support grants and public art stewardship to free Culture Blocks events and partnerships with local schools and universities, ASC invests in a thriving, accessible creative ecosystem for all.
Position: Blume Studios Operations Manager
Job Type: Full Time
Offer Range: $65,200 – $89,700
Apply Here.
Are you looking to make a lasting impact on enriching and improving the lives of the Charlotte community with one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations? At Blumenthal Arts, we believe arts unite and transform lives. By joining our team, you could help continue our mission, inspire the next generation, and be part of our evolution as a national leader with a growing international reputation in presenting and producing.
The Blume Studios Operations Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of Blume Studios. This role serves as the central operational lead for immersive experiences, community events, rentals, and Blumenthal-produced programs, with responsibility for event operations, staffing, facilities, budgets, and guest services. Working closely with internal departments and external producers and clients, the Manager coordinates resources, schedules, and services to deliver events on time and on budget in a fast-paced, live-event environment. The position provides direct leadership to key operational staff and serves as the primary on-site decision-maker during events. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is required as needed to support events and venue operations. To learn more about Blume Studios and its recent programming visit Blume Studios | Blumenthal Arts.
Your impact:
Operations and Leadership
Event and Experience Management
Facilities and Venue Oversight
Who We Are:
For 31 years, Blumenthal Arts has been presenting the best of Broadway which has established us as a top-ten touring market. Along with hosting and investing in Tony Award-winning Broadway, we shape the future of arts through new and original works we help produce and by nurturing artists. We support local artists, like our award-winning Slam Charlotte poets, Blumenthal Fellows, and 16 resident companies that share our stages. We present the Charlotte International Arts Festival and innovate with cutting edge immersive projects. We infuse more than $80 million annually into our local economy and ensure access through our Arts For All Access Grants, which serve thousands of individuals each year with free and subsidized tickets and programs.
We are a diverse team of leaders, innovators, transformers, and collaborators who believe in the inspirational and uniting spirit of the arts. Our mission to use the arts as a catalyst for education,
community connectedness, and economic growth drives our work. Our team infuses skills from various backgrounds and industries to continue to provide art excellence to the Charlotte community.
Why Join Us:
We prioritize our employees’ well-being by offering a comprehensive benefits package that not only includes competitive compensation but also emphasizes work-life balance. Our employee-forward approach fosters an environment where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.
Our benefits package includes:
Skills You’ll Bring:
Physical Requirements:
Position: Music Instructor – Early Childhood Musi
Status: Contract Faculty
Reports to: Director of Music Programs
Weekly Hours: Approximately 5-10 hours, with option to increase hours, during school hours
Hourly Rate: $55.00 / Instructional Hour; additional curriculum writing stipend
About Arts+ (Arts Plus)
Founded in 1969, Arts+ is a music and visual art nonprofit organization that envisions the transformative impact of arts education illuminating every corner of the Charlotte region. Its goal is to make outstanding arts education available to students of all ages, skill levels, and socioeconomic backgrounds. From private lessons to summer camps to community outreach programs, Arts+ strives to help each student unlock their full potential through the power of arts education.
Position Summary
Teach music programs for early childhood music classes (ages 0-5 years old) through our Music Around and ArtsReach programs. Option to also teach private lessons for students on applicable instruments of expertise.
Duties and Responsibilities
Tentative Teaching Hours
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Minimum Qualifications:
To Apply · Please submit resume and references to Wes Smith, Director of Music Programs, at wsmith@artsplus.org. Include “Early Childhood Music Instructor” in the subject line.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is our policy to abide by all federal, state and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination based solely on a person’s race, color, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, pregnancy, physical disability, mental disability, age, military status or status as a Vietnam-era or special disabled veteran, marital status, registered domestic partner status, gender (including sex stereotyping), medical condition (including but not limited to, cancer related or HIV/AIDS related), sexual orientation, or any other protected status except where a reasonable, bona fide occupational qualification exists.
A new year means new possibilities for Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s creative community, and ASC is proud to kick off 2026 with three major grant opportunities for artists, creatives, nonprofits, and neighborhood partners.
Whether you’re seeking space, funding, renewal, or a platform to connect with local audiences, ASC has a path for you.
Read on, get your calendar ready, and start planning your application!
Culture Blocks for Creative Individuals Applications open January 5 – February 1, 2026
First Info Session: January 8 | Click here for a full list of info sessions!
Culture Blocks invests directly in artists and creatives whose programming strengthens communities across Mecklenburg County.
This call is specifically for Creative Individuals producing programming between July 1 – December 31, 2026 in Culture Blocks neighborhoods.
Culture Blocks presents FREE arts, science, and history experiences close to where residents live. Eligible project types include:
Guidelines are already available; applicants can begin preparing now.
Get Started: Culture Blocks Application Details
Emerging Creators & Creative Renewal Fellowships Applications open January 20 – February 22, 2026
First Info Session: January 22 | Click here for the full list of info sessions!
ASC’s signature fellowships return in 2026 to provide time, space, and support for artists at pivotal moments in their creative journeys.
Emerging Creators Fellowship
Creative Renewal Fellowship
More Details: Emerging Creator Fellowship
More Details: Creative Renewal Fellowship


Venue Access Grants Applications open January 14, 2026 (rolling application cycle)
First Info Session: January 13 | Click here for a full list of info sessions!
Priority Deadline: February 11 at noon
Notifications for Round 1: March 11
Access to space shouldn’t be a barrier to creativity. ASC’s new Venue Access Grants help cover the cost of renting venues for performances, exhibitions, rehearsals, community programs, and more.
For Nonprofits (501c3 organizations based in Mecklenburg County):
For Creative Individuals (living or working in Mecklenburg County):
Guidelines + application pages are already live on our website!
Questions? Contact grants@artsandscience.org


Start the New Year with ASC, and let your creativity take flight!
With fellowships, venue support, and community program funding all opening this January, there has never been a better time to bring your creative vision to life.
Follow ASC for reminders, info sessions, and tips.
Ask questions, dream big, and let’s make 2026 a year of creative possibilities across Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural leader, serving as a resource hub, funder, and advocate for arts, science, and history.
A supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas, ASC champions local creatives by investing in the arts, sciences, and culture to drive economic growth, community retention, and cultural engagement.
Our mission is to build inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich communities where creativity drives belonging, growth, and opportunity. From artist support grants and public art stewardship to free Culture Blocks events and partnerships with local schools and universities, ASC invests in a thriving, accessible creative ecosystem for all.
Position: Customer Service Representative
Job Type: Part Time
Pay Rate: $15/hour
Are you looking to make a lasting impact on enriching and improving the lives of the Charlotte community with one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit organizations? At Blumenthal Arts, we believe arts unite and transform lives. By joining our team, you could help continue our mission, inspire the next generation, and be part of our evolution as a national leader with a growing international reputation in presenting and producing.
Blumenthal Arts seeks a Customer Service Representative to provide exceptional service to patrons across phone, email, online chat, and in-person interactions. This role is responsible for assisting with ticket sales, handling inquiries, resolving concerns, and supporting various team projects to ensure a smooth and positive patron experience. Candidates should thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate strong communication skills, and maintain accuracy when handling transactions and sensitive information. Evening and weekend availability is required.
Your impact:
Who We Are:
For 31 years, Blumenthal Arts has been presenting the best of Broadway which has established us as a top-ten touring market. Along with hosting and investing in Tony Award-winning Broadway, we shape the future of arts through new and original works we help produce and by nurturing artists. We support local artists, like our award-winning Slam Charlotte poets, Blumenthal Fellows, and 16 resident companies that share our stages. We present the Charlotte International Arts Festival and innovate with cutting edge immersive projects. We infuse more than $80 million annually into our local economy and ensure access through our Arts For All Access Grants, which serve thousands of individuals each year with free and subsidized tickets and programs.
We are a diverse team of leaders, innovators, transformers, and collaborators who believe in the inspirational and uniting spirit of the arts. Our mission to use the arts as a catalyst for education, community connectedness, and economic growth drives our work. Our team infuses skills from various backgrounds and industries to continue to provide art excellence to the Charlotte community.
Why Join Us:
We prioritize our employees’ well-being by offering a comprehensive benefits package that not only includes competitive compensation but also emphasizes work-life balance. Our employee-forward approach fosters an environment where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.
Our benefits package includes:
Skills You’ll Bring:
Part Time Executive Director
Employer: Carolina Voices
Location: Charlotte, NC (no relocation)
Salary: Part Time (30 hours/week minimum) $35K-39K annually
Job Details
Company Description
Carolina Voices has been giving voice to the human experience for more than 70 years. Known first and foremost for The Singing Christmas Tree, Carolina Voices has grown from modest beginnings into a choral arts organization embracing three vocal ensembles and performing a variety of music that is unequaled in the Charlotte community.
During each season, Carolina Voices’ ensembles: Mainstage, Impromptu and Festival Singers produce concerts, workshops, educational opportunities and special events which touch thousands of adults and children in the diverse Charlotte area.
Carolina Voices’ volunteers sing to enrich, educate and unite. We strive to be a catalyst for collaboration to bring diverse communities together through song. Find out more about us on our website: www.carolinavoices.org
Job Description
The Executive Director will be responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, and operational management of the organization. This includes fundraising, program oversight, financial stewardship, staff and volunteer management, and community engagement. The Executive Director will serve as the most senior position within the organization, providing oversight and direction to all other employees and contractors of CV.
As Executive Director, your responsibilities include:
Leadership & Strategy
Fundraising & Development
Operations & Finance
Program Oversight
Qualifications
Questions about this role can be directed to Sue Wheldon, Board Chair, at swheldon@carolinavoices.org
To Apply: Please send resume, cover letter and references to swheldon@carolinavoices.org
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
School Show Assistant (Part-Time, Seasonal)
Charlotte, NC • Development Department
We create exceptional theatre experiences, inspiring generations to explore the wonder of their world.
If you’re energetic, fast on your feet, quick to comprehend and problem solve, have great communication and organizational skills, and enjoy working with school students and teachers, you could be a good fit for Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and our School Show Team.
WHAT WE DO…
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (CTC) is proud to be an organization where a dynamic mix of talented, committed, and enthusiastic people gather to do their best work. As we inspire generations to explore the wonder of our world, we desire to see the unique and amazing, expanding tapestry of this world and community reflected in all our programming, behind the scenes, and in our team members, board and volunteers.
CTC has grown to become a national leader in professional Theatre for Young Audiences and is recognized for the breadth and strength of its programs. We are dedicated to creating vibrant and engaging professional theatre experiences on the stage and in the classroom.
WHAT YOU’LL DO…
When busloads of students, teachers and chaperones arrive at our doorstep for a school show, you are the face of Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. You are often the first person to greet our young audiences as they step off the bus and into ImaginOn. As a confident, personable, organized, reliable, proactive, and kind individual, you provide excellent customer service and support to our valued school partners. You work closely with the School Group Sales & Performance Coordinator to communicate key information to schools prior to their scheduled field trips. You are a key member of the School Show Team working in collaboration with Front of House staff, and Library staff to guarantee a seamless, excellent performance experience from arrival through departure. More specifically you will:
Day of Show Duties
Administrative Responsibilities
Schedule, Compensation, Training
YOU ARE IDEAL FOR THIS ROLE IF …
JOB PERKS AND UNEXPECTED BENEFITS
APPLICATION PROCESS: Click the “Work with Us” link to apply.
Each year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, nonprofits across the country come together to inspire people to support the causes they care about. Instead of focusing only on spending, Giving Tuesday is a time to pause, give back, and help strengthen our communities.
Philanthropy helps fuel the remarkable impact of the arts and cultural sectors, and the Arts and Science Council is committed to serving as a beloved community partner in these efforts.
And now, we need your help.
This Giving Tuesday, ASC invites you to join us in our mission to help us build a more inclusive, sustainable, and connected cultural community. As Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s local arts agency, we believe that the arts, sciences, and history create a sense of belonging for all residents.
Just as residents can rely on ASC for accessible programming, artists and creatives across Charlotte-Mecklenburg can trust that, as their local arts agency, the Arts & Science Council is committed to investing in the region’s creative ecosystem.
Much of ASC’s programmatic funding comes from city, county, and state support, which we are proud to steward on behalf of the community.
However, private donations make it possible for us to fuel programs and initiatives that public funding alone cannot support.
Private contributions sustain and enhance the work that keeps ASC strong and responsive to emerging cultural needs in our region. Your support helps ASC connect artists with opportunities, invest in emerging leaders, engage volunteers, and produce innovative events such as Midnight Marathon, our premier performance-art fundraiser.
This year, you have the unique opportunity to become a dream maker and support the creative visions that drive our region’s cultural growth. Your gift ensures ASC can continue nurturing a vibrant, inclusive, creative ecosystem for Charlotte-Mecklenburg.
On Giving Tuesday (December 2nd), support the Arts & Science Council and help our community remain a regional arts powerhouse.
Click here to become a dream maker, and help fuel Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s creative heartbeat.
The Arts & Science Council (ASC) is Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s cultural leader, serving as a resource hub, funder, and advocate for arts, science, and history.
A supporting organization of Foundation For The Carolinas, ASC champions local creatives by investing in the arts, sciences, and culture to drive economic growth, community retention, and cultural engagement.
Our mission is to build inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich communities where creativity drives belonging, growth, and opportunity. From artist support grants and public art stewardship to free Culture Blocks events and partnerships with local schools and universities, ASC invests in a thriving, accessible creative ecosystem for all.