The Arts & Science Council (a Knight Arts grantee) is transforming our city through its creative and innovative programming. Some Charlotteans may not realize the magnitude of what this organization is doing in their own backyard. Or, they know them by name but not really what they do. As we head into the National spotlight, it’s exciting to note and celebrate a sampling of the incredible work of our Arts & Science Council (ASC).

Arts & Science Council has always done significant work for our city, but as the times have changed, it has, too. It is all about joint ownership and creative approaches that not only build on past victories but embrace new technology and behaviors.

Teaming up with Knight Foundation,  Arts & Science Council created a new online micro-giving program in which individuals can give any amount to a very specific project of an arts, history or science organization. power2give.org was created to address the changing trends in philanthropic giving and has now been launched in other cities as well.

Arts & Science Council believes in and integrates research and planning into its strategic vision. Whether through private sessions with city leaders or a recent online survey for everyone in the community, it invites feedback about what is and is not working as well as ideas for the future.

Traditionally, arts councils have been distributors for funding in the form of grants and operating support to both individuals and organizations.  Arts & Science Council continues this tradition while improving on it. One example is the “Regional Artist Project Grant” which originally was up to $5,000 for an individual artist, depending on whether they were emerging or established.

In this latest fall 2011 grant cycle, Arts & Science Council revamped the program to make its funding dollars stretch further. Among the changes, the grant amount was less, but this meant it could support more artists’ projects. The application, itself — often a stumbling block for artists — was also simplified.

Arts & Science Council has many partnerships with other organizations, large and small. In addition to direct funding, it offers a wide variety of training for both individual artists and the people behind organizations, whether staff, board members or other volunteers.

Arts & Science Council consistently provides business training — like the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute — for artists who are notoriously bad with that part of their profession. In addition, it works with a number of emerging community leaders through different programs like the Cultural Leadership Training Class.

For the Charlotte community at-large, it provides the Charlotte Culture Guide. This free, online cultural resource gives everyone access to events and activities happening around town.

One of the creative ways  Arts & Science Council responded to the funding cuts in our public schools is by partnering with DonorsChoose.org to support arts and cultural projects in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. When donors chose to contribute to these arts, science and history-based projects submitted by Charlotte-Mecklenburg School teachers,  Arts & Science Council doubled each gift by providing a dollar-for-dollar match, as long as funds remained available.

These are just a few examples of how our Arts & Science Council is definitely shaping a vibrant cultural life for all.

Arts & Science Council Power2give.org Charlotte Culture Guide

[Please note that Carmella Jarvi has received funding through Arts & Science Council.]