Artists with purpose
Artists who want their creative practice to move people and shape a more just world.
Culture Bearer Residency Giving artists the space and opportunity to create with purpose.
The Culture Bearer Residency program uses art as a tool to explore community issues while fostering connection and celebrating authentic cultural expression.
During ten weeks at QC Family Tree, artists receive studio space, mentorship, community partnerships, and the opportunity to develop new work while engaging with neighbors throughout Charlotte. We welcome two cohorts each year, in the Spring and Fall.
Fall 2026
Residency
September 9 – November 20, 2026
Showcase
November 18, 2026 – February 17, 2027
We welcome artists who…
Work in visual art, textiles, photography, installation, writing, performance, sound, or interdisciplinary practice.
Community-minded
People who see culture as a way to build connection, care, and collective power.
Rooted in place
Creators based in or around Charlotte who are invested in the communities that make this place home.
Ready to experiment
Artists who are curious, collaborative, and open to trying something new.
A season of support
Culture Bearers Receive
Support designed to make room for deep, purposeful creative work.
Space to create
Dedicated time and space to focus on your creative practice.
A supportive cohort
A circle of artists and cultural workers to learn and grow alongside.
Resources and guidance
Stipend, mentorship, and practical support to help your work take shape.
A public showcase
A chance to share your work and invite the community into your process.
This residency is designed to
Build Community
Create meaningful relationships and shared experiences across difference.
Celebrate Culture
Honor the stories, traditions, and creative practices that make our communities whole.
Explore Justice
Ask brave questions and imagine a more equitable future through art.
Support Innovation
Give artists room to test ideas, take risks, and make something new.
Culture Bearer Organization-in-Residence
Each summer, QC Family Tree opens our doors to support a cultural organization in need of space. Mixed Metaphors Productions, an immersive theater production company, was in residency for Summer 2026.
Mixed Metaphors Productions disrupts narratives of erasure through immersive theatre, art installation, and new oral histories in Charlotte, NC.
They work to challenge Charlotte’s past, celebrate Charlotte’s present, and imagine a future where every Charlottean is valued.
Making space for culture
A residency is a season of attention, experimentation, and shared possibility.
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