2025 Black Carolina Artist Residency: Community Projects

As a part of the Gantt’s Black Carolina Initiative, The five 2025 Black Carolina Artists-in-Residents will have a series of community events around the city of Charlotte and beyond. These programs focus on the Gantt’s mission and are completely created and managed by our 2025 cohort, as a part of their residency experience. Learn more about their projects and how to support their great work below, by attending any of these free events!

Program Lineup

William Jenkins (Sir Will) - The Brilliant Legacy Project
Friday, May 30 & Wednesday, June 4
Location: 2400 Greenland Ave, Charlotte, NC 28208

"The Brilliant Legacy Project" is a visual storytelling series that explores how we show up in the world through personal style, cultural identity, and the adornments we choose to wear. This project brings together Black and Brown communities across backgrounds to reflect on the power of self-expression, and the moments we realize how the world sees us versus how we see ourselves.

Marcus Kiser - ECHOES OF THE PEOPLE
Saturday, June 14 & Saturday, July 12
Location: 3115 Kalynne St, Charlotte, NC 28208

"ECHOES OF THE PEOPLE" is a collaborative initiative that empowers members of a historic Black spaces to share their personal and collective narratives through the medium of graphic design and illustration. This project invites participants of all artistic levels to create posters that visually represent their unique stories, experiences, and the rich history of their community. The initiative will culminate in a community-based art exhibit, showcasing the diverse perspectives and voices that shape the legacy of this historic Black neighborhood.

Nadia Meadows - Keeping Traditions Alive: Honoring Our Roots

"Traditions in Practice: Honoring Our Roots" is a community project designed to preserve, celebrate, and actively engage in the cultural traditions of African Americans. Through hands-on workshops, community dialogue, and intergenerational learning, this project will highlight cultural practices historically passed down within Black families and communities. Sewing, braiding, spades are the three workshops.

Learn How to Sew
Sunday, June 29
Location: 274 Eastchester Dr #129, High Point, NC 27262

Learn to Play Spades
Saturday, July 12
Location: DUPP&SWAT, 1824 Statesville Ave, Unit # 109, Charlotte, NC 28206

Learning How to Cornrow
Sunday, July 20
Location: DUPP&SWAT, 1824 Statesville Ave, Unit # 109, Charlotte, NC 28206

Tamara Williams - The Revival: A Movement of Voice, Legacy, Resistance and Resilience
Wednesday, June 4, Wednesday, June 11, & Saturday, June 14
Location: Tuckaseegee Recreation Center, 4820 Tuckaseegee Road Charlotte, NC 28208

"The Revival: A Movement of Voice, Legacy, Resistance and Resilience" is a community-centered, intergenerational project that honors and preserves the African American Shouting traditions through movement, song, and spoken word. This project serves as both an act of cultural resistance and a celebration of Black resilience, engaging participants in an immersive artistic and historical experience.

Milagros Ugueto - African Diaspora Colloquia
Tuesday, July 15
Location: Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Road Charlotte, NC 28216

"Diaspora Dialogues" is a two-part community engagement series that explores the rich artistic traditions, history, and cultural contributions of Afro-descendant communities in the African diaspora mainly in the US. This project will merge artistic expression, storytelling, and critical discussion to celebrate culture, resilience, identity, and creativity.