The C3Lab Public Arts Fellowship Program was created as a continuation of the mission of the former C3Lab creative coworking hub of supporting artists in the Charlotte community and promoting cultural vitality in the Southeast. After the closure of the creative arts space, a reimagination of a working environment that targeted professional education, environmental support, and hands-on experience was created by the parent design+build firm, ACSM Inc, as a focused opportunity to assist emerging and mid-level career artists looking to broaden their careers in the public arts realm with an entire year of focused knowledge and support.

This inaugural fellowship program is the first of its kind in the country. Participating fellows will experience the design+build process for creating, designing, fabricating, and installing public art. Comprehensive aspects from learning proper materials selection to professional photographs of their final public sculpture will be fully covered in this expansive educational experience.

In addition to the hands-on education and support, chosen fellows will have full access to a large, shared professional studio space so that they may continue building upon their own artistic practice in a working studio environment. There are no expectations with regards to what artists will be designing or creating within the art space and they are free to pursue new ideas or projects. It is solely dedicated to the professional development of the individual artist without biases of artist prestige or status.

Fellows are responsible for their own art supplies, transportation to and from the fellowship program and housing during the year-long program. Tools, machines, and other equipment will be available for fellows to utilize within ACSM workday schedule. Participants must be available and fully present for all regularly scheduled educational days and must utilize studio space 80% of their time during the entire fellowship program dates.

Two fellows will be selected by a juried committee comprised of professionals that have knowledge and experience within the public arts realm and the local business sponsor. This opportunity is for serious applicants intending to gain a thorough design + build education and work hard through a hands-on learning process, not for someone looking for free studio space to complete a specific project.

Application Requirements

All artists must meet all requirements as outlined on the CaFÉ platform:

Application Requirements:

Artists much submit the following with their work samples

• Resume/CV
• Brief Artist Biography
• Brief Artist Statement

Work Sample Requirements

• Artists must submit 3 -7 different artwork images for consideration.
• Optional Submission – Applicants may submit a short video that helps provide details about their work and/or process.

Eligibility Criteria

• Artists must be 21 years of age or older.
• Artists must complete the submission application on CaFÉ.
• Artists must commit to the full year-long commitment.
  Artists must participate in quarterly Open Studios and other community events.
• Artists much be able and willing to present themselves to and work closely with various sized groups of people.
• Artists must have an understanding or complete willingness to learn and work with tools, machines or any other necessary equipment to gain full understanding of the design+build process.
• The two fellows chosen must commit to creating a positive and respectful working environment between each other and for other creatives within the studio space by adhering to the etiquette rules and policies set forth in the fellowship handbook.