McColl Center: Celebrating 25 Years of Art and Impact
Charlotte, NC – September 18, 2024 – This fall marks 25 years of McColl Center, celebrating a quarter-century of transformative impact on artists, collectors, and the Charlotte community. Originally a historic church damaged by fire, the building was revived through Hugh McColl’s vision as an urban artist colony. FMK Architects and Rodgers Builders reimagined the space, preserving its history while constructing a new interior and retaining the fire's scorch marks as symbols of resilience.
Since opening our doors in September 1999, McColl Center has grown from an artist residency program into a vibrant arts hub that fosters creativity, collaboration, and artistic development. What began with nine resident artists setting up their studios at McColl Center, exploring ideas, building artistic practices, and making art, has evolved into a dynamic institution offering space, resources, and support to more than 500 artists from around the globe and countless more within Charlotte.
McColl Center remains dedicated to guiding artists throughout their careers, creating pathways for emerging talent, youth engagement, and artist-collector connections. The Artist-in-Residence program, central to McColl Center’s mission, offers transformative opportunities with no pressure to complete specific projects, encouraging artists to take risks and experiment, allowing them to fully explore their craft. “My time at McColl Center has rewritten my brain and clarified my purpose. It’s been a life-changing experience,” said Adrian Rhodes, a 2024 Artist-in-Residence.
In recent years, McColl Center has expanded its offerings, introduced a Summer Parent & Educator Residency, and enhanced its local impact through the Studios at McColl Center and the Co-Op program, which provide affordable studio space and access to labs for local artists. McColl Center also engages youth through summer Creativity Camps and paid internships for high school and college students.
In celebration of 25 years, McColl Center is excited to host a series of special events. Highlighting this milestone are two key events: a November exhibition by photographer Mitchell Kearney, whose images document McColl Center’s artists-in-residence from 1999
to 2008, and the Benefit Art Auction on Saturday, February 22, 2025. These cornerstone events will unite artists, collectors, and the Charlotte arts community to honor McColl Center’s legacy of artistic innovation and community engagement. Throughout the year, McColl Center will share inspiring stories from artists, supporters, and community members whose lives have been enriched by the Center.
Join McColl Center in commemorating 25 years of artistic excellence and looking forward to many more. For details on celebrations and upcoming events, visit McCollCenter.org/25.