Get ready to experience works of art that extend beyond the beliefs of your imagination, as Uptown and Ballantyne completely transform in September for Charlotte International Arts Festival. This multi-week festival, brought to us by Blumenthal Arts, is a multimedia art festival that will transform Charlotte into a hub of creativity from September 16th to October 2nd. And we’ve got all the details.
One of the aspects we find so unique about this festival is the fact that it celebrates international artists alongside local ones. More than 10 different countries will be represented, showing how creativity and art expand to every point of the globe. Here’s an image from last year’s festival.
“Charlotte is a top-25 metropolitan city. Our community is ready for a festival on the scale of other major art festivals around the world. We are excited to bring compelling art and entertainment from all over the world, as well as highlight the rich international cultures right here in town,” Blumenthal CEO Tom Gabbard said about the event. And since the festival spans over 17 days, you’re likely to find lots to discover. Let’s take a look at some of the installations slated to take over our city.
The featured artist, Archictects of Air’s Luminarium, hail all the way from across the pond in Nottingham, UK. This immersive walk-through experience, full of tunnels and domes saturated in vibrant color will accompany a gentle soundscape, giving you a fully audio and visual experience. This event is ticketed at $5.
Blue Lapis Light will return to the city at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center on East 4th Street with gorgeous ribbon shows. Swinging from silk, the performers will perform from the 12-story building alongside ground dancers and large-scale projection mapped imagery. Performances will be at 7:30 and 9pm between September 30th and October 10th.
If you remember the Big Bunnies installation that hit the city then you’ll recognize this larger-than-life installation that’ll be set up in Ballantyne’s Backyard from September 16th to October 2nd. Man, a huge, round installation that sits with his head in his hand and ponders, is free to visit, and asks guests to take on the questions of the world with him.
Other acts will span across the Middle East, Europe, and, of course, local Charlotte artists will get to show off how talented our city is. We’ll even get to see some awesome collaborations between artists. If you’re a fan of arts and culture, then this family-friendly event is a can’t-miss experience to enjoy this fall. We’ll see you there.