This roundtable discussion brings together four Charlotte-based artists in an open dialogue about counter-institutions and alternate visions for the arts in Charlotte. 

From art trucks to murals to residencies, McColl Center alumna artist Rosalia Torres-Weiner, Dammit Wesley, Janelle Dunlap, and Amy Herman will share their experiences at the intersections of art, activism, and community organizing. Facilitated by visiting curator Laura Ritchie, this community conversation will explore the unique characteristics of Charlotte's independent arts scene, focusing on its values, challenges, and potential futures. 

Ritchie is based in Durham, North Carolina, where she co-founded and led an independent gallery and performance space called The Carrack. The Carrack recently closed, after eight years of programming. "Alternate Visions & Counter-Institutions" is the title of a panel discussion co-organized by Ritchie, Sinan Goknur, Quran Karriem, and Max Symuleski that took place at The Carrack in September 2019 as part of Open Engagement's event series, Emergent Futures: State of the Field. It was one of The Carrack's final events. This panel at McColl Center will extend that conversation to Charlotte.