Recent News

QNotes Carolinas says BOOM Charlotte to hold live show after being restricted by pandemic to online for two years. Here’s an excerpt:

Festival returns with fifth annual showcase of creative talent live and in-person.

After a two-year pandemic-induced halt from holding its traditional in-person celebration of art, music, theater and more, BOOM Charlotte, the city’s leading showcase of creativity, is now poised to make a comeback April 22-23, with live and in-person performances and presentations at its fifth annual artist-led showcase.

WFAE says BOOM Charlotte Founder Wants to See Local Artists Prioritized. Here’s an excerpt:

As the city of Charlotte rethinks the way it supports the arts, a grassroots organizer offers a simple point of view. Prioritize Charlotte artists and art created here.

Manoj Kesavan formalized BOOM Charlotte just before the Democratic National Convention in 2012, creating festivals and programs of inclusion, diversity and collaboration among artists and communities. It helps artists work on a scale they cannot accomplish by themselves.

WCNC says Charlotte artists, journalists team up to tell real-world stories through comic books. Here’s an excerpt:

While this particular story won’t have a caped superhero fly in to save the day, it does show real truth, and fear, and hope and heroes nonetheless.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For decades, comic books have immersed readers in new worlds — in stories that make readers root for the good guy, face villains head-on and make anything seem possible.

QCity Metro says Local artists, reporters bring COVID-19 graphic novel to life. Here’s an excerpt:

The Covid-19 pandemic influenced so many stories from various news outlets around Charlotte that the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative and BOOM Charlotte have partnered to create an eight-chapter graphic novel titled “The Pandemic: Stories of Covid-19.”

Each chapter pairs a local journalist with a local artist to illustrate comic book panels based on previously reported Covid-19 stories. A new chapter of the graphic novel will be released every two weeks before concluding in February.

La Noticia dice que Novela gráfica gratuita cuenta las historias detrás de la pandemia en Charlotte. Aquí hay un extracto:

Un grupo de medios de comunicación locales busca destacar las historias de la comunidad mediante un novedoso formato: cómic o novela gráfica en inglés y español.

Charlotte Journalism Collaborative (CJC) lanzó un proyecto llamado “Pandemic” que cuenta historias locales y reales sobre cómo el COVID-19 afecta a la comunidad, no solo en el tema de salud, sino también en su actividad laboral, sus familias y su economía.

WFAE Morning Edition says BOOM Project Tells Stories From The Pandemic, In Graphic Novel Style. Here’s an excerpt:

The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative and BOOM Charlotte have launched THE PANDEMIC, a graphic novel of stories about COVID-19’s impact on people in the Charlotte area. Eight artists and eight reporters are working on it, said Chris Rudisill, the CJC director.

The first episode, with artwork by Marcus Kiser, is based on (and linked to) a video story by Stephanie Bunao and John D. Simmons for The Charlotte Observer about the first month of the pandemic in North Carolina.

American Press Institute says journalists and artists in Charlotte have teamed up to tell COVID-19 stories as graphic novels. Here’s an excerpt:

The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative and BOOM Charlotte, an arts festival, have teamed up to produce a graphic novel about the effects of the coronavirus in the North Carolina city.

The novel, called “The Pandem!c: Stories of COVID-19,” will be divided into eight chapters, and will tell the stories of people in the region who have been affected by the pandemic.

NC Local News Workshop Newsletter says BOOM and Charlotte Journalism Collaborative have launched a new graphic novel. Here’s an excerpt:

The Charlotte Journalism Collaborative and BOOM Charlotte have launched THE PANDEMIC, a graphic novel of stories about COVID-19’s impact on people in the Charlotte area. Eight artists and eight reporters are working on it, said Chris Rudisill, the CJC director.

The first episode, with artwork by Marcus Kiser, is based on (and linked to) a video story by Stephanie Bunao and John D. Simmons for The Charlotte Observer about the first month of the pandemic in North Carolina.

Three Things to Be Excited About Here’s an excerpt:

There is a lot going on right now in the Queen City when it comes to art, music and overall just flat out creativity. That’s where we call up our friends from Charlotte is Creative. Tim Miner shared three things to be excited about and introduced us to a special guest, Kia O.

1. Windows of Hope: Lowe’s, South End and ArtPop! want to turn 13 windows into an outside art gallery. .
2. Tosco Music Party: John Tosco is having an online event Saturday night featuring incredible talent and raising money for the COVID-19 Music Relief fund created by Fair Play Music Equity Initiative and Music Everywhere.
3. A Call To Create: Charlotte is Creative has partnered with BOOM, BLKMRKTCLT and The Roll Up to invite artists to submit ideas to present at an online event on July 11.

BOOM Festival Pivots to Become Virtual Forum for Community Voices. Here’s an excerpt:

In mid-March, when it became apparent that the COVID-19 crisis was on a collision course with BOOM, Manoj Kesavan temporarily pulled the plug on Charlotte’s biggest, best and riskiest arts festival. But you can’t defuse an arts explosion for long. BOOM had built a reputation for flexibility, says Kesavan, the founder and executive director of the three-day grassroots avant-garde arts festival that takes place each year in Plaza Midwood.

“Unlike [other] organizations that are set in what they do, we are able to adapt quickly,” Kesavan asserts.

Celebrating Charlotte Arts…virtually Here’s an excerpt:

Today, I should be in Charlotte enjoying the 5th annual BOOM festival, an artist-led presentation of contemporary visual and performing arts, which is supported by Knight Foundation. The 2020 festival was originally scheduled for this weekend, April 17 – 19 and like many events across the country, it’s been postponed until further notice as a result of COVID-19. So, instead of celebrating Charlotte’s arts scene in Plaza Midwood, I’m at home, which I expect is where you are, too.

Being home won’t stop us from celebrating, because now, more than ever, our artists and our communities need to be recognized, celebrated and supported.

Winners of Knight Foundation’s inaugural initiative to show their works at BOOM Festival in spring 2020. Here’s an excerpt:

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced the winners of its inaugural Celebrate Charlotte Arts initiative, which supports projects by and for residents of Charlotte that showcase artistic excellence and capture the spirit of the city. The twelve winning arts projects will receive a share of $200,000 to bring their ideas to life.

“The essence of Charlotte was reflected in the caliber and creativity of applications for this new initiative,” said Priya Sircar, Knight Foundation director for arts. “It’s undeniable that Charlotte is full or artists and arts organizations creating and presenting high-quality work. Our hope is to help highlight these twelve projects and bring the diversity, talent and potential of Charlotte’s arts scene to new heights.”