{"id":20184,"date":"2025-09-19T14:18:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T14:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/?p=20184"},"modified":"2025-11-18T15:48:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T15:48:47","slug":"happy-birthday-culture-blocks-10-years-of-community-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/happy-birthday-culture-blocks-10-years-of-community-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy Birthday, Culture Blocks! 10-Years of Community Engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t

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Happy Birthday, Culture Blocks! Celebrating 10-Years of Community Engagement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Some birthdays are milestone celebrations. For the Arts & Science Council, celebrating a decade of <\/span>accessible<\/span> and engaging community programs feels like a true <\/span>milestone<\/span>. This August, the <\/span><\/span>Culture Blocks<\/span><\/span> program turned 10-years-old, and <\/span>we couldn\u2019t be <\/span>happier <\/span>to celebrate with all of the artists, creatives, and community leaders who helped shape this program.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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a birthday celebration 10-years in the making<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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On August 27<\/span><\/span>th<\/span><\/span>, in the lobby of the recently renovated Carolina Theatre, ASC staff gathered with some of the program providers who <\/span>have been on this journey since<\/span> the early years of Culture Blocks. Together, and alongside area cultural leaders and some of our most engaged community members, we shared a night to remember<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>
Groups like the Queen City Robotics Alliance<\/a>, Fiestas Patrias<\/a>, and the Charlotte Film Society<\/a> came together in fellowship at the Charlotte area\u2019s premier marquee theatre, a setting <\/span>with a <\/span>rich history<\/span> of community-centered programming<\/span>. Today, the Culture Blocks program continues that tradition by working alongside Charlotte-Mecklenburg to help build the next generation of not only artists and <\/span>creatives, but<\/span> also engaged citizens and community leaders.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The evening featured remarks from ASC president Adam Santalla Pierce, as well as Claudia Gonzalez Griffin, Culture Block\u2019s program director, and Brooklyn Miller, ASC\u2019s Culture Blocks program manager.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>
Each ASC representative thanked those in attendance for believing in the bold vision that, ten years ago, seemed to some like an insurmountable task. But together, between ASC staff, leadership, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg\u2019s creative community, we\u2019ve collectively turned that vision into a reality. <\/span>\u00a0<\/p>
The work of Culture Blocks is <\/span>led <\/span>by dedicated ASC staff, but <\/span>their diligent efforts aren\u2019t<\/span> the sole <\/span>contributor to<\/span> the success of the program.<\/span> Indeed, it is the engaged residents, neighbors, and community leaders, alongside our creative <\/span>partners<\/span>, that the Culture Blocks program <\/span>remains<\/span> a staple of <\/span>Charlotte-Mecklenburg\u2019s cultural ecosystem.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"This event was so important, (celebrating) with so many people from the Culture Blocks community....In the past fiscal year, 90,000 people were touched by culture blocks (programming), and we are happy to continue doing this work into the future.\"<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Claudia Gonzalez Griffin<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Program Director, Culture Blocks<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\"Our main goal is to make arts, science, and history programming accessible to residents of Mecklenburg County; we want to thank our partners for all the hard work they've been doing over the past ten years, and for how they've...amplified community members' voices. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Brooklyn Miller<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Program Manager, Culture Blocks<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A HEARTFELT THANKS<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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For the more than 100,000 people who have experienced a Culture Blocks program in the past, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your participation, enthusiasm, and support have helped make Culture Blocks a vibrant and meaningful part of life in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
For those who have not yet had the opportunity, we warmly invite you to be part of this collective journey, where neighbors gather, artists share their gifts, and communities are strengthened through creativity and connection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Together, we look ahead with excitement and commitment to the next ten years and beyond, as we continue building a region where arts and culture are accessible to all. Here\u2019s to celebrating the past, embracing the present, and imagining the future of Charlotte-Mecklenburg!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ABOUT culture blocks<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ASC\u2019s Culture Blocks<\/b> program engages with creative individuals and organizations with a primary mission of arts, science, and\/or history to present programs in specific geographic areas.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Funded by Mecklenburg County, Culture Blocks programs activate recreation centers, libraries, and other public spaces into laboratories of connection and creativity.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
To learn more about the July \u2013 December 2025 class of Culture Blocks providers, click <\/b><\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ABOUT ASC<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The\u00a0Arts & Science Council (ASC)<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0is Charlotte-<\/span>Mecklenburg\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0cultural leader,\u00a0<\/span>serving as a resource hub,\u00a0<\/span>funder<\/span>, and advocate for arts, science, and history.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
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<\/span>A supporting organization of\u00a0Foundation\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>For<\/span>\u00a0The<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Carolinas<\/strong>, ASC champions<\/span>\u00a0local creatives\u00a0<\/span>by<\/span>\u00a0investing in the arts, sciences, and culture to drive economic growth, community\u00a0<\/span>retention<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and cultural\u00a0<\/span>engagement.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>
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<\/span>Our mission is to build inclusive, sustainable, and culturally rich communities where creativity drives belonging, growth, and opportunity.\u00a0<\/span>From artist support grants and public art stewardship\u00a0<\/span>to free Culture Blocks events and partnerships with local schools and universities, ASC invests in a thriving, accessible creative ecosystem for all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t $\"\"$ \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ASC’s Culture Blocks program turns 10-years-old.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":20188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-fullwidth.php","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,48,50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-blog","category-home-featured","category-news-media"],"menu_order":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20184"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20184\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20208,"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20184\/revisions\/20208"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artsandscience.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}