The 5 Biggest Changes Rocking The Arts & Science Council (ASC) In 2025

The Arts & Science Council (ASC), the cultural catalyst for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region, is undergoing one of the most significant structural transformations in its history. As of late 2024 and throughout 2025, the organization has solidified a major new partnership and confirmed new leadership, signaling a fresh, more equitable, and sustainable approach to arts, science, and history funding. This is not the ASC of the past; it is a reorganized, forward-looking Local Arts Agency (LAA) focused on navigating a complex financial landscape following the sunset of temporary funding lifelines like the Infusion Fund. The current focus is on strategic investment, community-driven programming, and ensuring cultural access for all.

The urgency for change has been palpable, with the ASC and its partners actively responding to the community’s desire for a more robust and equitable cultural ecosystem. This new era, marked by a formal partnership with the Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC), aims to stabilize the arts sector, increase funding capacity, and cement the role of culture as a core driver of economic growth and community retention in the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

ASC Leadership and The New Financial Architecture

The Arts & Science Council has cemented its leadership for this new chapter while fundamentally shifting its financial structure to ensure long-term stability and greater impact. This strategic move is the biggest story of 2024–2025 for the organization.

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Biography of Current ASC President: Adam Santalla Pierce

• Name: Adam Santalla Pierce
• Current Role: President of the Arts & Science Council (ASC)
• Appointment Date (Interim): June 2024
• Appointment Date (Confirmed): February 2025
• Previous Role: Vice President of Community & Artist Support at ASC
• Experience: An arts veteran with seven years of experience at the local arts agency before his presidency.
• Context: Pierce was confirmed as President amid significant funding challenges, positioning him as the key leader guiding the ASC through its major reorganization and new partnership with the Foundation For The Carolinas.

The Landmark Partnership with Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC)

The most profound change for the ASC is the formalization of its partnership with the Foundation For The Carolinas (FFTC). This move, which began to take shape in early 2024, positions ASC as a supporting organization of the FFTC. This reorganization is a direct response to the need for a more sustainable and robust funding model for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg cultural sector.

• Structural Shift: ASC now operates under the umbrella of FFTC, a move designed to increase the capacity to fund and sustain programs supporting local artists, community initiatives, and cultural experiences.
• Financial Impact: This new architecture is intended to shake up the funding landscape, ensuring millions of dollars in grants are distributed efficiently across the county.
• Equitable Funding: The partnership is intrinsically tied to the City of Charlotte Arts & Culture Plan, which outlines a vision to nurture a more equitable review process for grant applications.

3 Key Programs and Funding Initiatives Driving ASC's 2025 Strategy

Beyond the structural changes, the ASC continues to manage and expand several high-impact programs, focusing on decentralized cultural experiences and direct support for individual artists and small organizations. These initiatives are the core mechanisms for distributing funds from both public and private sources, including Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte.

1. The Power of Public Art and Civic Investment

ASC remains the region's premiere Public Art manager, stewarding and administering the Public Art Ordinances for both the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The impact of this work is tangible and visible across the community.

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• 2025 Achievements: In calendar year 2025 alone, ASC was proud to steward, manage, and complete ten new public artworks, demonstrating a remarkable impact on the civic landscape.
• Community Enrichment: This focus ensures that arts and culture are not confined to downtown institutions but are integrated into neighborhoods, enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

2. Decentralizing Culture with the 'Culture Blocks' Program

A flagship initiative, the Culture Blocks program, celebrated a major milestone—10 years of community engagement. This program is a prime example of ASC's commitment to accessibility and local partnership.

• Funding and Administration: Culture Blocks is funded by Mecklenburg County and administered by the ASC in partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries.
• Program Intent: The program supports cultural experiences planned with resident involvement and/or takes place at libraries and other local community spaces, ensuring cultural programming reaches every corner of the county.
• Focus Areas: Programming covers a wide range of interests, including arts, science, history, and heritage programming.

3. Direct Artist and Organizational Support: The Grant Ecosystem

The ASC manages a diverse portfolio of grants designed to support the entire creative ecosystem, from emerging individual artists to established non-profits. The new Strategic Investment Grant, opening in late 2025, is a key component of this system, designed to support established nonprofits in Mecklenburg County.

Other vital funding mechanisms include:

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• Cultural Vision Grants: Providing funds of up to $10,000 to support high-quality arts and culture projects presented to the public. Recipients have included artists like Carla Aaron-Lopez and Jermaine Nakia Lee, who used a grant to support the KUUMBA Academy artist development program.
• SEED Grants: These grants support individual artists and small organizations with smaller, targeted funds for specific projects, such as Junior Gomez and April C. Turner, who received 2024/2025 SEED Grants for professional development and project expansion.
• Emerging Creators Fellowship: An opportunity designed to assist developing artists in the Charlotte area.
• Cultural Organization Support Grants: Funds aimed at general operating support for non-profits with a primary mission centralized in arts, science, history, and heritage.

The Future of Arts Funding in Charlotte-Mecklenburg

The 2025 landscape for the Arts & Science Council is one of strategic evolution. By consolidating its financial operations with the Foundation For The Carolinas, confirming a new, experienced President in Adam Santalla Pierce, and continuing to focus on decentralized programs like Culture Blocks, the ASC is actively working to create a more resilient and equitable funding model.

The overarching goal remains to ensure that the rich tapestry of arts, science, and history in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region is not only sustained but allowed to flourish. The new structure promises increased capacity to fund local artists and organizations, fostering a vibrant cultural life that benefits all residents and positions the region as a true cultural leader in the Carolinas. This bold shift signals a commitment to long-term sustainability over temporary fixes, making the ASC's 2025 story a critical turning point for the entire creative community.