CHARLOTTE – Charlotte SHOUT! demonstrated a considerable impact on the community.
The city’s 17-day festival celebrating art, music, food and ideas attracted more than 642,000 attendees to its events and activities from March 29 to April 14 and generated $17.1 million in direct spending with Uptown businesses.
“Our city thrives on events like Charlotte SHOUT!, which celebrates our cultural richness and
strengthens our local economy,” Center City Partners CEO Michael Smith said. “The festival’s significant economic impact emphasizes its importance as a fundamental part of Charlotte’s cultural calendar.”
The festival supported creatives by compensating 89 artists for their work, featuring 145 live music performances and spurring the creation of four new 60-foot-tall murals.
More than 1,200 students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools participated in the festival, and SHOUT! featured over 300 student artworks.
Festival Producer Robert Krumbine expressed gratitude to CMS for its partnership.
“The involvement of CMS students and artists in Charlotte SHOUT! is a testament to the festival’s dedication to education and creativity,” Krumbine said.
Charlotte SHOUT! also featured four international art installations, including the colorful transformation of Victoria Yards by London-based artist Morag Myerscough.
Following Charlotte SHOUT! 2024, Myerscough continued to make waves on the global stage, creating a social media-worthy art installation for Coachella. She is preparing to unveil her latest work in Paris for the Olympics.
Krumbine emphasized the festival’s impact.
“Charlotte SHOUT! goes beyond entertainment,” Krumbine said. “It revitalizes blank spaces in our community and inspires innovation and togetherness. We are proud to be part of this positive influence on our city.”
Charlotte’s small business community was a big part of Charlotte SHOUT!, with the
participation of 20 restaurants and 34 food trucks. Additionally, 11 chefs and eight mixologists participated in demos and cook-offs. Forty-eight vendors participated in popup markets, and Charlotte SHOUT! revitalized Uptown’s Overstreet Mall by filling seven previously vacant retail spaces with popups until well after the festival’s completion.
Over 300 individuals from the community helped with the festival, while 1,200 students engaged in educational and artistic activities throughout the event.
Charlotte SHOUT! will return to Uptown Charlotte from April 4 to 20, 2025.
