Charlotte SHOUT!

Charlotte SHOUT!

Thank you for being a part of Charlotte SHOUT! in 2022. Over 17 days, we transformed Uptown Charlotte into a creative playground for art, food, music, and ideas. SHOUT! celebrates our community's innovative spirit with exceptionally curated programming from around the corner and around the world.

Mark your calendars: SHOUT! is back, March 31- April 16, 2023.

Stay tuned for more information about calls for artists and ways to participate!

My CLT

Get ready to joyfully get lost in your neighbor’s imagination.

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Get Involved

There are multiple ways you can be a part of this year's festival!

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Festival Events

Our Mission

Charlotte SHOUT!, presented by Atrium Health and Bank of America, curates a sensory feast that weaves together the inspiring talents of internationally acclaimed and locally-grown artists, musicians, chefs, and thought leaders. We present a creative, inclusive, and innovative arts experience through a series of coordinated festival events designed to bring people together.

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Health & Safety Information

Charlotte SHOUT! is committed to the health and welfare of our guests, participants, and the community at large. Health and safety initiatives based on current conditions and guidance from public officials may be in place at the time of the festival.

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All Festival Events

YES!!!! We loved having the inaugural Queen City Jam Clash as part of SHOUT! 2022. Thank you, @applesaucegroup, for this amazing event! ❤️🔈❤️@applesaucegroup Man listen... On this beautiful #GivingTuesday, we would like to thank all of you who poured into us all year long. Every single person who contributed to making #QueenCityJamClash, #AVibeOutside & #AVibeCalledFresh as beautiful as they were, thank you. Whether you were a sponsor, vendor, performer, artist, DJ, dancer, attendee, person sharing a flyer, resource organization, provider of good energy, person lifting us up in prayer, etc... @ApplesauceGroup is sincerely grateful for all you have given us. What may seem like meaningless fun & endless vibes is actually very impactful community building. In 2022 we were able to connect a fairly sizable amount of people (which is still being tallied) to life and trajectory-enhancing resources. Our approach is to leverage the fun to create the access, which makes the shift. The name Applesauce Group derives from the old parental method of masking the taste of medicine with applesauce, therefore making it easier to ingest. Our formula has proven to be effective because of your willingness to indulge and engage. We would love to continue the work into 2023. If you feel compelled to make a donation on this wonderful #GivingTuesday, please know that your tax-deductible contribution will go directly towards enhancing programming and extending community offerings. Again, thank you for it all! We hope to party with you in 2023. A special thank you to all of the people and organizations listed below that went above and beyond to make 2022 special. This is our village: @asccharlotte @knightfdn @wellsfargo @Blumenthalarts @ally @Bankofamerica @Dreamkeyorg @Noiregroup_llc @uwharriebank @aclu_nc @daksfromstatefarm @emagineeventsco @cltshout @westcomplexclt @jcsuniversity @popupandroll @alteregosbandandshow @jsmacks1 @jaydjones_theartist @braxtonbateman @buttafingaz704 @justice_suntzuluthedj @mrrickysingh @digclttest @bluzbluzbluz @iamnolimitlarry @bdahttv @imjustburpie @lesizmore24 Private IG: Kristal Barnes

Yay! We love seeing @truistfieldevents lit up like the skyline for the holidays! ❤️ @cltiscreative A merry merry evening @cltchristmasvillage ! We walked around the Christmas Village at Truist Field last night and saw a beautiful collection of lights, people and fun! Many artisans and creatives have their work for sale this Christmas season including, but not limited to… fudge, wooden boxes, cat shirts and MORE! We still need to snow tube and ice skate… have you gone yet? We know it’s only day two, but still!

THANKS to @nobodylaughsanymore for these amazing photos of the @novantparade 🦃❗️🦃 @nobodylaughsanymore Had the opportunity again this year to photograph the Charlotte Thanksgiving Parade. I’ll start editing this weekend, but wanted to grab a few photos while the rest imported. There are always some awesome moments each year at the parade, so I love getting to document it! • • • • • #portrait #portraiture #photographerforhire #cltnc #charlottenc #peopleofclt #sonya7iii #sonyalpha #lkn #ncphotographer #cltphotographer #lifestyle #charlotteweddingphotographer #sigmaart #sigma35mmart #familyphotography #familyphotographer #goldenhour #travelingphotographer #cltnc #cltshout #charlottethanksgivingparade

𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘⁣ ❗️❗️𝗧𝗢𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧!❗️❗️⁣ ⁣ ✅𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡: This Wednesday, Nov. 23 | 5:30 pm Start⁣ ✅𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: Tryon St. from E. 9th to Good Samaritan Way⁣ ⁣ This year, the @novantparade will light up the night, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Tryon Street. It also airs live at 6:00 p.m. on @WBTVNews.⁣ ⁣ The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade is a free event. Spectators are encouraged to line Tryon Street from 9th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. But, you can see the parade up close by purchasing VIP seating from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Good Samaritan Way! VIP tickets are $35 each. Children under 2 are free. Ticket link in our bio.⁣ ⁣ And, to make the experience even more amazing, buy tickets for Santa’s Winter Wonderland in the Wells Fargo Atrium. The Wonderland takes place between 3 and 5 p.m. and features a meet-and-gree with Santa, hot chocolate, a cookie AND VIP seating at the parade after. Ticket link in our bio.⁣ ⁣ #uptownclt #exploreclt #charlottenc #discoverclt #uptowncharlotte #axiosclt #charlottesgotalot #thingstodoclt

𝗡𝗢𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗘𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗚𝗢:⁣ ⁣ ✅𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: Tryon St. from E. 9th to Good Samaritan Way⁣ ⁣ ✅𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡: This Wednesday, Nov. 23 | 5:30 pm Start⁣ ⁣ This year, the @novantparade will light up the night, stepping off on Thanksgiving Eve - Wednesday, November 23, on Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte. The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tryon Street and air live at 6:00 p.m. on WBTV.⁣ ⁣ The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade is a free event. Spectators are encouraged to line Tryon Street from 9th Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. However, if you wish to reserve a seat that will be ready for you upon arrival, you may purchase VIP tickets.⁣ ⁣ This year, the parade will light up the night, stepping off on Thanksgiving Eve - Wednesday, November 23, on Tryon Street in Uptown Charlotte. The parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tryon Street and air live at 6:00 p.m. on @WBTVnews.⁣ ⁣ 🎟𝗩𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦⁣ Beat the crowd and leave your folding chairs at home! VIP Tickets in a designated seating area along Tryon St. from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. to Good Samaritan Way are NOW available for purchase! VIP tickets are $35 each. Children under 2 are free. Ticket link in our bio.⁣ ⁣ 🎅𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔’𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗⁣ Spend a special afternoon with Santa. The Santa’s Winter Wonderland package includes a special meet-and-greet photo opportunity with Santa from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Wells Fargo Atrium. Tickets are $45 and include: ⁣ ⁣ 🎄A magical Winter Wonderland experience⁣ 🎄A meet and greet with Santa Claus and free photo⁣ 🎄Your choice between hot chocolate or coffee⁣ 🎄One cookie (Flavors: chocolate chip, peanut butter, salted caramel)⁣ 🎄Your choice between a fresh fruit cup or Rice Krispie treat⁣ 🎄A reserved seat in the nearby VIP seating area to watch the parade⁣ ⁣ Ticket link in our bio.⁣ ⁣ #uptownclt #exploreclt #charlottenc #discoverclt #uptowncharlotte #axiosclt #charlottesgotalot #thingstodoclt⁣

Aaaaaaaahhhhhh! We cannot wait! VIP TICKETS HERE WE COME!⁣ ⁣ 🎅🦃🎅🦃🎅🦃🎅🦃🎅🦃🎅⁣ ⁣ @uptown.clt SEASONS GREETINGS! We’re less than ONE WEEK away from the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade! Uptown, Charlotte is home to the LARGEST Thanksgiving Parade in the South East 🤯🤯 Last year, more than 100,000 people lined Tryon St. for the first ever Thanksgiving Eve night parade. This year, expect more lights, more floats and double the magic ✨ VIP TICKETS AVAILABLE: Reserve your front row seat on Tryon St. and leave the lawn chairs at home! Click link in bio for more info. #uptownclt #exploreclt #charlottenc #discoverclt #uptowncharlotte #axiosclt #charlottesgotalot

𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔!!!! 𝗜 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗛𝗜𝗠! ❤️🎅❤️⁣ ⁣ 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮’𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱⁣ 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮⁣ 𝟯-𝟱 𝗽.𝗺.⁣ 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼.⁣ ⁣ Experience the magic of the holidays at Santa’s Winter Wonderland. Santa’s Winter Wonderland will take place before the Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade from 3pm to 5pm at Two Wells Fargo, 301 S. Tryon St., inside the Wells Fargo Atrium. Santa’s Winter Wonderland ticketholders will receive:⁣ ⁣ 🎅A magical Winter Wonderland experience⁣ ⁣ 🎅 A meet and greet with Santa Claus and free photo⁣ ⁣ 🎅 Your choice between hot chocolate or coffee⁣ ⁣ 🎅One cookie (Flavors: chocolate chip, peanut butter, salted caramel)⁣ ⁣ 🎅 Your choice between a fresh fruit cup or Rice Krispie treat⁣ ⁣ 🎅A reserved seat in the nearby VIP seating area to watch the parade⁣ ⁣ 🎄Tickets for Santa’s Winter Wonderland are $45 and include reserved seats, a meet and greet with Santa, cookies, hot chocolate and more. 🎄⁣

We wanted SHOUT! to be — in part — a love letter to Charlotte’s creative community. Please share love for local creatives in the comments below! What would you say to the creatives you met at SHOUT! 2022?

𝗟𝗨𝗖𝗞𝗬 𝟭𝟯! 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗘𝗚𝗚𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦⁣ ⁣ We are excited to announce that 13 local artists have been selected to bring Easter Eggs on Parade, one of the most popular parts of Charlotte SHOUT!, back to Romare Bearden Park from March 31 to April 16 2023.⁣ ⁣ These amazing creatives will each bring their own giant Easter egg to life through a wide array of artistic styles and disciplines:⁣ ⁣ 🥚Maria Napier: @MGNapierArt⁣ 🥚Samia Jaramillo: @samiajaramillo_⁣ 🥚Angela Lubinecky:@lolangi_art⁣ 🥚Umayal Annamalai: @umayalart⁣ 🥚Keudis Sanchez: @keudisanchz⁣ 🥚Nadia Meadows @art__bynadiameadows⁣ 🥚Liz Cisneros: @astratta_bella 🥚Julia Valle: @saltandlightcreativecompany⁣ 🥚Taryn Hare: @ambvrtart⁣ 🥚Katrina Standfield: @fiberess⁣ 🥚Neidy Perdomo: @neidy.perdomo⁣ 🥚Jodi Lynn McNeely: @jodi_lynn_pottery⁣ 🥚Ian McCormick⁣: @superdaftbros ⁣ #CharlotteShout #CLTShout #CharlotteShout2023 #ShowUpForUptown #uptownclt #exploreclt #charlottenc #discoverclt #uptowncharlotte #axiosclt #charlottesgotalot

YES! Easter Eggs on Parade are coming back to SHOUT! 2023! Stay tuned to our feed. We’ll be sharing the selected artists ASAP. This is the egg @fiberess created this year for Romare Bearden Park. #charlotteSHOUT

Yay! Queenie is back! Can’t wait to see you at the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade on 11/23 starting at 5:30 p.m.

If only we could bottle the feels here! Charlotte SHOUT! 2022 was so much fun: we can’t wait to see these two … and all of you … when we return For 17 days of creative fun Uptown March 31, 2022!

CREATIVES! Today is THE day! All submissions to be part of SHOUT! 2023 — Easter Eggs, !cons, music, projection mapping or light installations — are due TODAY! Please use the link in our bio.

CREATIVES, DON’T MISS OUT … on the chance to make amazing public art or performance and get paid for it! Applications for SHOUT! 2023 are due Monday. Check the link in our bio.

FIVE! Creatives, you have FIVE MORE DAYS to apply to be part of Charlotte SHOUT! 2023.⁣ ⁣ Five days? You got this. Click the link in our bio to read up on available opportunities and apply at charlotteshout.com/shout/participate-1

𝟲 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗟𝗘𝗙𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬!⁣ Charlotte creatives, the deadline to apply with your idea for Charlotte SHOUT! (March 31-April 16, 2023) are due on Monday, Oct. 10.⁣ ⁣ We have paid opportunities for:⁣ ⁣ ▶️ Visual Artists⁣ ▶️ Mural Artists⁣ ▶️ Illumination Creatives⁣ ▶️ Projection-Mapping Artists⁣ ▶️ Performing Artists⁣ ▶️ Musicians⁣ ▶️ and More!⁣ ⁣ You can apply with a submission for a specific installation (like Easter Eggs on Parade and !cons) or with an idea (and budget) of your own. ⁣ ⁣ There's still time to send us a ground-breaking idea. Click the top link in our bio to view the application and learn more!

𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀! Only a precious few open plates remain for a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience this Wednesday, Oct. 5. ⁣ ⁣ Internationally acclaimed chef, Fatmata Binta, will personally host an intimate gathering of her "Dine on a Mat" dinner series here in Charlotte. The menu is designed to whisk diners away on a culinary journey through Chef Binta's Fulani heritage, as well as her personal advocacy for women in culinary and sustainable eating.⁣ ⁣ The meal may happen in just one night, but the experience will surely set you off on a lifetime of culinary exploration⁣. Get your tickets now at the link in our bio.⁣ ⁣ "𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗧"⁣ ▶️ WHEN: Weds., Oct. 5 from 6 to 8p.m.⁣ ▶️ WHERE: Johnson & Wales University Courtyard⁣ 801 West Trade Street⁣ ▶️ TICKETS: LINK IN BIO⁣

𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘’𝗦 𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗨𝗧! 𝟳 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗨𝗕𝗠𝗜𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧!⁣ ⁣ ⁣ Apply by Oct. 10 at the link in our bio.⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝗛𝗢'𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗?⁣ Charlotte SHOUT! is open to proposals from artists, designers, creatives, musicians, chefs, architects, engineers, businesses, and educational institutions to present ideas, designs, and concepts to be a part of the festival in 2023. ⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘?⁣ Proposed works will be temporary installations & events that should explore an engaging idea or thematic concept. We are seeking ideas for:⁣ ⁣ ❗️!CONS Giant Exclamation Points⁣ ❗️Easter Eggs on Parade - Year 2⁣ ❗️Light-Based Installations⁣ ❗️Projection-Mapping⁣ ❗️Music Showcase⁣ ❗️Original Ideas⁣ ⁣ 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘⁣ ⁣ ▶️ October 10, at 5 p.m. - Submission Deadline ⁣ ▶️ November 1–4 - Artists Notified of Project Selections⁣ ▶️ March 28–30 - Installations of Selected Artworks⁣ ▶️ March 31–April 16, 2023 - 17 Days of SHOUT!⁣ ▶️ April 17–19, 2023 - De-installation⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗧 𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧?⁣ Successful proposals will demonstrate a unique experience of new technology, sustainability, accessibility, and innovative thinking. We invite you to be as creative as possible in your proposal.⁣ ⁣ 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡⁣ Click the application link in our bio or visit CLTShout.com

𝗦𝗜𝗫 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧!⁣ ⁣ Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience.⁣ ⁣ "𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗧" 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗘!⁣ ▶️ WHEN: Weds., Oct. 5 from 6-8p.m.⁣ ▶️ WHERE: Johnson & Wales University Courtyard⁣ 801 West Trade Street⁣ ▶️ TICKETS: $125 - LINK IN BIO⁣ ⁣ Internationally acclaimed chef, Fatmata Binta, is bringing her interactive dinner series - "Dine on a Mat" - to Charlotte. Chef Binta (@chef_binta) has partnered with the lifestyle brand, Afro in CLT, to immerse guests in a five-course, al fresco dining experience that stimulates the senses.⁣ ⁣ Chef Binta blends her Fulani heritage, formal culinary training, and her passion for informing guests about the richness of ingredients, indigenous spices, and connection that a Fulani food experience creates amongst its guests. Her advocacy for women in culinary and sustainable eating is reflected throughout her journey.⁣ ⁣ Dine on a Mat is presented in part by the following sponsors: Charlotte SHOUT!, Johnson & Wales University Charlotte (@jwucharlotte), Dekodi Group, and Eh’Vivi Catering.⁣ ⁣ 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗕𝗜𝗢 𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗧: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dine-on-a-mat-is-coming-to-charlotte-tickets-381871005457

𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧! 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗕𝗬 𝗢𝗖𝗧. 𝟭𝟬!⁣ ⁣ Charlotte SHOUT! seeks transformative ideas from imaginative and inspired storytellers to support the backbone of the event. ⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝗛𝗢'𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗?⁣ Charlotte SHOUT! is open to proposals from artists, designers, creatives, musicians, chefs, architects, engineers, businesses, and educational institutions to present ideas, designs, and concepts to be a part of the festival in 2023. ⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗩𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘?⁣ Proposed works will be temporary installations & events that should explore an engaging idea or thematic concept. We are seeking ideas for:⁣ ⁣ ❗️!CONS Giant Exclamation Points⁣ ❗️Easter Eggs on Parade - Year 2⁣ ❗️Light-Based Installations⁣ ❗️Projection-Mapping⁣ ❗️Music Showcase⁣ ❗️Original Ideas⁣ ⁣ 𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘⁣ ▶️ August 29 - Applications Open⁣ ▶️ October 10, at 5 p.m. - Submission Deadline ⁣ ▶️ November 1–4 - Artists Notified of Project Selections⁣ ▶️ March 28–30 - Installations of Selected Artworks⁣ ▶️ March 31–April 16, 2023 - 17 Days of SHOUT!⁣ ▶️ April 17–19, 2023 - De-installation⁣ ⁣ 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗧 𝗠𝗘 𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧?⁣ Successful proposals will demonstrate a unique experience of new technology, sustainability, accessibility, and innovative thinking. We invite you to be as creative as possible in your proposal.⁣ ⁣ 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡⁣ Click the application link in our bio or visit CLTShout.com

"𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗔 𝗠𝗔𝗧" 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗘!⁣ ▶️ WHEN: Weds., Oct. 5 from 6-8p.m.⁣ ▶️ WHERE: Johnson & Wales University Courtyard⁣ 801 West Trade Street⁣ ▶️ TICKETS: $125 - LINK IN BIO⁣ ⁣ Internationally acclaimed chef, Fatmata Binta, is bringing her interactive dinner series - "Dine on a Mat" - to Charlotte. Chef Binta has partnered with the lifestyle brand, Afro in CLT, to immerse guests in a five-course, al fresco dining experience that stimulates the senses.⁣ ⁣ Chef Binta blends her Fulani heritage, formal culinary training, and her passion for informing guests about the richness of ingredients, indigenous spices, and connection that a Fulani food experience creates amongst its guests. Her advocacy for women in culinary and sustainable eating is reflected throughout her journey.⁣ ⁣ The Dine on a Mat event is presented in part by the following sponsors: Charlotte SHOUT!, Johnson & Wales University Charlotte, Dekodi Group, and Eh’Vivi Catering.⁣ ⁣ We caught up with Chef Binta to ask her a few questions about the origins of this event:⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ Chef Binta, how did the "Dine on a Mat" begin?⁣ ⁣ "I was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, and my family is from the Fulani tribe. It is one of the largest nomadic groups in Africa. I remember spending much of my childhood in the kitchen helping my mother and grandmother prepare traditional Fulani meals. I grew up watching them bring people together through food. ⁣ ⁣ In 2018, I took a leap of faith and decided to launch 'Dine On A Mat' with the sole purpose of bringing people from different backgrounds together and educating them about our amazing culture."⁣ ⁣ 2️⃣ What is it about food that connects them to other cultures, histories & perspectives?⁣ ⁣ "People normally come together under a common theme. It can be food, music or sports. The beauty of food is the curiosity factor. Once we taste it, the follow-up question is 'What are the ingredients?' Ingredients typically have a historical component and are always tied back to a source with a story. ⁣ ⁣ The story can change your perspective moving forward and gives you a greater appreciation for the meal in front of you."

Dec 2022