Something to SHOUT! About
By Jenny Matz
As the official Ideas Pillar Sponsor of Charlotte SHOUT!, UNC Charlotte helped power the festival’s blend of art, performance and big thinking across Uptown and the Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City.
From immersive public art installations and circus performances to interactive science demonstrations and thought-provoking lectures, Charlotte students, faculty, staff and alumni showcased the innovation and creative energy shaping the city.
Featured alumni artists included Emily Little ’21 with “Lightning Bug Love,” Tim Parati ’83 with “Windows of Curiosity” and Maria Napier ’06 with “Blooming Magic.” Graduate Research Assistant Constance Sartor also contributed “River of Paper,” while the College of Arts + Architecture’s Nouveau Sud Circus Project brought live acrobatics and physical theater performances to festivalgoers.
UNC Charlotte activations stretched across Uptown and the Dubois Center, highlighting everything from bats and bird walks to WiFi-mapping robots, youth fitness testing, oral histories and architectural installations blending technology and traditional craft.
The University also hosted a series of featured talks and discussions during the festival, including Charlotte SHOUT! Ideas Festival programming, Carolina Writers events and a Together Project lecture featuring former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. In partnership with The Charlotte Center, the Dubois Center also welcomed internationally recognized urbanist Charles Montgomery for a featured conversation exploring how cities can be designed to foster connection, well-being and community. Additional programming included a screening of “Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Black Librarians” and demonstrations using LIMO robots to create real-time WiFi heatmaps.
As Charlotte SHOUT! continues to grow as one of the city’s signature cultural events, UNC Charlotte’s presence reflected the University’s deep connection to the creative, intellectual and civic momentum shaping Charlotte.