(January 28, 2024) Charlotte, NC – As we embrace a new year, Blumenthal Arts reflects on 2024: a year of enrichment, community, and growth. The Carolinas’ premier arts destination and one of the nation’s top not-for-profit arts organizations made a small but impactful change and rebranded in 2024 from Blumenthal Performing Arts to Blumenthal Arts—a step toward inclusivity as a center for art of all kinds, including visual and immersive. For more information about Blumenthal Arts, visit blumenthalarts.org.
In 2024, Blumenthal supported artists and brought the best of Broadway, local and international art, and new experiences to the community. We shot for the moon—and even sent our audiences to outer space.
Introducing Blume Studios
Blumenthal took a giant leap with the launch of Blume Studios, a new creative hub and home for immersive art, beginning with Space Explorers: THE INFINITE, an interactive VR journey to the International Space Station, with 360-degree cinematic views of outer space.
Originally intended to end in November 2024, Space Explorers: THE INFINITE was extended by popular demand through January 5, 2025. It was one of the top-rated Blumenthal titles to date, with a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 82.
“Space Explorers: THE INFINITE touched lives in ways that we won’t fully understand for years,” said Blumenthal Arts President and CEO Tom Gabbard. “I wish I could see in a few decades the ways it inspired the 12,000 6th graders to dream big dreams. Among the comments we heard most was that people left the show with tears in their eyes.”
“The successful launch of Blume Studios demonstrates that we’ve created a fantastic new home for creativity in Charlotte. Our community needs it, is ready for it, is proud of it, and is ready to support it. It is a venue that looks ahead to a bright future.”
Space Explorers: THE INFINITE was open to the public for 556 hours over 91 days between September 2024 and January 2025, including one extension by popular demand.
The estimated local economic impact of Space Explorers: THE INFINITE was $3.89 million.
Students in Space
With generous support from lead sponsor The Leon Levine Foundation, CMS E3 arts field trip funding, and many arts education supporters in the community, Blumenthal led an ambitious fundraising effort to support 11 weeks of student field trips, including bringing all CMS sixth-graders to the experience free of charge. Blumenthal’s commitment to the power of creative experiences to inspire and enlighten students was reflected by the Charlotte community. Because of this support, students had the incredible opportunity to engage in enriching and even life-changing experiences.
“We had students engaging more than we see in the normal classroom,” said Paris Harrell, Facilitator, Exceptional Children, Metro School. “That shows the benefit of what the arts can do, what partnerships can do, and what being included in the conversation from the very beginning, not afterwards, can do.”
Showcasing Artists
Outside of the ticketed event at Blume Studios, the warehouse also featured five public art installations that were free and open to the public, including murals, sculptures, interactive art installations, and soundscapes. 12 local artists provided merchandise for the MKT gift shop.
"You’re doing something truly remarkable here, and it’s clear that you’re on the right path by validating and celebrating the artists and everyone involved through fair compensation and meaningful exposure,” said TuxedoKat, artist behind Upcycled MoonMan, a sculpture that welcomed guests into the warehouse at Blume Studios Stage 1. “Your commitment to including local artists is profound, planting the seeds for a vibrant artistic community that will flourish like a beautiful rainforest.”
Blume Studios By the Numbers
- 44,045 visitors traveled to space with Space Explorers: THE INFINITE
- $3.89MM local economic impact
- 82 Net Promoter Score
- 5 free, public art installations
- $157K+ paid to artists for commissioned work
- $200K+ in merchandise sales at the MKT gift shop
- $18,000+ in merchandise sold by 12 local artists
- 11 weeks of school field trips
- 7,980 sixth-graders from 42 CMS schools
- 11,832 students in total across multiple grade levels
- 150.5 total field trip hours in space
Charlotte’s Home for Broadway
Blumenthal Arts presents the largest Broadway season in the Carolinas, with 166 performances in the calendar year, 274,500+ tickets distributed and 11,200+ season subscribers. 24,000 affordable, subsidized, or comp tickets were distributed in the community to various affinity groups and fundraisers.
For every Broadway tour, Blumenthal hires local crew members to assist the tour crews across various departments (wardrobe, sound, musicians, etc.). In 2024, Blumenthal hired 2,400 local crew positions for Broadway shows with more than 39,700 combined hours worked by local crew members and a total of $2MM paid to stagehands.
The estimated local economic impact of Broadway in 2024 was $55 million.
Broadway By the Numbers
- 166 Broadway performances
- 275K+ tickets
- 11,200+ 2024-25 season subscribers
- $55MM+ local economic impact
- 151 offerings and 67,000 entries in the new digital ticket lottery
- 3 2024 Tony Award nominations
- 2,400 local crew positions hired
- $2MM+ paid to local stagehands
- 39.5K+ combined hours worked by local Broadway crews
In addition to being a Broadway presenter, Blumenthal is also active in producing shows on Broadway. And in 2024, Blumenthal was nominated for three Tony Awards for Hell’s Kitchen, Gutenberg! The Musical, and The Who’s TOMMY.
A new digital ticket lottery launched in February 2024. Since then, 151 Broadway performances have been offered through the lottery system. To learn more about the Digital Lottery, visit blumenthalarts.org/brands/detail/lottery.
For tickets and more information about Broadway, visit https://www.blumenthalarts.org/events-tickets/category/broadway-theater.
CIAF: Year Three
Since launching the Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF) in 2022, Blumenthal has welcomed more than 1.5 MM guests and grown its roster of cultural partners each year for an annual celebration of local and international arts, with most attractions free and ticketed events starting at $5.
In 2024, CIAF became a “festival of festivals,” partnering with 25 Charlotte-based organizations and events.
Blumenthal put more than $400,000 into the pockets of local and visiting artists last year, including $90,000 to local Blumenthal Fellows.
CIAF also supports community engagement. Returning to CIAF for the third time, Birdmen, from the Netherlands, interacted with audiences at 17 pop-ups, including three appearances at the popular annual Festival in the Park, which hosts approximately 140,000 guests; the UNC Charlotte International Festival (12,500 guests); Le Dîner en Blanc (2,500 guests); and others. 35 local artists engaged with world-renowned artists Keith Tucker (festival and Blume Studios exhibit Groundswell) and Luke Jerram (the returning Gaia and Of Earth and Sky) through a specialized learning opportunity, Ask the Artist Anything. And 50 poets and audience members gathered for a Poetry Party with Luke Jerram, to celebrate their work featured in the poetry trail Of Earth and Sky.
“The third annual Charlotte International Arts Festival was a wonderful collaboration between Blumenthal Arts and partner organizations across the city, weaving together a unique ‘festival of festivals,” with CIAF as the connective tissue,” said Blumenthal Arts Vice President of Marketing, Danny Knaub. “Blumenthal’s standing as a cultural leader positions us as a trusted source for entertainment; it is our privilege to connect our audiences with organizations that may have been previously unknown to them, and a joy to create spaces for new experiences and community.
“It's a delight to see kids and families creating new memories and people from all walks of life experiencing art together. We are excited to come back next year and can’t wait to share more with you soon.”
“We started small, with 500 people. Now, we’re 20,000 people, closing the streets of Charlotte and taking over the Belk Theater,” said Toni Sawhney, Vice President, Festival of India. “Being part of CIAF has provided us validation of our commitment to CIAF’s core mission of nurturing the artistic and cultural diversity of Charlotte. For us to come and showcase what we do—there cannot be a better platform.
“Charlotte is a town of immigrants. Especially in today’s world, neighbors need to know neighbors. Partnering with CIAF is one of the best ways that we can share who we are, where we come from, and what we do, so we all grow together as one community.”
CIAF By the Numbers
- 63 countries represented
- 500k visitors
- 43 ticketed events saw guests from:
- 330+ different cities in the Carlinas
- 45 states and Washingtn, DC
- Canada and Puert Rico
- 130 free events:
- 48 at Levine Avenue Cultural Stages
- 25 at Ballantyne’s Backyard Cultural Stages
- 17 performances of CIAF favorite Birdmen
- 275+ small business vendors
- 31,000 attendees at the Latin American Festival and Festival of India
- 5 large-scale art installations
- 9 art installations by 10 Blumenthal Fellows funded at $90,000
- $411,500 total paid to artists (local and international)
- 2 custom soundscapes commissioned by local composers
- 26 local poets selected from 65 submissions for poetry sculpture Of Earth and Sky, installed in 4 locations.
- 759 festival volunteers
For more information, visit charlotteartsfest.com.
Prioritizing Arts Education and Community Outreach
Blumenthal continued to nurture the next generation of artists and enrich the greater community through excellent arts education and community engagement programs. In addition to the highly successful middle school field trip initiative with THE INFINITE, arts education continued to be a top priority for Blumenthal Arts in 2024.
In January, Blumenthal celebrated ten years of making theatrical dreams come true with the Blumey Awards, Charlotte’s high school musical theater awards. In celebration, Blumenthal hosted a gala on the Belk Theater stage.
50 schools and more than 300 students participated in the 11th annual Blumey Awards, presented by Bank of America. At a gala celebration in May, winners were announced in 15 categories. Central Cabarrus High School won the Tier 1 Bank of America Best Musical Award for its production of Pippin. Central Academy of Technology and Arts won the Tier 2 Bank of America Best Musical Award for its production of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812. Lainey Gaston from Concord Academy won Best Actress for her portrayal of “Narrator” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Rylan Lowe from A.L. Brown High School won for his portrayal of “Shakespeare” in Something Rotten. Lainey and Rylan went on to compete nationally at the Jimmy Awards in New York City.
23,507 affordable, subsidized, or comp tickets were given to the community in 2024, including lottery, student rush, education, social groups, and more.
By the Numbers
- 175K+ students participated annually in Blumenthal’s student-focused programming
- 2K+ students participated in Blumey Award participating high school musicals
- 300 students performed at the 2024 Blumey Awards to a sold-out Belk Theater house
- 23,507 affordable, subsidized, or complimentary tickets given to the community
- $99,255 Arts for All funds granted and 1,775 Arts for All tickets distributed
- 625 students participated in free master class training
- 225 students served over 265 hours of Active Community Instruction through LEAP (Literacy Engagement through Arts Program)
- 8 arts educator professional development programs served 350 educators
- $19K granted to elementary and middle schools to support musical production scripts and materials
- 2K+ students and teachers from 47 area schools participated in Junior Theater Celebration 2024
- $100K+ awarded in college scholarships
- 13 free in-school master classes with professional touring artists offered
- 276 volunteer usher shifts completed by Junior Ambassador students
- 500 leaders served at 5 Community Leaders Network events
- 1,500+ community members served at free educational events
Uplifting Creatives
In 2024, Blumenthal invested $67,000 to launch Made in CLT, with additional support from the Knight Foundation. Charlotte’s only artist directory, Made in CLT is a free service that makes it easy to find and hire talented creatives in the area and, in turn, helps artists find work. Since then, 339 local artists have been added to the directory.
With so many diverse and rich offerings in Charlotte’s artistic community, the public is encouraged to browse the directory, which will be updated on a consistent basis.
To browse the Made in CLT database, visit madeinclt.org.
In addition to local artist activations at Blume Studios and the Charlotte International Arts Festival, Blumenthal engaged artists through programs like MERGE: Symphonic x Electric, a multi-sensory experience combining visual arts with classical music, and Artists-in-Theaters, a program that commissions local artists to showcase their artwork that is in conversation with the themes of touring Broadway shows.
In total, Blumenthal put $650K+ in artists’ pockets in 2024.
Generous Gifts and Grants
In 2024, Blumenthal Arts experienced a tremendous outpouring of generosity, fueling education and community programs and celebrating the arts in remarkable ways.
The Charlotte International Arts Festival inspired more than $200,000 in generous contributions from incredible partners, including The Leon Levine Foundation, Wells Fargo, Ally, Bank of America, Hearst, Wastequip, Brighthouse Financial, Shea Homes, TD Charitable Foundation, and The Dunhill. Their support brought this global celebration of arts and culture to life, enriching the community with vibrant and innovative experiences.
Blume Studios captured imaginations with the awe-inspiring Space Explorers: THE INFINITE. Thanks to the support of more than 340 individuals and organizations, this unforgettable experience provided a unique educational opportunity that ignited curiosity and enhanced learning for thousands of young minds.
More than $225,000 was raised to support The Blumey Awards during a milestone 10th anniversary celebration. This extraordinary event united alumni, teachers, and students to honor a decade of outstanding achievements in high school musical theater, recognizing the immense talent and dedication that make this program a cornerstone of our mission. The Blumey Awards in May were made possible by the support of Bank of America, The Doctor Family Foundation, WBTV, The Leon Levine Foundation, Peg and Jay Adamczyk, Page Power Systems, and Wells Fargo.
By the Numbers
- 975+ member households
- $1.7MM in gifts from individual donors
- $3.3MM+ total raised to support and underwrite Blumenthal’s mission-driven programming, including:
- Arts for All Access
- Blumenthal L.E.A.P. (Literacy Engagement through Arts Program)
- Blumenthal Fellows
- Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF)
- CLTLive Teens
- Community Cues
- The Blumey Awards
- Junior Theater Celebration Charlotte
- Community Leaders Network
- Scholarships
- School Shows and Field Trips
- Arts Educator Network
- Junior Ambassadors
- Internship Program
For more information about donor support, visit blumenthalarts.org/support-us.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Blumenthal is excited to announce that CIAF will return in 2025. Dates will be announced soon. Follow CIAF on social media @cltartsfest for updates and keep an eye on charlotteartsfest.com for more information.
Future plans for a new immersive experience at Blume Studios will be revealed soon.
Blumenthal Arts will continue to expand its new digital lottery, which offered 215 performances across various genres of programming in 2024.
Follow Blumenthal on social media @blumenthalarts and blumenthalarts.org for more art, entertainment, connection, and surprises in the New Year.
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ABOUT BLUMENTHAL ARTS
Blumenthal Arts serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education not-for-profit. For more information, call (704) 372-1000 or visit BlumenthalArts.org. Blumenthal Arts receives support from the Infusion Fund and the City of Charlotte Arts Fund. Generous support is also provided by PNC Bank, sponsor of the PNC Broadway Lights series, and Equitable, sponsor of the Equitable Bravo Series.
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