CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Aug. 4, 2023) – Arts & Science Council (ASC) President Krista Terrell has resigned and will leave ASC by the end of this year after 21 years at the organization, with two years as president. Terrell assumed ASC’s presidency at a crucial point in the cultural community – first taking over in January 2021 as acting president after Jeep Bryant resigned and before the launch of the Infusion Fund, a three-year initiative to support the sector, and then as president in April 2021. She worked to ensure ASC’s financial stability while advocating for individual artists, positioning ASC as a partner with both Mecklenburg County, the Infusion Fund and the six suburban towns, and updating the community on the organization’s path to cultural equity through its inaugural and second Cultural Equity reports.

“It has truly been a pleasure and highlight of my career to work for ASC. I am extremely proud of the work that has been accomplished under my leadership,” Terrell said. “We have granted more dollars to creative individuals in the history of the organization, put teaching artists to work in Pre-K-12 schools while continuing to listen and respond to the needs and desires of Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents.

“We have invested in cultural organizations of all sizes in an equitable way, reaffirmed and institutionalized our commitment to cultural equity through our work and kept the organization’s promise to the community to annually report on ASC’s equity journey. This is the work of ASC. I am grateful to have led ASC’s team in pushing our work forward and to ASC’s board for trusting me to lead the organization.”

ASC plans to continue the momentum it has built over the last several years, from expanding funding opportunities to creative individuals to continuing to invest in grassroots, emerging and longstanding cultural organizations.

ASC recently awarded six creative individuals $50,000 Founders Grants, which represent the largest awards to individuals from ASC in the organization’s 65-year history. ASC increased the amount of its fellowship awards to creative individuals and introduced Creative Mecklenburg Grants to support professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists who live and work in Mecklenburg County. It also expanded opportunities for local and regional artists to be commissioned for public art projects. When Terrell joined ASC in 2002, the organization’s annual investment in creative individuals was $50,000; ASC invested more than $1.7 million in regional artists in FY22.

To support organizations, ASC increased the maximum award amount for its Cultural Vision Grants for community projects that respond to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community’s interest in arts, science, history and heritage programming. It transitioned its Technical Assistance Grant program to the Cultural Organizational Support Grant program to better support organizations’ anti-racism work and capacity building efforts. It continued to provide professional development funding to local cultural organizations and, with increased support from Mecklenburg County, continued to grow its Culture Blocks program, which connects communities with responsive arts, science, and history experiences closer to where residents live.

ASC’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tony Perez, will lead the search for a new president.

“Krista has been a respected and valued member of ASC’s family for more than two decades, including her leadership and advocacy during a period of transformation,” Perez said. “On behalf of ASC’s Board of Directors, ASC staff and Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s grateful cultural community, I thank Krista for her countless contributions.”

About ASC

ASC is the chief advocate, resource hub and steward for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region’s cultural community. Its core functions include advocacy, cultural education programs, cultural planning, fundraising, grant making, public art and workshops and trainings for the cultural community. ASC works to ensure Culture For All by combining resources from local and state government with those of the private sector to maximize community impact throughout the cultural sector.

ASC believes that arts, culture and creativity play a critical role in creating a sense of belonging to a community. Stay up to date on ASC news and happenings at ArtsAndScience.org and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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