14 <strong>Charlotte</strong>’s <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals</strong> U.S. National Whitewater Center
Culture & Arts: “There is a lot <strong>of</strong> art going on. My husband is a filmmaker by passion, so we knew there were opportunities in film and in the commercial world, music venues and theatres — they bring in artists and shows that you would never expect to see in <strong>Charlotte</strong>, very cool artists.” The <strong>Charlotte</strong> area plays an active role in the film and television industries, <strong>of</strong>fering competitive film incentives and a robust crew base. The area has more than 40 feature films and numerous independent films and television shows. Nightlife, Music and Cuisine: “I love exploring new restaurants. The nightlife is diverse; you can find what you want.” As Kara explains, “<strong>Charlotte</strong> is on the verge <strong>of</strong> turning into a cosmopolitan city with burgeoning, cool growth.” So what does <strong>Charlotte</strong> have to <strong>of</strong>fer? We can’t list them all, but here are a few highlights: U.S. National Whitewater Center, 210 parks and facilities, 7 disc golf courses, 6 dog parks, an equestrian center, numerous hiking trails, 35 miles <strong>of</strong> developed greenways, 150 miles <strong>of</strong> undeveloped greenways, 16 miles <strong>of</strong> mountain biking trails, Carolina Panthers, <strong>Charlotte</strong> Bobcats, NASCAR Hall <strong>of</strong> Fame, NC Music Factory, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre and more. Some <strong>of</strong> our festivals include Time Warner Cable BBQ and Blues, Taste <strong>of</strong> <strong>Charlotte</strong>, International Festival, Food Lion Speed Street, Festival in the Park, Latin America Festival, Yiasou Greek Festival and Oktoberfest. The <strong>Charlotte</strong> area is rich with museums and performing arts organizations, which include the Bechtler Museum <strong>of</strong> Modern Art, <strong>Charlotte</strong> Museum <strong>of</strong> History, Harvey B. Gantt Center for Arts + Culture, Levine Museum <strong>of</strong> the New South, McColl Center for Visual Art, the Mint Museum, the Light Factory Contemporary Museum <strong>of</strong> Photography and Film, Actor’s Theatre <strong>of</strong> <strong>Charlotte</strong>, <strong>Charlotte</strong> Symphony, NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, NC Dance Theatre, Opera Carolina, Theatre <strong>Charlotte</strong> and Carolina Voices. Most <strong>of</strong> these organizations also host young affiliate groups for young pr<strong>of</strong>essionals from the <strong>Charlotte</strong> Symphony Orchestra Pulse to <strong>Young</strong> Affiliates <strong>of</strong> the Mint to BRAVO!, Opera Carolina’s group for young pr<strong>of</strong>essionals. <strong>Charlotte</strong>’s <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals</strong> 15