With multiple internationally-recognized arts and culture festivals, a vibrant gallery scene, and strong local support for performance, music, and contemporary art, Charleston capitalizes on its arts and culture community to draw artists and audiences from around the world. The City recently completed renovation of the multi-use Gaillard Center, which houses many city offices as well as a performing arts theatre.
| Region | Topic |
|---|---|
| Africa and Europe (multi-regional project) | Social Change through the Arts |
| Georgia | University Libraries |
The Charleston area hosts multiple large arts and culture festivals annually. The Spoleto Festival, now in its 41st year, brings thousands of visitors to the city to attend more than 100 performances, and the MOJA festival showcases the history and variety of the Lowcountry's African-American and Caribbean art and culture.
With dozens of commercial galleries in the downtown area, the City of Charleston has a large art and antiques economy which benefits from the high income levels and local appetite for history and culture that defines much of the Lowcountry.
Charleston boasts a number of venues dedicated to furthering contemporary art, including the College of Charleston's Hallsey Institute, which operates as a non-collecting museum to display works from around the world.