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Charleston SC Arts and Culture
Since the first building in America
constructed specifically for theatrical performances was established
in Charleston back in 1735, the city has maintained a great
tradition in the fine arts. That venue, The Dock Street Theater,
still features a fine assortment of professional productions
throughout the year in a magnificent setting restored to the exact
detail of its colonial elegance.
The charming atmosphere of an historic city filled with the
beautiful creations of world-famous architects and artisans lends a
splendid backdrop to artists of every persuasion, and American Style
magazine has listed Charleston among the top five arts destinations
in the United States. Charleston features a first-class symphony
orchestra, a number of professional ballet and stage companies, and
a wealth of nationally-renowned artists and authors.
Each May, Charleston hosts the internationally-acclaimed Spoleto USA
Festival, a 17-day event that features an incredible range of
artistic styles and forms, including classical ballet, modern and
post-modern dance; opera, chamber, symphonic and choral music; jazz,
theater, and visual arts. Created by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer
Giancarlo Menotti in 1976, the Spoleto festival is heralded for its
new and innovative works and its role in expanding public
appreciation of the arts.
In February, Charleston is the place to be for the largest wildlife
art event in the nation, the Southeast Wildlife Exposition.
Featuring hundreds of the world's most outstanding wildlife artists
whose works include paintings, sculpture, carvings and photography,
SEWE attracts 35,000+ to the city for world-class art works and
exhibits. Each quarter, more than two dozen of the city's finest art
downtown galleries host the French Quarter Art Walk, featuring
incredible works in a variety of mediums.
Spring brings nature's art work in banks of blooming flowers, and
The Historic Charleston Foundation's Festival of Houses and Gardens
featuring the interiors and gardens of some of the finest private
residences in America celebrating the city's magnificent
architectural and floral design.
In September, the MOJA Arts Festival celebrates the African
influence on Charleston's heritage, featuring authentic music,
story-telling, basket weaving and other forms of art that originated
in Africa and was brought to America on slave ships and continues to
be handed down through generations as a cherished means of identity.
The Charleston Music & Heritage Festival is another September event
held on Daniel Island that features wonderful jazz music and
original artworks.
The Sculpture of the South Festival in May highlights the
grandly-chiseled features of this classic art form. The
Charleston International Film Festival takes place in May to
showcase the art and talent of emerging filmmakers in shorts,
features and documentaries. Featuring premieres, panels, seminars,
and special events, the festival is dedicated to perpetuating the
artistic environment so well exemplified in the nature of Charleston
itself.
Charleston's historic Gibbes Museum of Art features world-class
collections of paintings, sculpture and other mediums, including a
complete chronological range of works by noted Charlestonians that
provides a thorough interpretation of the visual culture of the
city.
Other performing arts organizations and venues around the city
include:
- Charleston Ballet Theater
- Charleston Music Hall
- The Actors' Theater of South Carolina
- Footlight Players/Queen Street Playhouse
- Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
- North Charleston Performing Arts Center
- Sottile Theater
- Theater 99
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