The Dock Street Theatre, the site of one of America's first
playhouses, is evidence of past area arts. The theatre is a
combination of the reconstruction of an early Georgian playhouse and
the preservation of the old Planters Hotel. Plays and musicals are
scheduled in this theatre, located on Church Street in downtown
Charleston, throughout the year.
Paintings from the past are displayed throughout Charleston's
museums and galleries, which also show collector pieces.
The Lowcountry has inspired the works of such notable American
writers as Edgar Allen Poe and Pat Conroy. The Charleston area also
provided the setting for many popular films, including Scarlett and
Die Hard III.
Today, the area's cultural scene is resurgent, as evidenced by a
number of local festivals, arts organization productions and museum
exhibits.
Festivals
Charleston plays host annually to Spoleto Festival USA, the
world's most comprehensive arts festival. Founded in 1977, Spoleto
offers a 17-day menu of international drama, opera, dance, music and
visual arts each spring. The city of Charleston also hosts Piccolo
Spoleto, the official concurrent companion to Spoleto, highlighting
the best of both regional and local talent.
Some of the other local festivals include the Lowcountry Oyster
Festival; the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, the largest wildlife
arts, crafts and collectibles show in the south; the Flowertown
Festival, held each spring in Summerville; A Taste of Charleston; the Preservation
Society's Annual Candlelight Tours of Houses and Gardens; WorldFest
Charleston, the Charleston international film festival; and
Christmas in Charleston, a month-long celebration of the holiday
season.
Arts Organizations
The Charleston area is also home to a number of renowned arts
organizations, including the Charleston Ballet Theatre, the
Lowcountry Arts and Cultural Council and the Charleston Symphony
Orchestra, whose season includes masterworks, chamber music and pop
concerts, a community orchestra and band, nine theatre groups and
two dance companies. Painters, sculptors, photographers, potters,
basket weavers, jewelry makers and other artists exhibit their work
in galleries and outdoor shows. The local colleges, county
recreation departments and the Gibbes Museum are resources for
instructional courses.
Area Museums
Area museums present a glimpse into the rich history and cultural
life of the Lowcountry as well. The Gibbes Museum of Art contains
one of the nation's leading collections of historical portraits and
landscapes from the colonial period. The Charleston Museum - North
America's oldest museum, founded in 1773 - offers captivating
collection of artifacts depicting Lowcountry life from its first
settlers to its current residents. Other museums include the
American Military Museum, The Citadel Museum, Karpeles Manuscript
Museum, Confederate Museum, Museum on the Common, Patriots Point
Naval and Maritime Museum and the Shem Creek Maritime Museum.
Newcomers and visitors to the area will fast uncover a
full program of established events in the area, most suitable for
the entire family.
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