Arts & Culture, Charleston, SC

Encounter artistic inspiration around every corner

George Gershwin spent the summer of 1934 on nearby Folly Beach, soaking up the Bohemian atmosphere of the windswept barrier island. He attended local churches and even judged a beauty pageant at the Folly Pier, all while drawing inspiration for the Porgy and Bess score. The haunting nocturne "Summertime" is just one of the melodies attributed to the Lowcountry, where the rich musical heritage dates back to St. Cecilia's Society, the nation's first formalized chamber music group, and the first opera performed in the colonies, Flora (1736).

The arts, entwined in Charleston's earliest history, play an integral part in the city's vibrant quality of life. Numberous local professional organizations offer robust performance seasons. Celebrated museums and galleries showcase national and regional powerhouses of the art world. And every year the annual Spoleto Festival presents internationally acclaimed performance artists—from the classical to the cutting edge—from around the world.

Art Galleries
Meeting, Church, State, East Bay, Broad, Cumberland, Queen, Chalmers and Tradd Streets
Charleston, SC
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Chamber Music Charleston
PO Box 80072
Charleston, SC
843 763 4941
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Charleston Ballet Theatre
151 Grove Street
Charleston, SC
843 723 7334
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Charleston Concert Association
131 King Street
Charleston, SC
843 727 1216
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Charleston Stage Company
135 Church Street
Charleston, SC
843 577 5967
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Charleston Symphony Orchestra
572 Savannah Highway
Suite 100
Charleston, SC
843 723 7528
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Gibbes Museum of Art
135 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC
843 722 2706
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Piccolo Spoleto Festival
180 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC
843 724 7305
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PURE Theatre
477 King Street
Charleston, SC
866 811 4111
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Spoleto Festival USA
14 George Street
Charleston, SC
843 722 2764
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The Village Playhouse
730 Coleman Boulevard
Mount Pleasant, SC
843 856 1579
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