Lowcountry residents have always had an appreciation for the arts. In fact, Charleston is home to America’s first public theater, the Dock Street Theatre. Today, that creative legacy is more vibrant and lively than ever, with thriving community theaters, a brand new Gaillard Center where the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and international performers take the stage, ballet and modern dance groups, edgy art exhibits and art studios, and innumerable arts events, from improv comedy to spoken word poetry to chamber music.

While large-scale internationally recognized festivals like Spoleto Festival USA and the Charleston Wine + Food Festival draw thousands of patrons, the day-to-day creative life of the region is celebrated in sweetgrass basket weavers and mural painters, the professional actors and writers, graphic designers and architects, pastry chefs and sommeliers, singers, and choir directors who call the region home.