Arts & Culture
Taking Center Stage
A leader in the performing arts arena, this stunning downtown venue commissions, produces, and presents ambitious, multidisciplinary cultural programming and provides access to the best local, national, and global artists and companies on its stage.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve heard of the Charleston Gailliard Center. It’s one of the true cultural gems of the Holy City. A leader in the performing arts arena, this stunning downtown venue commissions, produces, and presents ambitious, multidisciplinary cultural programming and provides access to the best local, national, and global artists and companies on its stage.
The Gaillard (pronounced GILL-yard) hosts a wide range of events, from world-class symphonies and Broadway tours to jazz nights, dance performances, inspiring speakers, and author conversations. Whether you’re looking for an elegant evening event or casual time with the family at an afternoon of music or storytelling, you’ll find it here.
The original Gaillard Municipal Auditorium and Exhibition Hall opened in 1968. For over 40 years, it served as Charleston’s star venue for thousands of memorable performances and civic events. The Gaillard became home to the Charleston Symphony in the early 1980s, and the founding of Spoleto Festival USA in 1977 helped propel Charleston (and The Gaillard) onto the world stage.
The idea for a new Gaillard Center was born from a conversation between visionaries Martha Rivers Ingram and Mayor Joe Riley. They agreed the City of Charleston needed a world-class cultural institution to support and elevate our artistic community. Construction of the new Charleston Gaillard Center began in 2012 and was completed in 2015. Established as a nonprofit that year, the new Gaillard Center features the 1,800-seat Martha and John M. Rivers Performance Hall, a 15,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom space, and an adjacent park space activated for artistic presentations.
Beyond their outstanding programming, the Charleston Gaillard Center is committed to education, equity, and access to the arts. Youth arts programs have the power to change the lives of young people, building confidence, sparking imagination, and showing them that creativity lives in every person. Lowcountry youths have been treated to student matinees, in-school workshops, and artist residencies. For many of these students, it’s the first time they’ve been exposed to live performance.
Since 2015, more than 200,000 students have been served through its education and community (including 100% of Charleston County public schools). Your donations to this nonprofit help fund these important programs. “Education has been at the heart of the Gaillard’s mission since day one,” said Sterling deVries, Vice President of Education and Community Outreach. “Surpassing 200,000 students served is a testament to the dedication of our team, our partners, and the incredible teachers and students who bring these programs to life. We are honored to be part of shaping the next generation through the arts.”
Honestly, there are more exciting things happening at the Charleston Gaillard Center than you can shake a stick at. Hop on over to their website where you peruse their calendar of exciting events, including the annual, not-to-be-missed Spiegeltent in December. There’s something here for everyone, including venue rentals if you’re looking for a stunning place to host your next event.
Want to discover more local? Follow Fig Magazine on Facebook and Instagram for inspiration.
