Hilton Head Island is ripe with culture and art across a variety of mediums. The locals appreciate great musicians and artists and celebrate the local culture regularly. With a few minor adjustments for health and safety you can plan for some great events now and even more down the road to celebrate art and music between rounds of golf and walks on the beach.
Music and Live Events
Located in the heart of Hilton Head, the arts center venue hosts live music and visitors can plan to see theatre, comedy acts, magic shows and more. They book a big variety of entertainment and it’s well worth keeping up with the calendar to catch a few amazing shows. Although the events are limited due to Covid-19 this year, expect them to come back online with big performances after things settle down.
The award-winning regional Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is a remarkable showcase for professional performing and visual arts, as well as cultural festivals and educational outreach. Typically, each year the Arts Center produces five plays or musicals, from concept to curtain call, featuring outstanding direction, superb production design and talented performers.
Virtual Art & Education
The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is the primary hub for music and arts. The center showcases and hosts performances and also offers Art Education and a rental program for supplies. It’s really an excellent organization that breathes life into the arts on Hilton Head. The 2020 summer camps went virtual to continue teaching children about the arts. Designed to explore the arts well beyond simple crafts, the virtual summer camps are open to the ages of 6 on up and they teach valuable skills throughout the curriculum. In the future, summer camps will re-open and resume normal in-person operations. These camps are an absolute blast for kids and remain popular and productive. There are also virtual field trips in the works for the upcoming 20/21 season which will be a sure hit.
Arts Center of Coastal Carolina
The arts center is focused on instruction and the advancement of the arts within the community. They offer a cyber school of art along with workshops, field trips and general education. Anyone wanting instruction in the arts should start with the calendar at the Arts Center. The facilities are located on Shelter Cove Lane, relatively close to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course and the waterfront Marriott Hilton Head Resort and Spa.
In the Community
On Hilton Head, you will find a ton of amazing art galleries and exhibits featuring local and traveling artists. The Nash Gallery is a favorite and is well known for showcasing unique and intriguing artists from the region. The Art League of Hilton Head Island is another to visit and the gallery is conveniently located in the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Combine the visit with a class, workshop or event if anything is currently running. The organization is a non-profit and the small gallery is often focused on local artists and crafts.
The Camelia Art Gallery and Framing is another that features many locals and they offer the framing service for art purchased at the gallery or any piece currently owned. Framing photographs is also a service offered and their custom frames are fantastic. The Endangered Arts Gallery is well known for the bronze sculptures and elegant oil paintings. They feature numerous attractive rotating exhibits throughout the year and are a popular stop for visiting and resident art enthusiasts.
The Smith Galleries has a diverse set of artists with glass, metal and many different mediums including oil and canvas. For those looking to find something different, they have some great displays and very unique artists. Glass and metal work is very interesting and some smaller pieces might even find a placement inside your Motorcoach.
You can also move beyond art conglomerates and visit single artist galleries like the photographer John McManus. McManus captures the local landscapes, towns, wildlife and culture brilliantly and has a top notch reputation for his work. He is often in the gallery and can discuss specific pieces in detail. The Candace Whittemore Lovely Fine Art Gallery is also a great place to stop and browse or shop for beautiful pieces to display. The ability to interact with the artist directly makes for a wonderful experience.
