Gibbes Museum of Art

The Gibbes Museum of Art anchors the cultural landscape in Charleston, South Carolina, providing the community’s residents and visitors with deep connections to both local and global art since its doors opened in 1905. Believing that art is the difference between merely existing and being truly alive, the Gibbes aims to celebrate and examine its heritage and future with special exhibitions; a permanent collection of over 7,000 artistic works, comprised of paintings, miniature portraits, works on paper, photographs, Charleston-made furniture and silver, decorative art objects, and sculpture; various programs and collaborations that explore the rich cultural and historical tapestry of this region and beyond. Beyond this emphasis lies a commitment to exhibiting broader American and global art to the public, as well as providing a variety of educational opportunities, lecture series, and visiting artist programs. This array of programs and offerings has successfully solidified the Gibbes’ impact as a hub of profound artistic experiences as well as a space for learning and personal development. It is a place of strong community engagement. This past year, the Gibbes achieved museum reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. This is the highest national recognition afforded to institutions across the country. Accredited since 1972, the Gibbes is one of only 17 museums accredited in South Carolina.

While local history plays a vital role in the museum’s identity, progress and inclusion are also at the center of the Gibbes’ vision for the future. Its diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) programs have been met with resounding engagement from the Gibbes’ broad communities, who have fully embraced the museum’s passion for creating a space that truly reflects the world in which it resides. Collaboration with and support of artists are also core to the Gibbes’ mission and impact. The museum’s 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art is awarded to artists whose work contributes to a new understanding of art in the South, demonstrating the museum’s commitment to going beyond the display of the South’s artistic roots to fostering the development of its artistic future.

The Gibbes Museum of Art operates on an annual budget of approximately $4 million, with an endowment of $4.7 million. While the endowment has seen considerable growth in recent years, more than double in size since 2018, the museum is committed to increasing the endowment further. The museum’s board of directors are highly engaged and committed to the Gibbes’ success, and the same can be said of the museum’s 25 staff members. The museum is also supported by its growing volunteer auxiliary groups such as the Women’s Council, who volunteer time and talent for events and programs to benefit the Gibbes and support its mission, and Society 1858, a group of young professionals who support the museum with social and educational programs made for up-and-coming art patrons. The Gibbes’ property is co-owned equally by the City of Charleston and the Carolina Art Association, a non-profit founded in 1858, which owns the art collection. As the museum looks to the future, which includes an acquisition of a neighboring building as part of a 7,000 square foot expansion, it envisions itself as a landmark of cultural growth, community connectivity, and an increasingly visible presence in the broader American visual arts environment.

Today, the Gibbes has garnered numerous accolades since reopening and during the pandemic for enhancing cultural tourism and contributing to its economic resiliency and growth. In 2019, the Gibbes received the prestigious SC Governor’s Award for the Arts recognizing the organization for outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts and the Chamber of Commerce’s Beacon Award given to a structure that elevates aesthetics and improves quality of life for the region. It has also been named the best museum in South Carolina by USA Today, and one of the top museums in Charleston by the Travel Channel.