Cultural District

What is a cultural district?

A cultural district is a geographic area that has a concentration of cultural facilities, activities and assets. It is a walkable area that is easily identifiable to visitors and residents and serves as a center of cultural, artistic and economic activity. A cultural district may contain galleries, live performance venues, theaters, artist studios, museums, arts centers, arts schools, and public art pieces. A cultural district may also contain businesses like restaurants, banks or parks whose primary purpose is not arts, but that regularly make their spaces available to artists or create opportunities for the public to encounter the arts.

Bluffton receives cultural district designation

In 2016, Bluffton became the sixth community in South Carolina to earn the designation since state legislation was passed in June 2014, allowing the creation of such districts. Other municipalities that have received the designation include Rock Hill, Spartanburg, Columbia, Lancaster and Beaufort. Bluffton’s cultural district spans from Bluffton Village south to the May River, and from Burnt Church Road west to Cahill’s Market on May River Road. The area includes 120 cultural attractions and roughly three dozen annual festivals and events.

More information

To learn more visit the South Carolina Arts Commission online.