Winslow's Word: March 2024
Spring is here and The Charleston Festival begins on March 14th! The rebooted festival, now The Charleston Festival, is the Foundation’s largest fundraising and educational program, with revised programming, additional exciting venues, a new lecture format, and a monthlong exhibit by celebrated Charleston-based artist, Jill Hooper, that will appeal to residents and visitors.
The Charleston Festival starts with a bang this year with Charleston by Design, the opening weekend celebration to kick-off the Festival, with Designer Vignettes at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum and international speakers for the Design in Mind Lecture Series.
Formerly in the fall, the Designer Vignettes for 2024 will extend out to the Garden Folly this spring with a vignette designed by Glen Gardner and Patrick Bradley of Charleston Gardenworks.
The Library designed by Jason Reeves, 2021.
I am honored to welcome Amy Astley, Editor in Chief of Architectural Digest, as Honorary Chair of Charleston by Design. Our Design in Mind lecture series will feature Ben and Kate Towill of Charleston-based Basic Projects, award-winning architect Gil Schafer and designer Rita Konig, and London-based designer, Veere Greeney, and New York-based designers Thomas Jayne and William Cullum.
That’s only the first weekend. Through April 14th, the Festival continues with Street Tours, concerts at the Riviera Theater, creative workshops, and more events for both visitors and Charleston residents to enjoy. After an incredible weekend with Southern blues songwriter, Adia Victoria, at the Aiken-Rhett House in Oct 2023, we are excited to feature Adia at the Riviera Theater on March 28. (Read more about the performance and Charleston Sessions HERE).
Adia Victoria performs at ARH for Charleston Progressive Academy Students, October 2023
With more than 100 events to choose from, I hope to see you on a Street Tour, at a Bubbles & Blooms, or at one of our many excellent lectures. Thank you to The Charleston Festival’s Presenting Sponsor, Beemok Hospitality Collection; National Media Sponsor, Flower Magazine, Explore Charleston, and all our community sponsors, partners, friends, and volunteers that help make this month-long Festival possible.
Proceeds and sponsorships from The Charleston Festival power the staff and resources behind Historic Charleston Foundation and our mission: To advocate for a future for Charleston that honors and protects its people, places, culture, and community. As we work towards our Strategic Plan, I’m excited to welcome Tracey Todd, former CEO of Middleton Place, to the Foundation as the Interim Director of Museums. After 33 years at Middleton Place, Tracey will lead efforts to support the Foundation’s Historic House Museums.
The Foundation is also continually focused on the Union Pier redevelopment, the revised Peninsula Plan, and the many other advocacy and preservation issues facing the Charleston region. Did you have a chance to attend the March 5 Open House? Read our recap HERE.