Arts & Culture Spots in the Grand Strand

Explore the Arts & Culture of The Beach

Everyone knows that Myrtle Beach is known for The Beach, but you may not know that Myrtle - and the entire Grand Strand - is home to a diverse arts & culture scene that has stemmed from its Lowcountry roots, beautiful scenery, and a collection of people from around the world.

These arts & cultural spots along the Grand Strand are for you to check out, and maybe even get inspired by, during your beach vacation. You can find more details about each place on our website.

Atalaya Castle

Located within Huntington Beach State Park, the historic Atalaya Castle is an expansive structure that served as the winter home for the founders of Brookgreen Gardens – Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. The original estate was designed by the couple with their own unique touches and featured 30 rooms with a Spanish-inspired design. Now you can enter the state park to walk through what remains of this stunning property, and sort through photographs that provide a rich, detailed history of the home and the changes it’s seen.

Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens delivers a multitude of programs for artists and history enthusiasts. The famous Gardens were preserved by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, the latter of whom created many of the on-site statues. Even if you’re just looking for a spot to experience serene nature, Brookgreen Gardens spans over 9,000 acres in Murrells Inlet. Step into its breathtaking Live Oak Allee, then meander through the sculpture gardens and fountains for a new sight at every turn. Regardless of the time of year you visit, there are always exciting new colors and changes for every season.

Brookgreen is also home to an accredited zoo, which features native species that have been rescued and rehabilitated. Children also love the Enchanted Storybook Forest with real-life playhouses designed around their favorite fairytales. Brookgreen hosts a slew of events throughout the year, none more popular than its Nights of a Thousand Candles during the holiday season. Other events include the Fall Family Harvest Home Festival, year-round tours and boat rides, Art Festival, concerts, lecture series, and more.

Arts and Gallery Trail

Serving 60 miles of artwork, the Arts and Gallery Trail is an interactive platform accessed through your smartphone. After registering for the free pass on your phone, you’ll have access to 14 communities with more than 100 locations across the Grand Strand where you can find galleries, museums, and art-filled attractions. Follow the trail to uncover some of The Beach’s ‘hidden gems’ with ocean-front sculptures, huge alleyway murals, and art-filled underground passages that only the locals know about! And, as you visit each place, mark it on your pass to accumulate points that you can win prizes such as stickers, t-shirts, and more cultural Myrtle Beach gear. Get your FREE pass HERE

Seacoast Artist Guild Gallery

Established in 2005, Seacoast is a local non-profit arts organization dedicated to increasing the awareness of the arts and its benefits to the community. The gallery has members from around the Carolinas who share their passion with others in the area through natural light and open spaces. Seacoast also holds exhibits, workshops, and special events aimed at nurturing all artists-to-be.

Conway Glass Blowing 

A local glass shop in Conway, only a few miles from the beach, offers glass blowing classes, stained glass workshops, and educational classes for kids. Visit their website or call the owners, Ed and Barb Streeter, to discover how you, too, can learn the intricacies of this craft. The shop also creates custom glass creations that you can ship to a loved one for any occasion. If you can’t make it in person or want to get a taste of the craft before arriving at The Beach, Ed has a livestream Q&A session via YouTube most Monday evenings.

Franklin G Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Myrtle Beach Art Museum

The Myrtle Beach Art Museum is free to visitors under the age of 18 and college students with a valid ID. It offers over ten galleries that are on a changing basis throughout the year to showcase as many local and well-known artists as possible. Each month, they also offer pottery and other art classes, available to those aged 16 and up, and have a kids' art program with activities meant to inspire children of all levels. Each year, they feature FREE Community Family Days, too, to celebrate the Chinese New Year, Dia de los Muertos, and Gullah Day.

Art in the Park with Waccamaw Arts & Crafts Guild

Known as the Grand Strand’s top outdoor show and sale, Art in the Park (AITP) hosts artists from around the country, displaying various mediums of art. Hosted by Waccamaw Arts & Crafts Guild, established in 1969, the guild has been running AITP since 1972, allowing original works and reproductions to be displayed, showcasing the high quality of art that can be found across the area. The event takes place for a weekend, three times throughout the year, in April, October, and November, in Valor Park inside Market Common

Hopsewee Plantation

Weaving baskets from sweetgrass has been a longstanding tradition in the Lowcountry that stems from West African slaves. The baskets played a vital role on southern rice plantations and have long been treasured for their beautiful patterns and cultural remembrance. Vera Manigualt, an eight-generation Gullah descendant, teaches basket-weaving classes at Hopsewee Plantation every Thursday and Sunday. Join the plantation for Gullah tours, a special meal at the River Oak Cottage, or a guided tour through the property. You can register online at hopsewee.com.

Horry County Museum

Created to preserve the local abundance of southern art, culture, and heritage, the Horry County Museum includes exhibits, events, and the L.W. Paul Living History Farm. Inside the museum’s exhibits, you’ll find farming tools, a look at our local wildlife, photographs, household items, military-related articles, and clothing based on the period displayed. There’s also a detailed look at the history of our beach and how it became a household name. The L.W. Paul Living History Farm offers tours each Saturday at 10 a.m. to showcase what it was like to live and work on a farm in Horry County between 1900 and 1955. You’ll even be able to participate in some farming activities to truly feel what farming was like during that era, and look at a museum with a 4,400-gallon freshwater aquarium that was featured on Animal Planet’s “Tanked” in 2014. There is always something to learn at the Museum – check out their website for events, art galleries, and summer or fall activities.

International Culinary Institute

Myrtle Beach has its own renowned cooking school called the International Culinary Institute at Horry Georgetown Technical College, located in The Market Common, where students learn the finest culinary skills while managing a restaurant and farmers market. Many students and faculty will host community cooking classes throughout the year, including a Chef’s Table Reservation in a glassed private room. The menus are created to incorporate fresh, local ingredients with various textures and flavors - don’t miss out!

Theatre of the Republic

The Theatre of the Republic (TOR) is a major cultural resource that’s been in the area since 1969. This non profit offers quality performances to the community, by the community, that’s affordable and various in content, casts, and genre. Make a trip to this retro-styled establishment in Historic Rivertown in Conway to watch the local Coastal Youth Teen theatre, catch a musical, or a holiday show during the winter months.

The Long Bay Symphony

Did you know that Myrtle Beach has a symphony? World-class musicians provide high-quality performances featuring musical works from Mozart, Beethoven, popular Broadway musicals, and more. They host a series of concerts and events year-round and there’s even a youth symphony and string ensemble that performs concerts in the spring and winter. Visit their website for specific details on show dates and locations.

F1rst Friday Art Walk Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance

In the Arts and Innovation District of Downtown Myrtle Beach off Broadway Street, join crowds of people as they watch live performances, check out artists and musicians, and try some downtown restaurants who feature dining specials throughout the night. Happening the first Friday of every month, the art walk is a self guided tour for people to explore the food, culture, and artistic scene in Myrtle Beach. Participating businesses can be found on the Artwalk map.

Myrtle Beach History Tours

Join Kathryn Hedgepath for her Myrtle Beach History Tours that depart from Market Common. These tours take place on an air-conditioned historic trolley that travels around the Myrtle Beach area for two hours. There are tours about Myrtle Beach in movies, its military history, Early Myrtle Beach in the War Years, ghosts, pirates and historic families, and so much more. All tours begin in front of the Grand 14 Theatre at The Market Common. Visit the Myrtle Beach History Tours website for a complete list of tours, trolley rides, and special events.

North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum

The North Myrtle Beach Historical Museum focuses on preserving the memories of this beautiful community, including Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, Windy Hill, Barefoot Landing, Little River, Longs, Loris, and the Wampee areas. The museum opened in 2013 and features art exhibits, a museum store, and special events throughout the year.

Other art galleries to check out:

• Rice Museum, Prevost Gallery 633 Front St, Georgetown, SC 843.546.7423, ricemuseum.org
• Perrone’s Restaurant 13302 Ocean Hwy, (17) Litchfield Beach, SC 843.235.9193, perronesmarket.com
• Bryan Art Gallery 133 Chanticleer Dr W, Conway, SC (Coastal Carolina University Campus) 843.349.6454, coastal.edu/gallery.com
• South Carolina Hall of Fame 2101 N. Oak St., Myrtle Beach, SC (Inside the Myrtle Beach Area Convention Center)  843.626.7444 www.theofficialschalloffame.com