Connecting people to history and the arts!

What Is The Colleton Center?

The Colleton Center is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to provide for the preservation and renovation of the historic Hampton Street Elementary School building and for the development of an arts and civic center and museum.

Throughout the years, Hampton Street School has been alive with activity – as a film set for scenes from "Forrest Gump" and "Radio," as a home for classes, the Costume Shop and the pottery kiln for the Colleton County Arts Council. The auditorium provides a performance space for the Arts Council’s Children’s Theatre and for artists from around the globe.

People

The Civic Center will be a large two-story space, approximately 6,640 square feet. The Civic Center will be designed to accommodate large community functions, such as reunions, weddings, retreats and meetings. A state-of-the-art media center and conference rooms will be equipped to serve the business community for regional meetings, conferences, and employee training seminars. The Arts Council and Colleton Museum will use the space to enhance their educational programs. The estimated 100-seat theatre will be used to educate school children and adults on the importance of Colleton County's natural resources and history. The Arts Council will use the media center to develop a film series.

The Reception/Gallery Space will be shared by the museum and arts council and will feature art shows and changing exhibits. Hampton Street Auditorium, the 723-seat performing arts venue, housed within the Colleton Center will continue to host international, national, and local performing artists.

History

The Colleton Museum occupies 1,000-square feet in its present location in the Old Jail on Jefferies Boulevard. The expansion of The Colleton Center will allow the Museum to increase their exhibit space to approximately 7,000 square feet. The expansion will include designated exhibit space for the following:

• Plantations of the Lowcountry explores the history and importance of Colleton County's twenty-nine plantations from their inception to uses today and landowner's important role in preserving the environment.
• Animals of the ACE features information on wildlife indigenous to the South Carolina Lowcountry.
• The Colleton Room features artifacts and information on the county's history and people.
• Children's Discovery Room

Arts

The Colleton County Arts Council will occupy approximately 9,000 square feet of the building. Classrooms will include a drawing/painting studio, a clay studio, a dance studio, a music room, private lesson rooms and a photo studio.

Endless Possibilities

The possibilities for this treasure of a building are endless; the first steps have been taken. In 2006, The Colleton County Courthouse began an extensive renovation project and created a temporary facility at Hampton Street School, investing over $1,000,000 in infrastructure and interior spaces. The Colleton County School District contributed to the success of the project by conveying the building at an affordable price. The capital campaign raised over $2,000,000 in grants, donations, pledges and in-kind contributions, which made major renovations possible. The focus this year is on improvements to the auditorium. Everyone has a contribution to make, and we invite you to be a part of it all.

Our Colleton Center Partners

Colleton County Arts Council

Colleton County Council

Colleton County Economic Alliance, Inc.

Colleton County Museum

Colleton County School District

Walterboro City Council

Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina Arts Commission

State of South Carolina