By Teresa Cowart Team
We get asked a lot about Savannah's arts scene specifically, separate from the music and nightlife side of the city. Between a major art school, a historic museum system, and a growing gallery scene, there's real depth here for anyone interested in the visual arts. Here's what we think is worth knowing about experiencing the arts in Savannah.
Key Takeaways
- Telfair Museums covers three separate sites on a single seven-day ticket
- SCAD has grown to more than 18,000 students, shaping the city's creative energy
- The SCAD Museum of Art occupies a restored 19th-century railroad depot
- An annual free museum day makes several major sites accessible at no cost
Telfair Museums: Three Sites, One Ticket
Telfair Museums covers three distinct sites, the Telfair Academy, the Jepson Center for the Arts, and the Owens-Thomas House, all accessible on a single ticket valid for seven consecutive days. The Telfair Academy opened as a public museum in 1886, making it one of the oldest public art galleries in the South, while the Jepson Center, designed by architect Moshe Safdie, focuses on contemporary work. This kind of multi-day, multi-site ticket makes it realistic to actually see all three without rushing through everything in one afternoon.
What Each Site Offers
- The Telfair Academy, one of the oldest public art galleries in the South
- The Jepson Center for the Arts, designed by Moshe Safdie, focused on contemporary work
- The Owens-Thomas House, offering guided tours of 1810s architecture and urban slavery history
- A single ticket covering all three sites for seven consecutive days
SCAD's Influence on the City's Art Scene
The Savannah College of Art and Design began in the late 1970s with a single downtown building and a small founding class, and has since grown to more than 18,000 students from all 50 states and over 100 countries. This kind of scale reshapes a city's creative energy, and Savannah's art scene reflects that influence throughout its galleries, studios, and public spaces. For anyone visiting, SCAD's presence is part of why Savannah feels like a working art town, not just a historic one.
Why SCAD Matters So Much Here
- Founded in the late 1970s with one downtown building
- Now enrolls more than 18,000 students from around the world
- A real, ongoing influence on the city's creative and artistic energy
- Part of why Savannah feels like an active art town, not just a historic one
The SCAD Museum of Art: Contemporary Work in a Historic Depot
The SCAD Museum of Art is housed in a restored 19th-century railroad depot, formerly the Central of Georgia Railroad's north depot, located near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The museum focuses mostly on contemporary art, featuring both established and emerging artists, including work by SCAD's own students and alumni. The building itself is worth appreciating alongside the art, since the historic depot structure is a notable piece of Savannah's architectural history in its own right.
What Makes This Museum Distinctive
- Housed in a restored 19th-century railroad depot
- Focuses primarily on contemporary art and emerging artists
- Frequently features work by SCAD students and alumni
- A historically significant building in its own right, beyond the art inside
Smaller Galleries Worth Seeking Out
Beyond the major museums, Savannah has a growing scene of smaller contemporary galleries, including Laney Contemporary, which opened in 2017 to showcase emerging and established artists from across the Southeast. City Market's upper level is also worth a visit, since the entire floor consists of working artist studios open to visitors. These smaller spaces offer a different, more intimate way to experience the city's art beyond the larger institutions.
Where to Find These Smaller Spaces
- Laney Contemporary, showcasing emerging and established Southeastern artists
- City Market's upper level, home to working artist studios
- A more intimate, personal way to experience local art
- A good complement to a visit at the larger museums
Free Museum Day and Other Ways to Visit for Less
Georgia hosts an annual Super Museum Sunday, typically in February as part of the Georgia History Festival, offering free admission to more than a hundred museums and historic sites statewide, including major Savannah venues. Outside of that specific day, individual museum admissions in Savannah generally range from about $12 to $30 depending on the site. Planning a visit around this annual event is a straightforward way to see more of Savannah's arts scene without the usual admission cost.
Ways to Make Museum Visits More Affordable
- Super Museum Sunday, typically held in February each year
- Free admission to over a hundred Georgia museums and sites on that day
- Individual admissions typically ranging from about $12 to $30
- A multi-site ticket, like Telfair's, often costs less than visiting separately
FAQs
Is it worth visiting all three Telfair sites, or should we just pick one?
We'd say the full ticket is worth it if you have the time, since it's valid for a full week. That flexibility makes it easy to split the visits across a couple of days instead of rushing through everything at once.
Does SCAD's museum only show student work?
We'd say not exclusively, no, though student and alumni work does show up regularly. It also features established artists working in contemporary styles.
When exactly does the free museum day happen each year?
It's typically held in February as part of the Georgia History Festival, though we'd recommend confirming the exact date each year. It's a great way to plan a low-cost visit if the timing works for your trip.
Contact Teresa Cowart Team Today
Savannah's arts scene is something we love sharing with clients considering this area, especially those drawn here for the creative energy as much as the history. We're happy to talk about how the arts community factors into your search.
Reach out to Teresa Cowart Team, and let's talk about finding your place near Savannah.
Reach out to Teresa Cowart Team, and let's talk about finding your place near Savannah.
