This fall, the College of Charleston received a $1 million endowment in support of The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, announced Mark Sloan, the Halsey’s director and chief curator. The donation is a gift from Deborah Chalsty, a member of the Halsey’s Advisory Board.
(L-R) College of Charleston President Glenn F. McConnell, Jennifer A. Chalsty, Deborah Chalsty, Mark Sloan, Director and Chief Curator, Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art.
“We are deeply grateful for the generosity of Deborah Chalsty, a longtime friend and advocate of the Halsey, and a committed champion of the visual arts,” said Sloan.
“With the tremendous support of Deborah Chalsty, the Halsey can further its vital role as a creative force on our campus and in our community,” said President Glenn F. McConnell ’69.
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The endowment, given in honor of Chalsty’s mother, Jennifer A. Chalsty, will not only strengthen the Halsey’s role as a vital cultural resource for College of Charleston students, but will help further the institute as a cultural hub in the City of Charleston and beyond. It will also support the documentation of exhibitions, the Looking to See program for K-12 students, and the Artist in Residence program.
“I have been collecting my friends’ art since I can remember,” said the younger Chalsty, who is particularly inspired by artists previously underrepresented in the art world. “My hope is that this endowment will further meaningful exchange in the arts for students and community members alike—and also inspire others to support the Halsey.”
The College of Charleston honored Chalsty’s generosity with the dedication of the newly named Deborah A. Chalsty Gallery at the official unveiling reception on February 9.
