The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of the Arts is excited to announce a new Director. Michael Dickins (pictured) will take the helm as Halsey Institute Director and Chief Curator on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Dickins’s leadership follows the Halsey Institute’s former director, Katie Hirsch, accepting a position as Deputy Director of Exhibitions at the Taubman Museum of Art.
Michael Dickins shares, “As a curator in a university setting, my goal has always been to offer diverse programming that is visually compelling, physically engaging, and intellectually stimulating for both the university and the surrounding community. I take pride in creating a safe and inclusive space where artists can experiment with their craft, connect with the public, and foster dialogue around social, cultural, and political identity in ways that are open and accessible to all.
The Halsey Institute has been a trailblazer in contemporary art and education for over 40 years, and I am honored to lead its next chapter—especially in a city as vibrantly supportive of the arts as Charleston.”
School of the Arts Dean Jayme Klinger Host remarks, "I am excited to welcome Michael Dickins as the new Director of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. With his impressive background as an artist and a curator in a university setting, coupled with his energetic leadership, we anticipate a vibrant future for the institution under his guidance."
ABOUT MICHAEL DICKINS
Michael Dickins is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and gallery director whose work has been exhibited across the Southeastern U.S. as well as in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Denver, Houston, San Diego, Portland, Augusta (Maine), Istanbul, and Berlin. He has twice been a featured artist at {Re}Happening at Black Mountain College and has received commissions from the Pittsburgh Playhouse and the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company for original sound scores and projection designs.
With over 15 years of experience directing both commercial and institutional art galleries, Dickins has collaborated with artists across diverse media. He has curated and executed more than 45 exhibitions and public art projects and has served as a guest curator for Atlanta Contemporary. Additionally, he has been a jury panelist for SouthArts, apexart, AIRIE, and collegiate student exhibitions.
Dickins holds a BFA from Georgia Southern University and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. Since 2014, he has been the Director and Curator of The New Gallery and University Collections at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.