CENTERFEST POSTPONED

DURHAM, NC— Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and continued need to follow CDC and Governor Cooper’s guidance for not gathering in large crowds, Durham Arts Council has decided, out of an abundance of caution, to postpone its signature outdoor arts festival, CenterFest, until September 17-18, 2022.

CenterFest is the longest-running outdoor street arts festival in North Carolina, and is ranked in the top 200 fine arts festivals in the country. Typically CenterFest attracts 30,000+ visitors to downtown Durham for a weekend filled with visual arts, music, dance, family activities and great food. “CenterFest is Durham’s community celebration where everyone can come together on the downtown streets to enjoy the arts and mingling with friends old and new. The huge crowds are wonderful and we look forward to relaunching the festival next year when we can all safely gather again,” said Durham Arts Council Executive Director, Sherry DeVries.

In an effort to support local artists and help boost their artwork sales later in the fall, Durham Arts Council will expand this year’s annual Durham Art Walk Holiday Market scheduled for November 20-21, 2021.

Durham Art Walk Holiday Market features the art work of over 200 local artists displaying and selling their work in 15+ venues throughout downtown Durham. The design of the Art Walk Holiday Market event allows for each venue to control visitor capacity during the weekend, and more easily enforce mask-wearing and social distancing. And by November there is hope that pandemic conditions will have improved considerably. The third weekend in November is an optimal time for visual artists to showcase and sell their work leading up to the holiday season and gift-giving. The Durham Art Walk Holiday Market 2021 will also include music, local food trucks and downtown tours and restaurant promotions.

Nicole Thompson, CEO of Downtown Durham, Inc. states “We look forward to partnering with Durham Arts Council on the Art Walk Holiday Market to help bring visitors to our downtown businesses and restaurants while also driving customers to many of our local Durham artists.”

About the Durham Arts Council:
The Durham Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and local arts agency dedicated to supporting the arts in Durham and the entire Triangle Region in North Carolina and has served the community since 1954. Each year DAC (in normal times) serves over 400,000 visitors and program participants, over 2,000 artists, and more than 300 arts and cultural organizations through classes, artist residencies, exhibits, festivals, grants programs, technical support, creative economy initiatives, arts advocacy and information services. Durham Arts Council, Inc. is a catalyst in the cultural development of Durham – it leads, inspires, and promotes excellence in and access to the creation, experience and active support of the arts for all the people of our community. For more information call 919.560.ARTS(2787) or visit our website at www.durhamarts.org

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