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Proud partner of the NC State Employees Combined Campaign - Charity #1593 
Creating a Vibrant Community Through the Arts Celebrating Black Artists of Durham In honor of Black History Month, Durham Arts Council is delighted to highlight the work of Black artists and arts organizations of Durham. DAC is proud to work with these artists and organizations through its grant programs, as teaching artists, and through creative partnerships. 
The African American Dance Ensemble was founded in 1985 by Dr. Charles “Chuck” Davis (1937-2017) to teach, perform and preserve traditional African Dance and Music, while promoting Cultural acceptance and unity and fostering a Healthy mind and body. Their Motto is: Peace, Love Respect, for Everybody! The African American Dance Ensemble tours nationally bringing audiences a unique and inclusive experience through performance, demonstrations, workshops and residencies. They enrich the life of the Triangle with KWANZAAFEST, festival appearances, classes, school residencies and partnerships with many community organizations promoting cultural understanding, health and well being. “It is not enough to dance together, if we do not understand the foundation of the music. The drums that stirs our hearts, the lyrics that lifts our spirits are but a small thing if it does not raise our consciousness to accept and appreciate our differences. In our dance and performances we seek to instill a sense of pride to our people, to teach and show our culture, to bring together a community that when the program is over and we leave the enclosure, that we have produced more than a moment of joy but a lifetime of respect and love, with an inherent peace that transcends the heights of negativity and destroys the bonds of inequity.” Dr. B. Angeloe Burch Sr., Executive Director, African American Dance Ensemble
The Durham Arts Council is honored to support the African American Dance Ensemble through the Season Grant Program and to offer their programs through the DAC Creative Arts in the Public/Private Schools program. Dr. Davis was a founding member of the Emerging Artists Grant Committee and served as an advisor for the program for over 20 years. 
Dr. Chuck Davis Arts News + Exhibits 
FEBRUARY THIRD FRIDAY, TOMORROW AT THE DAC! 
Miss Florence's Harvest by Debra Wuliger Tons of art on tap for February’s Third Friday Durham at the DAC! Stop by 6-8pm on Friday, February 18 to see Pattern Lapping Pattern, featuring work from painter Debra Wuliger’s Harmonic Vibration Series, will be on view our Allenton Gallery. The exhibit explores the open-ended emotional resonance of interlocking pattern and color. Pattern Lapping Pattern is a continuation of Debra Wuliger’s exhibit of the same name currently on view at the Durham Convention Center. This Third Friday, Debra will be on hand in our Pavilion lobby to paint and meet visitors. Catch it before it’s gone!: in our upstairs Semans Gallery, see the curated collection from the North Carolina Central University Department of Art and Design! NCCU Department of Art Student Works is a survey of pieces from the emerging designers, studio artists, and students concentrating in NCCU's newly formed Animation and Interactive Media classes. The exhibit wraps up at the end of the month. Durham Art Guild’s 2022 Members’ Showcase Exhibition is currently on view at SunTrust Gallery inside the Durham Arts Council building. This annual exhibition is a submission-free and non-juried opportunity to showcase the work of our talented and valued member artists. This year’s exhibition features 100 artworks by 100 local/regional member artists working in a variety of mediums and styles. In the Pavilion lobby you can enjoy the music of J.C. Tokes, playing Retro-Americana originals & covers that early country sounds from the likes of Johnny Cash & Buck Owens... vocals dashed with a little Louis Armstrong and Tom Waits. Also in the Pavilion, visit the community engagement table for the public art being designed for the DPLEX plaza (plaza in front of the Durham Convention Center). See what’s in the works, and be part of the conversation about public art in Durham! Masks and temperature checks are required to enter the Durham Arts Council building. 
J.C. Tokes
Durham Convention and Arts Complex – DPLEX – Selects Artist Team! The Durham Convention Center, Durham Armory, Carolina Theatre, and Durham Arts Council with the support of Discover Durham and Downtown Durham Inc. have joined forces to create the DPLEX – Durham Convention and Arts Complex - a four-venue combined campus strategy for attracting and serving the larger public and private events and conventions that can utilize the expanded square footage, amenities, and artistic programming of all four buildings. To help establish a cohesive identity and an attractive exterior arrival space for the campus, the partners issued an RFQ in October 2021 for local artists and artists teams to design a system of public art elements that visually connect the four diverse and historic structures. The Durham Arts Council is pleased to announce the selected artist team for the DPLEX public art project is the Withers-Ravenel+Wilson+Signature Design Team! Led by local Durham artist, David Wilson, the Artist Team proposed a preliminary concept including elements of sculpture, wayfinding, surface design, and strategic light installations that will transform the entire plaza with both daytime and nighttime effects. The new art elements will activate and enhance the plaza in front of the Convention Center and Carolina Theater and create a wayfinding system that pulls all four venues into an easily recognizable group for residents and visitors. The public art elements will brand the DPLEX corridor as a 
vibrant convention and arts destination and encourage safe and informed pedestrian movement. The public art elements should create a cohesive feel for residents and visitors who come to downtown Durham for meetings and conventions and enhance their ability to navigate among the four venues. The Artist Team will create a unified palette of public art designs that effectively brand the new complex while honoring Durham’s unique stories and identities within the designs. “The DPLEX project is a natural extension of our approach to outdoor public art as we are drawn to projects that are in urban park or plaza settings and “afford multiple opportunities for interpretation. We’re a North Carolina-based team who are uniquely adept at narrating the stories of inclusivity, integrity, innovation, leadership, and culture for diverse communities. Our connection to this project is the opportunity it presents for connecting a unique historical urban habitat in a safe, equitable, accessible, and desirable manner. A primary driver in our process is extensive community engagement. Before any decision of media or the formal qualities related to an artwork, we establish the overarching themes in collaboration with community and project stakeholders. After this, the design development continues with project architects, landscape architects, engineers, and the general contractor to ensure a seamless integration with the site context. We truly look forward to this wonderful opportunity to create a timeless series of public art elements that create a serene place for the Durham community, inviting authentic interaction and exploration on a multitude of scales.” The next step is community engagement. 
The DPLEX Public Art Community Engagement will provide opportunities for the Artist Team to interact with community members and frequenters of the current Convention Center/Carolina Theatre Plaza where the new public art elements will appear. The Team has started gathering community input through online surveys distributed by the partner organizations and focus group conversations. The Artist Team will hold in-person conversations at the Durham Arts Council on the February Third Friday (6-8 PM) and on the plaza before the Carolina Theater Retro Film Series (6:30-7:30 PM) on February 18th.
CLICK HERE to take the online survey to provide your feedback!
SAVE THE DATE FOR BIG NIGHT IN FOR THE ARTS 2022,
DAC School News CAPS Artist Beverly Botsford to Perform at Carolina Theatre March 5th
Join CAPS Artist Beverly Botsford in a high energy, interactive celebration of rhythm and culture with music, spoken word, stories and dance at the Carolina Theater’s Saturday Families Series March 5th at 11:00 AM! Learn about “talking” on drums of Africa and Latin America while singing and dancing along to call and response rhythms, weaving global percussion colors with some Carolina spice. Tickets can be purchased on Carolina Theatre’s website here. 
Registration for Spring Classes Begins Tomorrow! Click here to register for spring classes! Summer Camp Teen Intensives for ages 13-17 will also open for registration tomorrow!
Click here for more information. 
DAC Partner + Grantee News 
Duke String School 
ShaLeigh Dance Works UPDATED Timeline for DAC Season and Durham Arts Catalyst Grants The timeline for the DAC Season and Durham Arts Catalyst Grants has been revised and the date for opening the applications will be later in the spring. The North Carolina Arts Council has successfully identified additional funding for grants to North Carolina arts nonprofits, however more time will be needed to clarify the requirements and criteria for funding. Durham Arts Council partners with the NC Arts Council to regrant these funds to support the arts sector in Durham.
DAC will offer an information session to explain the revisions in the application once the details are confirmed and applicants will get sufficient time to prepare for any changes in the application. We thank the NC Arts Council for their continued work to find resources for the North Carolina arts sector.
Check out these upcoming events by DAC grant recipients!
Artists Standing Strong Together: Folktales, Fairytales And Social Justice, Feb. 19, 2 PM. Online Free
Mallarme Chamber Players Bach and Forward, Friday, Feb. 25, 7:30-9, PSI Theatre, Durham Arts Council. Ticketed
Museum of Durham History: Current exhibit: More Than Just A Game: The NCCU vs. NC A&T Football Rivalry Curators Talk for current exhibit – Dr. Charles D. Johnson, NCCU and Dr. Arwin Smallwood, NC A&T– February 17, 7 pm. Hayti Heritage Center. FREE
Durham Arts Council/Durham Art Guild: Exhibit Opening- Durham Art Guild Members Showcase, NCCU Visual Arts Student Exhibition, Pattern Lapping Pattern by Debra Wuliger, Friday, February 18, 6-8, Durham Arts Council building; FREE
Hayti Heritage Center: The Jambalaya Soul Poetry Slam Team under the leadership of educator, community activist and author Dasan Ahanu performs every third Saturday each month at Hayti.
American Dance Festival: Available online: Long Distance Dance Dialogues
Arts Opportunities + Artist Calls 
The 2022-23 Durham Arts Council Call for Artists is now open!
Submit your application to be considered for a solo exhibit in one of four gallery spaces programmed by the Durham Arts Council – the deadline to apply is April 30, 2022. The $15 fee for a solo exhibit application is submitted through the application platform.
If you wish to propose an exhibit other than a solo show (for example; a show that includes the work of several artists, a show based on a theme, a group or association show), you will need to fill out an alternate application. You will find the special proposal application here. The deadline for submitting special proposals is also April 30, 2022 and the application fee is $15.00 (must be paid at this link).
For more information, see our Exhibit FAQ.
2022 Bull City Summit Arts Grant Program
BCS is excited to announce our 2022 Bull City Summit Arts Grant Program, in partnership with Durham Arts Council and Love Tito’s. Artists in various categories (i.e photography, mural, graffiti, etc.) can submit their work for a chance to be awarded one of five ($500.00) cash microgrants!
Apply on the BCS Applications page with your information as well as a description of how you will use the award money to further your art career. Submitted artists will be juried by Durham Arts Council with participating local art organizations nominating award winners. Good luck!
Durham County Open Call for Artists
The Durham County Public Art Program has issued a RFQ inviting artists or artist teams to submit Qualifications for the design and installation of public artwork in, on, or around several Durham County Buildings. This is a rolling call for multiple projects at various locations, and multiple artists and artist teams will be commissioned.
Artists of all types and levels of experience are encouraged to apply, and community references will be accepted. 
Open Studio Space at Liberty Arts Studio! We currently have (3) 10’ x 20’ spaces available in our Main Studio with metal and wood artists nearby; a perfect space for anyone working in mediums not affected by dust and dirt. And low rent! Only $233/month.
If you’re interested in learning more, please contact studiomanager@libertyartsnc.org to schedule a tour and for application information. Piedmont Laureate 
Join Piedmont Laureate Heather Bell Adams for a virtual fiction workshop 2/28 at 6pm: Starting Off Strong: Invite Your Reader In. Whether you’re brainstorming a new project or returning to an existing manuscript, this workshop is designed to help you get started. By using found objects—family heirlooms, items from nature, intriguing newspaper articles—we’ll dig deep to uncover what sparks our imagination. We’ll also look at examples from contemporary literature—beginnings that sweep us into the story world. Your goal is to invite your ideal reader in and entice them to take this trip with you. To sign up for this free online event, email me at hbelladams@gmail.com DAC Facility + Rental Have you been postponing an event since 2019?? Book at DAC today!
It's time to start planning your next event with Durham Arts Council! We are excited to help you plan a safe and exciting return to our facility!
Contact fmarin@durhamarts.org for rental information and availability. 
Our Contact Information 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 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.
You Shop. They Give. Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select "Durham Arts Council Inc" as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They'll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us. 
COVID-19 Resources Stay up-to-date with the latest opening information and resources related to COVID-19. The Arts are involved COVID-19 research. Read more HERE. COVID testing now available at DPAC located at 123 Vivian St. Durham, NC 27701. Go to curative.com to book an appointment. Free Rapid COVID-19 Home Test Kits Beginning Wednesday January 19th, you can order FREE rapid COVID-19 home test kits. A total of four test kits can be ordered per household. Go to www.covidtests.gov or click the button below. 
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