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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. 
On April 10th at 3 PM, the Durham Symphony will honor the life of writer, priest, lawyer, and activist Pauli Murray in words, images, and music and present 4 world premieres. Terry Mizesko’s Tribute (featuring horn soloist Rebekah Daley) was commissioned to honor NC French Hornist Andrew McAfee and his great-grandfather Cleland McAfee (theologian, minister, and hymn writer). Arvind Mallikarjunan’s The Beauty of the Morning honors his grandmother with its East Indian themes. Based on American spirituals, Maestro Curry’s Dark Testament pays tribute to 3 African American icons: Mahalia Jackson, Pauli Murray, and Harriet Tubman. The central movement (now expanded) is based on Murray’s autobiographical poem “Dark Testament” and memoir Song in a Weary Throat. Robert Rankin’s No Name in The Street takes its title from James Baldwin’s memoir of racism and turbulence. But Rankin says it is “in essence, about the history of Hayti,” the thriving Black community split asunder in 1958 by the Durham Freeway and “urban renewal” decisions. “More broadly,” he writes, “the work is about the erasure of history and communities and the importance of keeping the past alive, even when forces greater than us attempt to eliminate them.”
“If we do not see the past clearly,” Maestro Curry says, “we cannot see the present or the future with any kind of optimism about progressive change. Black History Month should be a period of honest reflection in which we acknowledge and embrace the full truth of this country, good and bad, giving credit where it’s due. And we should celebrate the visionary souls who lived and struggled to mark the path towards full equality.” DAC School News New Classes, New Instructors! Art Journaling and Printmaking with Jillian Lee Jillian is a compulsively creative, Durham-based visual artist and educator working in paint, print and fiber. She draws inspiration from the weird and wonderful all around. Jillian loves sewing garments and makes most of her own clothing. She lives in a garden cottage with her cat, Devo, and when she isn't teaching art, you can find her in the studio working on an abstract canvas, linoleum block, or piece of embroidery. 
Caregiver/Child Workshops with Kirsten Bohl Kirsten Bohl is a nature-based educator who enjoys art-making and creativity in all forms, especially with kids. She values storytelling and improvisation, and takes a playful approach to community-building. She offers mind-body-spirit techniques for wellness centered in the heart. Together we practice micro-shifts in individual and collective justice, peace, healing, and wholeness.
Writing Poetry with Lavonne Adams Lavonne J Adams holds both a M.A. in English and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing/Poetry. She studied with former Poet Laureate Philip Levine and taught for over twenty years at the university level. She has published a collection of poetry, two poetry chapbooks, and over 150 individual poems, short stories, and essays. She was awarded artist residencies at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico; The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation; and the Vermont Studio Center. She is also a finalist for the 2021 James Applewhite Poetry Prize, North Carolina Literary Review. Memoir Writing with Allison Kirkland Allison Kirkland has an undergraduate degree from Duke University and an MFA in creative nonfiction from the New School in New York City. Learn more at allisonkirkland.com 
Vocal Empowerment with Karen Novy Karen Novy has a degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice and piano. She has been a composer for over 30 years and believes wholeheartedly in the power of music to heal, comfort and inspire. Karen uses sound healing techniques in the vocal empowerment workshops that she offers to educate people about the power of their own voice for healing.
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. 
Arts News + Exhibits 
Durham Convention and Arts Complex – DPLEX – Selects Artist Team!
Durham Arts Council is working with the Durham Convention and Arts Complex (DPLEX) to commission public art for the plaza in front of the Durham Convention Center. Please help us by filling out this brief survey!
CLICK HERE to take the online survey to provide your feedback!
SAVE THE DATE FOR BIG NIGHT IN FOR THE ARTS 2022,
DAC Partner + Grantee News 
Vote for PSI Theatre at Durham Arts Council in the Best Venue for Community Theater category! Vote for PSI Theatre at Durham Arts Council in the Best Venue for Live Music (Small) category! Vote for Durham Arts Council in the Best Art Gallery category! Vote for Durham Arts Council in the Best Event Space category!
Durham Magazine - Best of Durham 2022 Polls are open through March 1, 2022
Check out these upcoming events by DAC grant recipients!
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
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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