Coding with CAPS - Durham Arts Council

Thursday, June 12, 2025

AiSymmetry students holding their coding creations

Coding with CAPS: A Robo-Fun Workshop

In partnership with the Durham County Library, The Durham Arts Council’s CAPS Program presents a coding workshop for middle to high school-age children with CAPS teaching artist Coach Rene Daughtry!

Students and parents are invited to sign up to join Coach Rene Daughtry for an amazingly engaging introduction to computer coding and robotics workshop.

Aisymmetry LLC specializes in conducting Lego robotics workshops and creating educational curricula for youth-based non-profit organizations and churches. In his role as a facilitator and coach at Aisymmetry LLC, Rene Daughtry engages with young individuals who may initially lack interest in robotics or may not possess the necessary verbal and written skills to participate actively. To address this, he employs a unique approach of using presentations and demonstrations to showcase the technology, making it more accessible and engaging for the participants. As part of this effort, Rene Daughtry has embraced the identity of “Coach Rene Daughtry,” positioning himself as a mentor and positive influence in the fields of coding, robotics, and a holistic lifestyle.

Coding Workshop Registration

June 13 - Friday Night Makes: Ceramic Birdhouses w| Becca Hulett June 13 - Friday Night Makes: Coptic Stitch Journals w| Nora Boyle June 13 - Friday Night Makes: Draw & Paint with Ink w| Kristen Solecki June 14 - Weekend Workshop: Portrait Painting in Oils w| Sam Bordley June 14 + 15 - Weekend Workshop: NC Bird Greeting Cards in Watercolor w| Carol Liz Fynn June 20 - Friday Night Makes: Shrinky Dink Accessories w| Laurel Petri June 20 - Friday Night Makes: Long Pose Figure Group June 20 - Friday Night Makes: Dancefulness to Latin Beats w| Angela Duran June 21 + 22 - Weekend Workshop: Binding Traditional Hardcover & Softcover Books w| Nora Boyle June 27 - Friday Night Makes: Ceramic Birdhouses w| Becca Hulett June 27 - Friday Night Makes: Leather-Bound Journals w| Nora Boyle June 27 - Friday Night Makes: Printed Bandanas w| Jillian Lea June 27 - Friday Night Makes: En Plein Air Watercolor w| Laurel Petri

Summer is Coming – Can You Feel it?!

Don’t let the rain get you down! Summer is here and so is our June Weekend Roundup. Beginners and skilled artists alike love our casual Friday Night Makes series and our more technical Weekend Workshops. Check out what we have on offer kicking off your most creative summer yet!

Third Friday is Next Week, June 20, 6-8 PM

Check out the 2025 Durham Public Schools Art Instructor Showcase in the Allenton and Semans Galleries. Now in its fourth year, this collaborative exhibition between DAC and Durham Public Schools honors the creative talents of our district’s dedicated arts educators.

This special exhibit highlights the personal artistic practices of DPS art teachers, inviting the community to see these educators not only as instructors, but as working artists with powerful visions and voices of their own. Each work is accompanied by the name of the school where the artist teaches, offering a deeper look at the creative heart of our classrooms and our community.

Exhibition Dates: May 16 – July 6, 2025
Closing Celebration: Friday, June 20 | 6–8 PM

Featured Artists:

Jose Manuel Cruz – James E. Shepard IB Middle School

Elizabeth Gokay-Duffy – E.K. Powe Elementary School

Calvin Green – Holt Elementary School

Marla Dobbs Hawkins – Hillside High School

Erica Kendrick – C.E. Jordan High School

Adia Ledbetter – James E. Shepard IB Middle School

val h h martinez – Durham School of the Arts

Felicia Maye – Durham School of the Arts

Myra Stotesbury – Northern High School

Tanya Clark-Stover – Durham School of the Arts

Emma Stevens – Riverside High School

Ann Thaden – C.E. Jordan High School

Michael Vasinko – Carrington Middle School

Jack Watson – Durham School of the Arts

Come experience the work of the artists who inspire our students every day!

Artwork: “Portrait” by Felicia Maye

Learn More About The Exhibit

CenterFest Sponsorships Now Available

CenterFest, NC’s #1 fine arts festival, celebrates its 50th anniversary September 20–21, 2025—with a vibrant weekend of art, music, food, and fun for all ages.

As a CenterFest sponsor, your brand will be showcased to more than 40,000 attendees and aligned with one of Durham’s most cherished cultural traditions. It’s a powerful way to connect with the community and support creativity that inspires.

Celebrate this milestone year with us—explore our 2025 Sponsor Benefits today.

Questions? Contact Laura Montgomery at lmontgomery@durhamarts.org.

Become a CenterFest Sponsor

We’re honored to be named Durham Magazine’s Best of Durham in two categories — Best Art Gallery and Best Festival for CenterFest!

Our galleries and building are free and open to the public seven days a week:
Monday–Saturday: 9am–9pm | Sunday: 1pm–6pm

Mark your calendar for the 50th anniversary of CenterFest, happening September 20–21 — it’s going to be a celebration you won’t want to miss.

Thank you to the Durham community for the love and to Durham Mag for the recognition. We can’t wait to celebrate the arts with you!

In Other Artful News…

Call for Panelists: DAC is seeking arts experts and educators to serve as grant panelists—practicing professional artists and arts professionals with experience, training, and skills in one or more art forms. Complete this information form if interested.
Tickets are now on sale for Plenty of Time by John Shévin Foster, presented by The Agape Theatre Project. Catch the performance June 20–22 at the Durham Arts Council’s PSI Theatre. Learn more and get tickets here.
Anchorlight announces new grant for artists! The application period for the Brightwork Fellowship and Brightwork Grants will be open July 7-August 18, 2025. Visit their website for details.

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The Durham Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and local arts agency dedicated to supporting the arts in Durham and the NC Triangle Region since 1954. Each year DAC serves over 400,000 visitors and participants, over 2,000 artists, and more than 300 arts and cultural organizations through classes, workshops, events, grants, and advocacy.

DAC 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.