Celebrate Durham Culture with the DAC!
As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the Durham Arts Council is honored to join community partners, including Duke Arts and the Museum of Durham History, in reflecting on the stories that have shaped our community. We believe that Durham Culture Lives Here at DAC, grounded in our shared values of expression, civic participation, and inclusion, woven into the rhythms of everyday life.
History Comes to Life at Mini-Camp
In addition to our regular summer camp experiences, young artists will celebrate Durham’s History through Durham’s Common Ground mini camps, using visual and performing arts to explore identity and creativity. By connecting past and present through a variety of art forms, these experiences help foster a sense of belonging and civic pride in the next generation.
Sharing Durham’s History Through Art
Our building stands as a testament to Durham’s evolving story. From its beginnings as the city’s first public high school in 1906, to its role as City Hall during the Civil Rights Movement (photo above), to its present life as a vibrant arts hub, this historic space has long served as a gathering place for civic dialogue and creative expression. In partnership with the Museum of Durham History, we are designing a permanent exhibition within this landmark, the oldest building in continuous public use in Durham. The exhibition will weave together archival research and contemporary artistic responses, including recognition of the Durham Civil Rights Mural created in 2013 by artist Brenda Miller Holmes (photo on left) in collaboration with more than 30 local community members.
CenterFest Celebrates “We the People”
On September 19 and 20, CenterFest will once again welcome more than 25,000 attendees to Downtown Durham featuring art, performances, and family- friendly activities. With the support of sponsor Duke Arts and inspired by their unifying theme, “We the People,” this year’s festival will highlight the power of creativity to bring people together. A special juried category will invite CenterFest artists to explore shared voices and lived experiences, along with themes of history, identity, belonging, and democratic expression. The festival will also mark the public unveiling of our new building exhibition, offering visitors a meaningful opportunity to engage with Durham’s story.
As part of our exploration of “We the People,” we are honored to showcase during CenterFest weekend in the Durham Arts Council’s front atrium, the powerful work of Sidney Brodie through his Durham Homicide and Victims of Violent Death Memorial Quilt. Created in response to community violence, the quilt serves as both a memorial and a call to action by honoring the lives lost while creating space for reflection, dialogue, and healing. Duke Arts’ “We the People” initiative invites us to consider whose stories are told and how we carry them forward, and this work embodies that spirit by centering remembrance, community voice, and the power of art to bring people together.
Thank You to Our Partners!
