About the DAC Building
The DAC building is a City-owned facility that has been managed and programmed by the Durham Arts Council since 1978. This is the oldest building in continuous public service in Durham; built in 1906 as the original high school for Durham, it then served as City Hall from 1926 – 1977. Durham Arts Council enlivened the building with the arts in 1978 and launched a major capital campaign in partnership with the City, County, State and private donors to renovate the building, creating a professional, first-class arts center which was completed in 1988. The Durham Arts Council building is the home for the arts in downtown Durham, serving nearly 400,000 visitors and hosting over 5,000 arts and community events, classes, meetings and celebrations each year. Open seven days a week, the DAC provides a venue and support for the entire community and Durham arts organizations to explore, experience, create and celebrate the arts. The Durham Arts Council is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization and manages and programs the DAC Building through a management contract with the City of Durham. DAC is grateful for the strong support of the City of Durham and carefully stewards this important facility.
This 52,000 square foot building is a pivotal structure in the Downtown Durham Historic District as designated by the National Register of Historic Places and has served Durham well, from education, to public service, to the arts. This is the only arts facility of its kind today in the Triangle region and it is a treasure for Durham, serving as a premier multi-arts venue for artists, arts organizations and community groups, and as a creative home where the artistic expressions of a diverse community are shared and showcased.
Visit
Come visit the Durham Arts Council in the heart of downtown Durham! Open and free to the public seven days a week, our space features four award-winning exhibition galleries and the stunning Ruth Carver Gardens, showcasing sculptures and seasonal floral displays.
Housed in a historic 1906 building—the oldest in continuous public use in Durham and listed on the National Historic Register—DAC is a vibrant hub for the arts.
Durham Arts Council
120 Morris St.
Durham, NC 27701
Building Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 9am-9pm
Sunday: 1pm-6pm
While you are here, be sure to check out amazing restaurants and shops in downtown. Learn more about other things to explore in Downtown Durham.
Parking
There is public parking available at and around the Durham Arts Council. These parking areas are owned by the City of Durham and managed by Central Parking System. Durham Arts Council has no control or responsibility for these parking areas
- Manning Place parking lot is directly adjacent to the Durham Arts Council building on the South side (entry from Morris Street). Limited parking is available for DAC and downtown visitors. No parking is permitted in front of the dumpsters and in front of the loading bay (please see the front desk if you are loading equipment for PSI Theatre).
- Durham Centre Parking Garage is a multi-level paid public parking deck directly across Morgan street from the Durham Arts Council building. There are entrances on both Morgan and Morris Streets.
Accessibility
Parking:
Manning Place parking lot contains 6 handicapped parking spaces. The parking lot is accessed from Morris Street and is directly to the South of the DAC building.
Visitors with mobility issues are welcome to be dropped off in Manning Place parking lot – there is a gently sloped ramp up to the main building entrances from the Manning Place parking lot.
Building Navigation:
The DAC building has three levels that are accessible via elevator. A complimentary wheelchair is available for use within the building upon request. The building is fitted with ramps, handrails, and ADA compliant front doors.
Restrooms:
Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located on all three levels of the building.
DAC Education, Camps and Classes:
DAC School strives to make all course content accessible to all students. Please discuss any special needs you may have with the school registrar prior to registration and at least two week before the start date of the class or camp you are interested in. Contact Janet Bell: jbell@durhamarts.org or (919)560-2726.
ASL Interpreters and Audio Description:
We can provide sign language interpretation for guests with hearing disabilities or audio description for guests with visual impairments. Hearing assist devices are available on request for PSI Theatre events. Requests for this service must be received 30 days prior to the event.
Large Print:
We are happy to provide large print versions of most DAC documents upon request.
Facility Rentals
DAC supports artists by providing space to create and to exhibit their work, rehearse and perform their pieces, and develop their infrastructure with office space. DAC also supports our community by renting spaces within the building for meetings, events, weddings, and more.his 52,000 square foot building is a pivotal structure in the Downtown Durham Historic District as designated by the National Register of Historic Places and has served Durham well, from education, to public service, to the arts. This is the only arts facility of its kind today in the Triangle region and it is a treasure for Durham, serving as a premier multi-arts venue for artists, arts organizations and community groups, and as a creative home where the artistic expressions of a diverse community are shared and showcased.
Resident Arts Organizations
As a way of supporting our community of arts organizations, we provide office space to numerous other groups through our grant programs. These are the groups we currently share our building space with:
