120 Morris St Downtown Durham

 

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Who We Are

Who We Are
Who We Are
Who We Are

Mission

Durham Arts Council, Inc. 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.

DAC is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization funded by earned revenues, grants and contributions from corporations, foundations, individuals, and support from the City of Durham, Durham County, North Carolina Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Vision

We envision a community where creativity and the arts are highly valued, positive and transformative forces in Durham’s cultural, educational, and economic life. We envision an excellent and sustainable arts and cultural sector that is vital to quality of life in Durham.

 

Goals

  • To increase participation in high-quality arts experiences throughout the community,

  • To expand arts education both in and outside of schools,

  • To build an environment for artists and arts organization so that they can create and present their work, and

  • To be a resource to the community for advocating, planning, and developing Durham’s arts and cultural community, creative place-making and building the creative economy

 

Diversity, Equity, Access, Inclusion and Belonging (DEAI)

Durham Arts Council celebrates the unique creativity and spirit of every person and believes in creating a vibrant, diverse, equitable and inclusive community through the arts.  DAC is committed at every level to developing, supporting, and celebrating diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging in our programming, services, audience, workforce, vendor relationships, and governance as a reflection of the diverse communities we serve.

2024-2025 Board of Trustees

BOARD OFFICERS

Who We Are

Tabitha Concepcion

Board President

Truist Wealth

Geraud
Who We Are

Adam Allegrini

1st Vice President, Programs, Policy, + Planning Committee & President Elect

Truist Wealth
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Geraud Staton

2nd Vice President, Development Committee

Executive Director, Helius

Mike Woodard

Senator Mike Woodard

Secretary, Governing/Nominating Committee

State President, Molina Healthcare of NC

 

Emeric J. Jorgensen

Treasurer, Financial Operations Committee

CPA, Pless & Company

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Rick Grant

Past Board President

VP Grid Operations Duke Energy

BOARD MEMBERS

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Lori Blake-Reid

Director of Facilities, North Carolina Central University
Who We Are

Ian Lee Brown

Vice President/Chief Employee Experience Officer
Duke University Health System
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Stephen J. Valentine

Durham County Board of Commissioners
 
Appointed by Durham County Commission
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Sheila Crosby

Senior Manager, Field Research
Newell Brands
 
Who We Are

Jose Manuel Cruz

Artist/Photographer CEO cruzwearstudios/ Art Educators DPS
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Dr. Constanza Gómez-Joines

Assistant VP and Executive Director, Center for the Global Learner, Durham Technical Community College
                                                   

 
Daniel Ellison

Dan Ellison 

Attorney
Who We Are

Chandra Guinn

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging at McKinney

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Kenneth Hinton

Adjunct Instructor, Shaw University and NCCU; Artistic Director of the Agape Theatre Project

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Chelsea Cook

Durham City Council Member

Appointed by Durham City Council

 

Who We Are

Marjorie Pierson

Visual Artist, Photography

Maryah Smith

Maryah Smith

Asst. Dean of Building, Engineering, and Skilled Trades, Durham Tech

 

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Wade Walcott

Director, City of Durham Parks + Recreation Department

 Appointed by City of Durham

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Elisabeth Wiener

Independent Marketing and Advertising Professional

Past DAC Boards

Staff Directory

LEADERSHIP

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Sherry L. DeVries

Executive Director

sldevries@durhamarts.org
919-560-2709

DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

Who We Are

Laura Montgomery

Director of Development + Communications

lmontgomery@durhamarts.org
919-560-2707
Janet Bell

Janet Bell

Administrative Coordinator

janet@durhamarts.org
919-560-2708

ARTIST SERVICES

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Margaret DeMott

Director of Artist Services

mdemott@durhamarts.org
919-560-2720
Who We Are

Colleen Scott

 Artist Services Manager

cscott@durhamarts.org
919-560-2719
Who We Are

Denise Stroud 

 ARPA Grants Manager

dstroud@durhamarts.org
919-560-2730

ARTS EDUCATION

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Amanda Miller

DAC School Director

amiller@durhamarts.org
919-560-2735
Vollkommer Headshot

Mïa Vollkommer

DAC School Registrar

mvollkommer@durhamarts.org
919-560-2726
Who We Are

Wendy Leigh

Arts Education Assistant Manager 

wleigh@durhamarts.org
919-560-2705
Al Strong photo cropped

Al Strong

Director of Creative Arts in Public + Private Schools (CAPS)

astrong@durhamarts.org
919-560-2718

FACILITIES

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Anthony Zefiretto

Director of Facilities + Visitor Services

azefiretto@durhamarts.org
919-560-2711
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McKayla Walker

Assistant Manager of Facility Sales + Services

mwalker@durhamarts.org
919-560-2787
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 Darriel Williams

 Maintenance Assistant

  919-560-2724

CONTRACT SERVICES TEAM

Financial Accounting

Neal, Bradsher + Taylor PA

Angela Yearby
Michael Clonch
Joe Sullivan

Theatre Technical Support

No Regret Productions

Kevin Esprella
Patrick Lillie

IT Management

Work Smart

Security Services

Durham County Sheriff Team

History

Founded in 1954 to promote and nurture the arts of Durham, Allied Arts was renamed Durham Arts Council, Inc. (DAC) in 1975 when it became what is now the second oldest arts council in the United States . Three years later, the Council moved in to the historic Central High School and City Hall building, which was constructed in 1906 at 120 Morris Street in downtown Durham. In the mid-1980’s, after a three-year renovation, the city-owned building became DAC’s long term home.

  • March 1954

    Allied Arts (the former name of Durham Arts Council) is incorporated as a nonprofit.

  • 1971

    Allied Arts begins its education program, offering its first classes in dance, craft, drama, music, photography and eurythmics.

  • 1974

    Allied Arts hosts the first annual two day Street Arts Celebration in Downtown Durham, which later developed into a two festival and was renamed CenterFest.

  • 1975

    Allied Arts changes its name to Durham Arts Council, Inc. as it is known today.

  • 1978

    DAC moves in to the historic Central High School and City Hall building, which was constructed in 1906.

  • 1979

    The Council for Creative Arts Program becomes a partnership program of DAC and Durham City and County Schools, changing its name to Creative Arts in Public Schools later called Creative Arts in Public/Private Schools.

  • 1984

    DAC develops the Emerging Artists Program and awards the first round of grants to local artists.

  • 1985-1988

    DAC runs a successful Capital Campaign, raising $5.3 million to renovate the city-owned building that it calls home. The ground-breaking is in 1986 and the staff return to the finished building in 1988.

  • 1999

    DAC’s clay studio moves offsite to accommodate the growing program. Eventually in 2011 the clay studio settled in its current Northgate Mall location.

  • 2006

    DAC accepts the responsibility of organizational leadership for the growing Art Walk program.

  • 2008-2011

    The DAC building undergoes a series of much needed “behind the scenes” updates, including HVAC system, flooring, storage areas, theater tech systems and more.

  • 2020

    DAC gets a complete makeover with a new logo, new signature colors, and a shiny new website!