CommunityLink

Durham, NC

Culture

Durham as a community realizes that without cultural opportunities, the heart of the community would suffer. Local officials work together with various councils throughout the city to make sure that the arts in Durham come alive. The Durham Arts Council is one of the organizations focused on bridging the gap between the residents of Durham and the active cultural-arts community.

Theater: Seven producing theater companies call Durham home. The theater companies each have regular seasons and cover a variety of plays, from the classics to more modern playwrights. In addition, there are many smaller companies presenting theatrical performances on a more infrequent basis.

Visual Arts: If acting isn’t your thing, try your hand at another form of art through painting, sculpting or photography. Art galleries in the area, including the three operated by the Durham Arts Council, often showcase local artists’ works, and the theater community is always looking for local set designers. Each December, the Durham Art Walk hosts a walking tour of artists’ studios in historic downtown Durham, as well.

Music: Music lovers can join up with others sharing the same passion for a beautiful melody and perform at one of the concerts held throughout the year. The active musical community in Durham has several singing groups, bands, symphonies and orchestras. Duke University and North Carolina Central University both have for-credit as well as extracurricular music ensembles, presenting concerts each year to a welcoming public. Durham is also home to the Indian Classical Music and Dance Society and the Triangle Blues Society.

There are also volunteer opportunities that allow residents to support and foster Durham’s growing cultural community. The Durham Arts Council (919-560-2787) is a nonprofit organization that has been promoting excellence and access in the creation, experience and active support of the arts in Durham since 1954. The council helps to produce both amateur and professional artistic endeavors in theater, dance, the literary arts, music and visual art. The council also helps the public to find the artistic showings in Durham at any given time.

Festivals

Festivals are another big part of the Durham area. The city is enlivened and enriched at 11 annual cultural festivals, including the nationally renowned American Dance Festival, the Bull Durham Blues Festival, Durham Arts Council’s CenterFest, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Kwanzaa, Light Up Durham and the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival. In addition, the City of Durham sponsors several family-fun events and festivals each year, including The Greater Durham International Festival, a Fourth of July Festival and a Summer Music Series. Contact the Durham Arts Council for more information at 919-560-2787.

The American Dance Festival: This is the premier arts event in Durham. The six-week-long, nationally recognized festival brings together America’s finest modern dance companies for spectacular performances, classes and workshops. With a strong dance community in Durham, there are always regularly scheduled contra, swing, ballroom and international folk dances.

For additional information on upcoming cultural arts events in the greater Durham area, pick up one of the three weekly publications: Independent Weekly, Triangle Live (a Friday supplement to The Herald Sun), and What’s Up (a Friday supplement to The News and Observer). The Durham Arts Council also maintains a Web site with links and contact information for area arts groups and resources at www.durhamarts.org.

There is always something to see or do in Durham. Break out of the ordinary and go to an independent film or an opera. You’ll be happy you did!