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Durham Arts Council Essentials

Centerfest is THIS Saturday and Sunday!! Are you ready for Durham’s signature fine arts festival?! Check out all the amazing things happening this year, and get your program ahead of time to see the things to do, festival map, and artists featured this year on our website! We’ve been hard at work getting this festival ready for Durham, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you! See you September 19 and 20 for CenterFest Fine Arts Festival, in the heart of Downtown Durham ❤️ More info at the link in our bio.

Aaand here's the line-up you all have been waiting for!! CenterFest is bringing the energy all weekend long! Join us at the “We The People” Stage at CCB Plaza during CenterFest to celebrate the creativity, culture, and incredible diversity of the Durham community. We'll have local favorites and special guests Rissi Palmer, DaShawn Hickman, and September: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire taking the stage alongside a full weekend of music, dance, theater, and cultural performances. September 19–20, 2026 in downtown Durham Free admission, $5 suggested donation to help support the festival. See the full performance schedule at the link in our bio!

Now Hiring at the Durham Arts Council! Help keep Durham Arts Council’s historic home, programs, and events running smoothly. We’re looking for a Director of Facilities to lead the care, maintenance, safety, and day-to-day operations of our facilities. Know someone who would be a great fit? Link in bio to apply.

Yeah…120 artists is a LOT! We’re so excited and honored to have over 120 juried artists this year for CenterFest. Save the date for September 19 and 20 to experience Durham’s most creative weekend of the year 🎨 CenterFest Fine Arts Festival 📆 September 19 + 20 ⏰ Sat. 10a-6p, Sun. 11a-5p 📍 Downtown Durham As always, CenterFest is free to enjoy with a suggested $5 donation to keep the festival going strong!

For 51 years, Durham Arts Council has proudly produced CenterFest, celebrating the arts, supporting local artists, and bringing our community together through one of Durham's most beloved cultural traditions. As we look toward the future, we have made the decision to pause CenterFest in 2027, allowing time for a strategic visioning year focused on the festival's next chapter. This is a pause, not a farewell. We are taking this opportunity to thoughtfully evaluate the festival's future, strengthen community partnerships, explore new possibilities, and consider how CenterFest can continue to evolve alongside the community it serves. We invite community members, artists, and supporters to help shape the future of CenterFest. Stay tuned for updates and an invitation to an upcoming public forum, where we will gather community feedback and ideas for the festival's future. We believe deeply in the power of the arts to bring people together. Events like CenterFest create meaningful opportunities for connection, shared experiences, and community pride, and we recognize the important role these gatherings play in making Durham such a vibrant place. Our commitment to bringing the community together through the arts continues. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Durham Art Walk Holiday Market on November 21–22, 2026, featuring approximately 200 local artists across 12 downtown locations. This free event offers a festive weekend of art, holiday shopping, and community activities, alongside the Downtown Durham Tree Lighting on November 21. We are proud of what we have built together over the past 51 years and hopeful about the next chapter. To the artists who have shared their talents, the partners who have supported our vision, the volunteers who have given their time, and the generations of festivalgoers who have filled our streets with joy: Thank you for making CenterFest such a special part of Durham. Please save the date for CenterFest in September 2028!

We are so pleased to announce the merit award winners for Centerfest 2026! Best in Show-Richard Wilson (Drawing), Booth A45-46 First Place-Dan Murphy (Sculpture), Booth A06 Second Place-Chris Matias (Clay), Booth B20 Third Place-Johanny De Los Santos (Jewelry), Booth A26 Best Durham Artist-Delores Farmer (Clay), Booth A19-20 Duke Arts Threads of Community Award- Chloe Urbancyzk (Painting), Booth B27 Coca-Cola Citizen’s Choice- Bren West (Mixed Media), Booth A24 Thank you to our esteemed judges for this selection, and thank you to the artists for making Centerfest such a great show! Congratulations to all!

Save the date! The Durham Art Walk Holiday Market returns November 21 and 22 🎨😍 Explore two days of local art, one-of-a-kind gifts, live music, and holiday cheer in downtown Durham! The Durham Art Walk Holiday Market brings our community together to shop regional artists, support small businesses, and kick off the holiday season. And we’re looking for community partners to help make it all happen. Become an Art Walk sponsor! Your support helps champion local artists, strengthen Durham’s creative economy, and make this beloved downtown tradition possible. Interested in sponsoring the 2026 Art Walk Holiday Market? We’d love to connect! Email lmontgomery@durhamarts.org to get started. Learn more at the link in our bio and get ready to walk the Art Walk! #DurhamArts #DurhamNC #ArtWalk #ShopLocal #supportlocalartists

Save the date! CenterFest returns to downtown Durham on September 19–20 for a weekend filled with art, music, creativity, and community. Join us for North Carolina’s longest-running outdoor juried arts festival, featuring talented artists, live performances, interactive experiences, local shopping, and fun for all ages. Admission is free. Stay tuned for artist announcements, the performance lineup, and more!

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