Durham Reporter

What’s your vision for the future of Durham’s arts and cultural scene? Share your input during a day of listening to help shape the vision and goals of the new Durham Cultural Roadmap.

Hosted by the City of Durham, Durham County, and lead consultant AMS Planning and Research, this in-person, drop-in gathering is set for Saturday, January 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Durham Arts Council, located at 120 Morris St. Children’s creative activities, free food, and Spanish and American Sign Language (ALS) translation services will be provided.

Free parking will be available at the Morgan Rigsbee Garage, located at 105 W. Morgan St., and the Durham Centre Garage, located at 300 W. Morgan St. The Durham Arts Council is also a short walk from Durham Station, the central bus hub located at 515 W. Pettigrew St., and all GoDurham buses are fare free.

The ideas and input gathered from this January 20 event will be used to help create the new Durham Cultural Roadmap, which will guide the goals and investment in the arts and cultural sector for the next five years. During this event, attendees will also learn more about the emerging ideas collected since July 2023 from interviews, listening sessions, and a community survey.

The Durham Cultural Roadmap is being co-created by the City, County, Cultural Roadmap Planning Group, Durham Cultural Advisory Board, consultants AMS Planning and Research, and local creative community partners.

According to Steve Schewel, co-chair of the Cultural Roadmap Planning Group, the Roadmap is now being created using community-wide engagement from interviews, listening sessions, community surveys, workshops, and other channels to inform the new cultural plan’s goals and initiatives. 

“We view engagement as an ongoing conversation about the arts and culture in Durham,” said Schewel. “It’s important in producing the best plan for Durham that we confirm what we are learning throughout this planning process. I want to encourage our residents to come talk to us at this upcoming event so their ideas, opinions, and dreams for the future of arts and culture are reflected in the new Roadmap.”

The Durham Cultural Roadmap timeline is available online. The next community input session is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. In late summer 2024, the Durham City Council and Durham County Board of Commissioners will be presented with the new cultural plan for their adoption. 

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to the Cultural and Public Art Program Newsletter for future updates and future community input sessions, and to visit the project website. Residents may also email their questions about the roadmap process as well.

About the Durham Cultural Advisory Board

Formed in 2010, the 15-member Durham Cultural Advisory Board (DCAB), aided by its Public Art Committee, advises Durham’s City and County administrations and elected officials on topics related to arts development, honoring Durham’s rich cultural heritage, and supporting Durham’s vibrant cultural sector. Through its collaboration with the City's Cultural and Public Art Program and the County’s Public Art Program, DCAB works to: Inform creation and implementation of arts and cultural policy and programming in Durham; advocate for public and private financial support for local cultural organizations and facilities; and promote economic and workforce development through art and culture, including recruitment and retention of non-profit and for-profit cultural arts organizations and businesses.

Original source can be found here.