Durham Arts Council - Artist Information

Come face-to-face with the arts in Durham.

How Exhibits Are Chosen

Click here for the 2008-2009 Call for Artists

Note: if you have a proposal that is not a solo show, see below for Special Exhibit Proposal application.
Application Deadline for solo and special exhibit proposals: Thursday, January 31, 2008.

Need Adobe Acrobat Reader?
It's Free! Click Here

The Durham Arts Council building is a 52,000 square foot community arts center in downtown Durham that contains galleries, theatres, rehearsal studios, classrooms and meeting spaces.

What gallery space is available at Durham Arts Council?
There are three galleries in the building:
• Durham Art Guild's Central Carolina Bank Gallery, the main gallery in the building. (3,600 sq. ft., walls move to create quarter or half gallery spaces) with halogen lighting.
• Durham Arts Council's Allenton Gallery, main floor gallery area approaching Central Carolina Bank Gallery (approx. 42 running feet of hanging space) with halogen lighting.
• Durham Arts Council's Semans Gallery, second floor gallery area outside People's Security Insurance Theatre (approx. 78 running feet of hanging space) with halogen lighting.

Who decides what exhibits are shown?
Every year The Durham Art Guild and Durham Arts Council issue a joint "Call for Slides" to solicit applications for solo exhibits. The two organizations hold separate slide screenings to select artists for the exhibition in the coming year. Screening panels change annually and consist of artists and arts professionals from the Triangle area. The "Call for Slides" is usually available in August and the application deadline is usually at the end of January.

The Durham Art Guild screens for solo exhibitions in the Central Carolina Bank Gallery. Selected artists generally receive one quarter main gallery space (approx. 700 sq. ft.). Work in all mediums and styles will be considered. Submissions by fine artisans and skilled craftsmen are invited. Limitations exist on works requiring electricity and maintenance. Images submitted must represent the media of the work in which the artist wishes to exhibit. Artist must reside in North Carolina and must deliver/install and remove show. Artists who have been awarded a show in the past are eligible again after three years. The Durham Art Guild's phone number is (919) 560-2713.

Durham Arts Council screens for solo exhibitions in Allenton & Semans Galleries. Selected artists will receive one entire gallery for solo exhibit. These galleries serve as the main entry points for the first and second floors of the Durham Arts Council Building. Constant and diverse traffic and activities occur in the galleries and they are frequently scheduled for special events, especially receptions. Because of this traffic, DAC will only consider works which can be hung on the walls or exhibited in display cases. Additionally, DAC cannot provide electricity for exhibits in Semans or Allenton Galleries. Although DAC does not endorse any restrictions on any particular artistic content, in making programming decisions the agency will consider the fact that all users of the building must pass through the gallery space as they enter. Artists may reside outside of North Carolina but must deliver/install and remove show. For additional Durham Arts Council exhibit information contact Dara Edelman, Artist Services Coordinator, at dedelman@durhamarts.org.

What if I have an exhibit idea that is not a solo show?
The DAG and DAC will entertain proposals for exhibits other than solo shows (for example; a show that includes the work of several artists, a show based on a theme, a group or association show). We have a separate Proposal for Special Exhibits application form to use for these proposals and you may download it in PDF format. deadline for submitting special proposals is the same as for solo shows.

Where do I get the application form?
Both DAC & DAG normally email these to visual artists on their e-lists in August, as well as mail to those without email addresses. Other options are to pick up an application at the front desk of the DAC Building, contact us at (919) 560-2719 or email dedelman@durhamarts.org and request one, or download a Call for Artists as noted at the top of this page.