Durham Seeks Performance Artists for Cemetery Event
Artists and artistic teams are invited to submit proposals for the opportunity to perform at the grand opening of Beechwood Cemetery’s new columbarium in May 2025.
The City of Durham wants performers to help capture the significance of individuals who have been interred at the cemetery since 1924. Artists are expected to produce three biographical monologues and one scene inspired by the lives of the departed Durham residents.
Selected candidates are expected to:
- Conduct historical research and interviews to develop narratives about those interred at Beechwood.
- Adapt the research into three compelling monologues and one scene.
- Perform the selected pieces at the grand opening, which will be documented and made available online.
The chosen artist or artist team gets a project budget of as much as $5,000, covering artist fees, insurance, materials, transportation, and documentation. It’s open to North Carolina residents, with a preference for Durham residents who understand Beechwood Cemetery’s historical significance.
Interested? Visit the project website and register for a virtual pre-submittal meeting on Nov. 13. Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Dec. 2.
