What Would You Add to Durham's Cultural Roadmap?

Durham community leaders are trying to shape the future of the local arts and cultural scene for the next five years, and they want your input!

On Jan. 20, a listening session is planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St., hosted by the City of Durham, Durham County, and AMS Planning and Research, the lead consultant. The in-person, drop-in gathering is expected to help shape the vision and goals of the new Durham Cultural Roadmap.

Free food, children’s creative activities, and Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) translation services will be provided.

Need free parking?

• Morgan Rigsbee Garage, 105 W. Morgan St.
• Durham Centre Garage, 300 W. Morgan St.

The Durham Arts Council also is close to Durham Station, the central bus hub for GoDurham’s fare-free buses.

Input from this event will help inform the new roadmap, which will guide goals and investment in the arts and cultural sector. Attendees also will hear about ideas gathered since July 2023 from previous sessions and a survey.

Steve Schewel, former Durham mayor and co-chair of the Cultural Roadmap Planning Group, said engagement can help leaders develop the best plan going forward.

“We view engagement as an ongoing conversation about the arts and culture in Durham,” he said in a city news release. “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 next community input session is set for April 27. The proposed cultural plan then would be presented to the Durham City Council and County Commission in late Summer 2024.

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