About
Vision & Mission
The Durham Art Guild was established in 1948. For over sixty-five years we have supported artists and the arts in our community. Our mission is to enrich and connect our communities by creating opportunities and providing leadership for current and future visual artists and art enthusiasts.
The Durham Art Guild excels in featuring some of the best exhibitions in the area. We operate two public galleries as well as satellite venues and an online gallery through this website.
We connect our community’s artists and arts patrons. We support emerging and established artists alike.
The organization is funded by annual membership dues, grants, corporate and individual donations and sponsorships, gallery sales and revenue generated by our annual fundraiser, Sweet Arts.
Members
The Guild’s membership includes a wide variety of artists and art lovers from across the state of North Carolina and beyond. Your membership with the Durham Art Guild provides essential support for our organization and helps us to offer a professional, non-market-driven gallery that presents quality exhibitions and programs that enlighten, educate and engage viewers in the Durham art community.
History
We are one of the oldest visual arts organizations in North Carolina and among the five oldest in the entire country. It was from the strength of the Guild’s original organization that the Durham Arts Council (DAC) was created 7 years later. DAC expanded its focus to include performing arts as well. The two organizations function seperatly but have maintained a cooperative relationship that has encouraged citizens, businesses and artists to develop and support a major arts center in the city of Durham. To learn more about The Durham Arts Council visit http://www.durhamarts.org.
Galleries
SunTrust Gallery:
The Guild maintains and manages the SunTrust Gallery, a 3,000 square foot premier gallery space located in the Durham Arts Council building in the heart of downtown Durham, North Carolina. We have been graciously awarded the use of this space by DAC since the renovation and reopening of their downtown building in 1988. The Suntrust Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public. The building is closed for government observed holidays. The Durham Art Guild hosts a public reception for the artists exhibiting in this space on the Third Friday Durham of every month from 5p.m.-7p.m. This provides an opportunity to take in the art, enjoy some refreshments and meet the artists.
Room 100 Gallery:
The Guild also maintains and manages Room 100 Gallery at Goldenbelt through a valuable partnership with Scientific Properties. Room 100 Gallery is a very different space for DAG at 540 square feet with white walls, a cement floor, and is surrounded by artist studios. Goldenbelt is located at 807 E. Main St. in Durham, North Carolina. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public. The building is closed for government observed holidays. The Durham Art Guild hosts a public reception for the artists exhibiting in this space on the Third Friday Durham of every month from 6p.m.-9p.m.
Triangle Community Artists Gallery:
The Durham Art Guild (DAG) and Triangle Community Foundation (TCF) are pleased to announce a new partnership. Triangle Community Foundation will participate as an official gallery space for artists, using art to spark dialogue and civic engagement. This region has a rich and vibrant arts community and we believe that this partnership is an opportunity to showcase and connect local artists with our community in a meaningful way. The Triangle Community Artists Gallery features 152 linear feet of hanging space spread through the main entrance, hallways and three conference rooms. The available hanging space for each cycle will be divided between 1 – 4 artists depending on the programming preferences of the jury panel. Since this a private office space, viewings of the Triangle Community Artists Gallery during the exhibition dates will be by appointment only and coordinated directly with TCF. DAG and TCF host a private exhibition reception during the opening Friday of the exhibitions.
Virtual Gallery:
There is a virtual gallery on this website that can be accessed by clicking the “Gallery” link in the main menu above. There are hopes of making this a consistent and up-to-date growing member-artist registry featuring a catalog of artists and a sampling of their works. The collection can be searched or filtered by artist, media and subject. This feature is currently being re-evaluated by the Gallery Director for better efficiency but if you are member interested in adding your work please follow the instructions under the “Gallery” link.
Leadership
2016-2017 Board of Directors
Carlyn Wright-Eakes, President
Eric Richardson, Vice President
Matt Tomko, Secretary
Kaitlin Jones, Treasurer
Dave Alsobrooks
Frank Myers
Natasha Powell Walker
Nelle Dunlap
Linda Marcuson
Cynelsa Broderick
Marian Dillahunt-Andrews
Muriel Tissonier
Courtney Boyette
To contact the Durham Art Guild’s Board of Directors, please e-mail: board@durhamartguild.org
Executive Director
Katie Seiz
To contact the Durham Art Guild’s Executive Director, please e mail: gallerydirector@durhamartguild.org
The Executive Director is at SunTrust Gallery most days from 9-5 but appointments are suggested.
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Chellie LaPointe
To contact the Durham Art Guild’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, please e mail: outreach@durhamartguild.org