Created in 1948, the Durham Art Guild is 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, with an expanded focus to include performing arts as well as visual arts. The two organizations function separately, 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.

In the 1930s and 40s, the world was beginning to shift focus from European to American artists like Pollock, Hopper, de Kooning and Rothko, and along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard, art was taking off. In North Carolina, Black Mountain College was a national focal point for the arts, and other NC universities started adding art to their curricula. At the same time, towns like Durham began to see a need for accessible community arts organizations. In 1948, separate men’s and women’s art groups that had been meeting informally joined to form The Durham Art Guild.

The group’s mission was to function “as a non-profit, member-driven organization with the goal of operating a visual arts gallery that features the works of regional artists.”

In its early years, the Guild organized exhibits, judged public school art shows, sponsored a Beaux Arts Ball and held a sidewalk art sale. One of the first DAG exhibits was in the windows of the Herald-Sun newspaper building downtown. Exhibit receptions were called “teas,” with members providing homemade food. The first DAG auction was held in 1952; about 200 people attended and the event raised $500. The Durham Arts Council, at first named Allied Arts, was born out of the Durham Art Guild in 1954, but then became an umbrella organization of which the Guild was a participating member.

From the beginning, providing opportunities to exhibit work was the main focus of the Guild. Early shows featured the work of noted realists such as Ola Maie Foushee and Bob Blake. In the 50’s and 60’s, abstract artists including Edith London and George Bireline began showing their work at DAG exhibitions. Artists such as noted ceramicist Sally Bowen Prange were among those featured at DAG art shows in the 1970’s. Exhibits since then have included a diverse array of styles and media, reflecting the diversity of our community.

Today, the Durham Art Guild continues the tradition of a yearly Juried Show, Member’s Show, and exhibits featuring selected individual artists at our Truist Gallery downtown on Morris Street and more recently at our gallery in the Golden Belt complex. We place art in local businesses through our Art at Work program, offer an Artist-in-Residence program, and match professional artists with students for learning experiences through our Creative Mentorship Program. DAG is supported by memberships, the generous donations of sponsors and sustainers, and fundraising events like Swing into Spring.

Please join us as a volunteer, member, member artist, or sustainer as we head into our next era of serving the Durham community.