Duke Arts is excited to invite audiences to gather for two free outdoor concert series: Arts on East and Duke Arts at American Tobacco. Each series is programmed in collaboration with local partners and grounded in the region’s rich musical heritage as part of Duke and Durham’s We the People initiative.

Arts on East concerts will take place every Wednesday from May 27 through June 24 on Duke’s East Campus. Previously called Music in the Gardens, this series has been renamed to reflect its new location. This year, each event will be hosted by Stormie Daie and curated by a different Durham-based partner, highlighting the breadth of artistic voices that shape the city.

We the People commemorates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence through courses, events, and conversations that examine the nation’s evolving identity.  “We the People celebrates the stories and creativity that shape our shared history,” said Deborah F. Rutter, vice provost for the arts.

“Through community partnership, these concerts honor the many voices that define Durham and are building the future of our region.”

Deborah F. Rutter, Vice Provost for the Arts

“For this year’s series, we reached out to familiar friends and new partners who could help us highlight the ‘We’ of Durham. This series has always been about the cultures that make Durham and the region such a special place.” said Duke Arts director of programming Aaron Shackelford.

“To kick off We the People, it felt right to ask some of the cultural institutions of Durham itself to select artists from across the region to give us just a small sample of Durham’s dynamic and wide-ranging cultural scenes.”

Aaron Shackelford, Director of Programming

Each Arts on East concert is free and open to all – no tickets are required. Events will feature a community market organized by Kamara Thomas and food will be available to purchase from The Palace International and food truck partners. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnics, and blankets.  

All concerts will be broadcast live on WXDU 88.7 FM, Duke University Radio, allowing audiences to tune in live from anywhere in Durham or online at wxdu.org. 

Parking on East Campus is free after 5 p.m., and the lawn has several pedestrian entrances. In the event of rain, an alternate location will be announced on the Duke Arts website and social media channels by 1 p.m. on the day of the event. Additional visitor information will be provided via email and at  dukearts.org as the events approach. 

Arts on East is made possible in part through the generous support of the Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Foundation. 

Duke Arts returns to American Tobacco Campus in September with a new season curated by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tift Merritt. This year’s theme centers foremothers and a lineage of women singer-songwriters who have shaped generations through storytelling and creative influence. The full lineup will be announced this summer. 

“This series is a thank you letter to the lineage of women singing their stories. A thank you backwards and forwards—this lineage means so much to me, even when we are in a different hotel room across the country and we never get to talk about it. This lineage isn’t always visible in the music business at large, but I’ve carried it close through every win and up every hard hill. I want to gather everyone at the same table and tell them how important they are to me.”

Tift Merritt, singer-songwriter and musician

The series is presented by Duke Arts in partnership with American Tobacco Campus and Tift Merritt.