This summer, we welcome our 2025 Arts+ cohort of Duke students who will gain full-time hands-on professional experience in the arts through three different project teams.
They’ll work across project teams focused on:
• Building puppets and teaching tools to support middle and high school curriculum focused on climate resilience.
• Finalizing preparations for the launch of the Duke Arts Fellows program.
• Exploring roles in programming, production, and marketing & communications.
Read below to learn more about each student and what they are excited to explore this summer with Arts+ !
Based at the Duke University Marine Lab (DUML), this team will design and build parade puppets in collaboration with the Beaufort community and create small puppets in collaboration with the Ready Set Resilience curriculum. These puppets and their accompanying curriculum will help students build climate resilience and prove the power of art.
Majors: Computer Science and Theater Studies
I’m most excited about experiencing the culture of the North Carolina coast and creating art with the local community. I also love the beach and can’t wait to go on outings with other DUML students this summer!
Majors: Environmental Sciences and Policy
I never thought I’d be able to combine my interest in the environment with my love of art, but through Duke Arts’ Arts+ program, I’ve been able to do just that. I’m so thankful to be part of such a dedicated and wonderful team, and I can’t wait to see what we accomplish!
Major: Evolutionary Biology
Minor: Cultural Anthropology
I’m excited to see how art can help build community and collective resilience, especially in the face of major issues like climate change. I love exploring stories and the many ways people connect with their natural surroundings.
This team will help shape the next phase of the Duke Arts Fellows program—an academic year initiative that connects Duke undergraduates with Durham Public Schools educators and Duke faculty mentors. Building on work from last summer’s Arts+ Fellows and the Student Advisory Board, students will prepare for the program’s 2025-26 launch by developing its schedule, structure, and expectations for all participants.
Major: International Comparative Studies
Minors: Visual Arts and Asian American and Diaspora Studies
I’m looking forward to meeting and talking with Durham Public School teachers for the Arts Fellows program- and working with my awesome Art+ cohort members! I am appreciative that the program also allows us to explore our own interests as artists- with workshops and mini projects (very excited for screenprinting).
Majors: Visual Arts and Art History
I am most excited to meet other students who also share a passion for the arts and connect with others that come from different backgrounds. I’m also excited to work in developing the Duke Arts Fellowship program and contribute to benefiting the local Durham Public School community.
Major: English
Minor: Creative Writing
I am most excited about the Marine Lab trip, where we can work with the full Arts+ team and the opportunities to work with Doc+ on joint activities. I think the Marine Lab will be a great place to get to know everyone, and I’m excited to see what the Resilience through Puppetry Team is doing.
This team will work with our Marketing & Communications and Programming & Production teams to gain hands-on experience running an outdoor concert series and prepare for the 2025-26 Duke Arts Presents season.
Major: Visual Arts
Minor: Psychology
Certificate: Documentary Studies
I am most excited to meet and work with new people and learn new skills in my potential future career trajectory. I’m looking forward to being a part of duke arts admin team to help duke arts presents successfully launch the upcoming season.
Major: Computer Science, Duke University & Duke Kunshan University
I’m excited to learn about the technical aspect of Arts+ and marketing. I’m also looking forward to staying at Duke and learning about the Durham community.
Majors: Evolutionary Anthropology and Music
I think I’m most excited for behind the scenes on production and learning new skills about how to put on shows. I am also incredibly excited to research the artists coming to Duke and become more familiar with Duke Arts as a whole. I think it will be super fun to work with my team and come up with ideas as well as making our own paths for our Arts+ experience.
Arts+ is one of many immersive, experiential summer learning opportunities at Duke University known as the +Programs, including Data+, Climate+, CS+, and more.