We the People is a Duke and Durham collaboration that marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence through a series of public events examining the nation’s evolving identity. Drawing from the opening words of the Constitution, the project asks us to consider who “the people” have been, and who we aspire to be, within the ongoing story of the United States. Through performances, exhibitions, conversations, and other programs taking place through the spring of 2027, We the People brings together arts and scholarship to help us interpret our shared history and imagine our collective future.
Duke University and Durham organizations are partnering to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States’ Declaration of Independence.
A new We the People initiative will examine the nation’s evolving identity through exhibitions, performances, coursework, conversations and public programs through the spring of 2027. Drawing from the opening words of the Constitution, the project asks us to consider who “the people” have been, and who we aspire to be, within the ongoing story of the United States.
This fall includes a free public exhibition of historic copies of the Declaration, including an official full-sized 1823 facsimile engraved by William J. Stone (known as a Stone Declaration) alongside two historic broadside copies by Benjamin Owen Tyler (1818) and John Binns (1819). These documents are on loan from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection.
Durham County Main Library (Downtown Durham): September 8–20, 2026
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University: September 24–January 3, 2027
At the core of We the People are five guiding themes that orient the project’s vision, shaping how ideas take form across disciplines, spaces, and communities.
Civic Life and Democratic Participation
History, Identity, And Belonging
Community Voices and Lived Experience
Intersections of ARt, Research, and Public Dialogue
Future-Oriented Visions of Society, Community, or Democracy
The We the People steering committee invites all Duke units and community partners to share information about current or planned programming, coursework, or projects that align with the initiative’s themes.
This project is organized by a steering committee of unit representatives from throughout Duke University, with administrative coordination managed from within the Office of the Vice Provost for the Arts (Duke Arts).
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