Any Dukie longing for a cheap yet civilized way to spend a summer evening need look no further than the Nasher Museum of Art. There, students, faculty and local residents can enjoy free live entertainment and meals prepared by local guest chefs as part of “Summer Days, Nasher Nights,” hosted on Thursday evenings throughout the summer.
Nasher Nights feature a new theme for each of its Thursday evening events: the first Thursday of each month features gallery talks and Art Scrabble; subsequent events Culinary Creative, Live and Local and Dinner and a Movie each explore intersections of food and art in distinct ways.
At Culinary Creative, guest chefs such as Vin Rouge’s Matt Kelly and David Bernstein of Revolution prepare art-inspired menus, while local musicians and a café menu featuring locally sourced ingredients converge for Live and Local.
On Art Scrabble nights, held the first Thursday of each month, attendees apply their art knowledge to the classic board game after a gallery talk by a museum curator. Mellower gallery-goers may opt for the Dinner and a Movie night, which offers an optional two-course prix fixe menu followed by a movie in the lecture hall.
“We take a relaxed approach to our art programming in the summer,” Kathy Wright, special events coordinator at the Nasher who spearheaded the program’s trial run last summer, wrote in an email.
All four events are free, except for the price of food, and are rotated to provide a different themed evening each Thursday of the month.
Nasher Nights has developed into a more successful program since last year, Wright said, and in the process tapped into an expanding audience base.
“We’ve consciously designed programs to appeal to a really diverse audience,” she said.
The performers have ranged from acoustic guitarist Sarah Howell to the traditional British Isle folk music of the Pratie Heads.
“It’s an opportunity to play with my friends in public,” said Darren Mueller, a graduate student in the music department whose jazz trio played June 30. “The Nasher has a beautiful stage, and it’s always nice to play in a place that supports the music and the arts in general.”
According to Wright, the guest chefs have also played an important role in helping the Nasher connect to new audiences. Dilip Barman, president of the Triangle Vegetarian Society, drew 95 people to the Culinary Creative event June 16.
“Now his whole network of folks has been to the Nasher,” she said.
Overall, Wright hopes that Nasher Nights will help people build a more relaxed relationship with art that extends beyond viewing the exhibits featured during the academic year.
“Whether visitors are watching an art-themed film or simply enjoying great food and music while surrounded by great art and architecture, our goal with Nasher Nights is to encourage meaningful and ongoing connections with art,” she said.
“Summer Days, Nasher Nights” are open to the public and run every Thursday through Aug. 25 at the Nasher Museum of Art. Dinner reservations are recommended.
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