Next week, the PlayMakers Repertory Company, called “one of America’s theater leading companies” by American Theatre magazine, is putting on a performance of Edward Albee’s acclaimed “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
From now until December, the Ackland Art Museum is featuring the Carolina Collects exhibit, showcasing important works from Monet to Picasso to Andy Warhol—all from private alumni collections. The museum is also offering a bevy of free talks, lunches and concerts concurrent with the exhibit.
And in the last few months, Carolina Performing Arts has sponsored first-rate performers ranging from gospel singer Mavis Staples to ground-breaking Taiwanese dance troupe Cloud Gate Dance Theater. Famed trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and Sweden’s Goeteborg Ballet are slated for the near future.
All these arts opportunities exist a mere bus ride away from Duke’s campus, yet most Duke students are unaware of them. Duke students recognize Chapel Hill for its lively bar scene, good restaurants and rival sports teams. But the town’s impressive artistic offerings go under the radar.
Duke and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill should make a substantial effort to broadcast the ample arts opportunities at both of their campuses. For example, Duke jazz aficionados should be made aware that the legendary Herbie Hancock is scheduled to perform at UNC’s Memorial Hall. However, with virtually no cross-campus advertising, remarkable events like this will most likely go unnoticed at the nearby university.
Duke Performances and Carolina Performing Arts, along with the Nasher Museum of Art and the Ackland Art Mueseum, should agree to actively publicize each other’s upcoming events. Something as simple as including information about the other university’s event on a website or listserv email would reach a new swath of potential attendees. Another possibility is utilizing the advertising space on the Robertson Bus to increase awareness of cross-campus opportunities. To encourage attendance, Duke and UNC student discounts should be extended, at least partially, to students from the other campus.
Even more ambitious than increased attendance at outside events are joint or collaborative events. The Nasher has already attempted such programming with its Double Exposure event earlier this month, shuttling students between the Nasher and the North Carolina Central University Art Museum for related photo exhibits and performances.
The Kenan-Biddle Partnership grants, which are available for student-initiated projects that bridge both universities, could fund these collaborations. It is not difficult to imagine joint events between Duke and UNC a cappella groups or improv comedy troupes. The Kenan-Biddle money would be perfect to initiate larger artistic projects or performances that take advantage of the resources two major universities have to offer.
Earlier this year, incoming students at Duke and UNC read the same summer reading book, ostensibly to strengthen the intellectual ties between them. If Duke and UNC truly care about strengthening those ties, they will encourage programs and events that require students to physically travel to the other campus and share an intellectual experience together. Arts provide the perfect opportunity to do just that. With some coordination, Duke and UNC could put on arts events that reach double the audience, benefiting double the students. With just a bus ride away, there is not much to lose and an incredible amount to gain.
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