Love Durham as a Creative

There are a lot of reasons to love Durham; art is just one of them. In Durham, you can admire works by world-renowned artists alongside up-and-coming creators. You’ll find inspiration hiding in local galleries, meandering in university museums and popping up in local restaurants and bars. There's an undercurrent of passion and curiosity here that’s channeled into artistic expression and championed by community support. Take a breath and be inspired by artwork that brings life and color to the soul.

During the slow winter months, the small business owners, creators and artists need the love and support of the Durham community more than ever. So, the Love Durham campaign is designed to get you out of the house and diving into the places and experiences that spark your passion for the arts and inspire your love for this place. Now, you can earn prizes (and bragging rights) along the way by participating in the Love Durham Challenge. Between January 5 and March 14, visit at least ten of the places highlighted in bold on this itinerary, find and scan the QR code using the Discover Durham app to check in and you’ll be on your way to completing the challenge. We’ve also added insider tips with more ways to discover things to love in Durham. You’ll be expanding your mind, supporting the local arts community and giving back in a way that spreads the love.

Find more detailed instructions on how to participate in the Love Durham Challenge on our blog.

Find Challenge Instructions

Learn About the Love Durham Campaign

Relax in the heart of downtown in a luxurious space where signature pink penguins welcome you into the property’s public spaces. The art-forward 21c Museum Hotel is also a museum with free galleries on the first and second floors, open 24 hours. You don't have to stay at the hotel to enjoy the art (and don’t forget to check in for the Love Durham challenge). The museum hotel has 17 stories and is located in a historic bank building that was designed by the same architecture firm that designed the Empire State Building. Don’t miss the Counting House Restaurant, located on the first floor, and trust us — don’t miss the frosted glass bathrooms on the second floor or the historic bank vault in the basement.

Start your day on a walking tour of downtown Durham with a coffee from Vessel Coffee House & Art Cafe. This artist-owned space combines coffee, art and community in a charming hub where artists are welcome. Purchase some art supplies (or bring your own) and make a mini masterpiece while you sip. From there, walk to Cecy's Gallery, a multi-artist gallery featuring artwork, home goods and jewelry by Durham’s Black, Indigenous and Latino communities. There’s sure to be something you will want to take home with you.

Head towards the city center and walk to the Durham Arts Council, a catalyst in the cultural development of Durham. A large Love Durham window decal is your cue you’re in the right place. Stroll through award-winning galleries and an outdoor sculpture garden and be sure to check in at the QR code inside the lobby. When you’re finished, don’t miss the outdoor, two-story Durham Civil Rights Mural featuring luminaries from Durham’s African American and Civil Rights history.

Head around the corner to 5 Points Gallery to peruse fine arts by local artists in a range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, fused glass and mixed media. 5 Points Gallery has been a fixture of the arts scene in Durham for years and features monthly rotating exhibitions by ten local artists. It’s also right next to Pizzeria Toro, which will dazzle your tastebuds with wood-fired pizzas. Try the the spicy lamb meatball pizza or the NC clam white pizza and don’t miss the kale salad, a local favorite. Down the block, check out even more murals by local artists Cornelio Campos and Cecilia Lueza, honoring the Mexican heritage of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, painted on a pair of garage doors.

If your legs need a rest, or you want recommendations for things to do and see, head to the Visitor Info Center. Located in the historic Trust Building at 212 W. Main St., you can get personalized recommendations from a Durham Destination Expert, plan your visit with interactive tools, pick up printed copies of maps and guides, or just chill and recharge your phone with free wi-fi and outlets. Don’t miss “Life is Service,” a photography art exhibit featuring service workers in Durham by photographer Jordan Abdur-Ra-oof. There’s also a place to check in for the Love Durham challenge.

When it's time for a snack and a drink, stop by the Durham Food Hall to find breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks from the nine vendors and bar. The hall is a stop on the foodie challenge, but you can find a creative check-in – and an excellent Durham souvenir – at the art vending machine by Hyperlocal. Grab a zine from the machine and look for the QR code check-in on the back.

End the day with a drink at Zeitgeist Gallery and Bar, a place where creative vibes, creative people and creative drinks intermingle. Zeitgeist taps into the, well, zeitgeist by hosting events with food trucks, sapphic happy hours, cabaret shows, group drawing classes and gallery openings. Support local artists by buying the artwork on the walls, or experiment with a cocktail made with house-infused spirits.

On the third Friday of the month (January 16 and February 20), head to the Golden Belt artist studios in the historic Golden Belt Campus for Third Fridays, Durham’s monthly evening art walk and gallery crawl. Check in at the Love Durham A-frame signs located around campus to get credit on the challenge while you support local businesses. The Golden Belt Campus is one of Durham’s revitalized historic textile mills and it has prioritized the arts by nestling artists’ studios and galleries among offices and lofts.

Brush up your improv skills with a workshop at Mettlesome Theater or earn an extra challenge credit by checking in at Best of Mettlesketch January 8-10 and 15-17 to see the theater’s comedy team live in action. Live music fills the open-air courtyard while people dance and enjoy pizza, beer, ice cream and more. For a fun selfie, find the Love Durham neon sign by the elevator near the entrance to The Cotton Room.

If someone else's junk is your treasure, you will love The Scrap Exchange. A Durham institution since 1991, the Scrap Exchange has been nationally recognized for its commitment to reuse. It’s part arts center, thrift store, gallery, community space and artist market. Find a multitude of items to fuel a day of craft-making, home renovations or art projects, including scrap fabric, vintage magazine clippings, lumber, light fixtures, metals, buckets of buttons, foam and more. On your way out, stop across the street at Cocoa Cinnamon Lakewood for a churro and hot chocolate or Lakewood Social (a check-in location on the foodie challenge, so an opportunity to make progress on multiple challenges in one stop) for lunch.

A stop at the nearby UHill Walls is a must for any creative. The mixed-use campus is home to more than 40 murals by local, national and international artists, making it one of the largest, most concentrated collections of public art in the Southeast. Spend some time checking out the art among the buildings in the public areas and stop in during business hours (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.) at the University Hill Apartments leasing office at 3806 University Dr. to ask for a free, behind-the-scenes mural tour and challenge check-in. Be sure to bring a bring a valid, government-issued photo ID with you to join a tour. Plus, the complex’s retail spaces offer dining, shopping, a brewery, coffee shop, cocktail bar, yoga studio, outdoor space and more.

When the kids are ready to make some noise, head to Notasium, a 3,000 square-foot indoor play space and music center. Take a music class or drop in for an open play session. Kids can slide down a giant guitar, learn about sharps and flats or find their inner karaoke star.

Have you ever wished there was a place to hang out, do crafts and drink beer? End the day at Crafts & Drafts, a combination crafting bar and bottle shop. The bar serves beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverage options for you to enjoy as you work on DIY projects. Bring your own project along or purchase a kit to start something new. Plan to attend a theme night like painting, woodworking, glass etching, cross stitching and more. Supervised kids are welcome, but the space is primarily for adults

Just southeast of downtown Durham, discover the Hayti Heritage Center, a cultural and educational center and historic Hayti community hub. The center is located in the former St. Joseph’s Church, which was established in 1891 by formerly enslaved community leader Edian Markham. Check in at the a-frame outside the center before you explore inside to find stained glass windows and other details that beautify the space. Visit the Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery, and make plans to see a performance in the 400-seat hall for additional check-in opportunities. The 2026 season includes performances from Brandee Younger, Keith Knight, and the Branford Marsalis Quartet.

If you love a traditional art museum experience, head to Duke University’s campus to the Nasher Museum of Art, a contemporary art museum that is free and open to the public. Scan the QR code in the main lobby area before you begin exploring the museum’s exhibits. The permanent collection focuses on work by underrepresented artists and artists of African descent. Look for Medieval art, pre-Columbian American works, classical pieces and modern and contemporary works. The museum grounds have recently received a renovation featuring expansive plantings and a new deck leading from the parking lot to the entrance, creating a calm setting for reflection. Don’t miss the locally owned gift shop, Parker & Otis at the Nasher, for cute and colorful souvenirs, or visit the flagship store at the American Tobacco Campus.

After being inspired by world-famous artists, it’s time to stock up on supplies to create your own masterpiece! Look for the colorfully painted historic house on Iredell Street between West Markham and 10 Alley in the Ninth Street neighborhood, you’ve arrived at ArtPost Supplies and Studios. Part local art store, part studio, ArtPost is a community hub for artists and creatives. Find art supplies for newbies and experienced artists. Plan ahead and take an art class or attend flART, an artists’ market with over 60 vendors.

Wind down the day at Wine & Design, a great place to sip and paint — no experience needed! An instructor will guide you through creating a piece of art that you’ll be proud to display.

For an additional check-in opportunity, enjoy champagne and toast to a century of live music and movies in the heart of downtown Durham at the Carolina Theatre’s 100th Birthday Party on January 31 (this event was postponed due to weather to April 3 and is no longer a part of the challenge). This adult version of a classic birthday party will feature live-band karaoke on the main stage, Drag Bingo, classic cartoons, crafts, face painting and a photo booth. Don’t forget to scan the event QR code for challenge credit. Keep an eye on the Theatre’s calendar for anniversary events throughout 2026, in addition to the usual programming including touring and local bands, comedians and other performers, plus new and classic films.

There are four Love Durham challenges that line up with aspects of Durham we love most: Love Durham as a Foodie, Love Durham as a Creative, Love Durham as a Style Icon and Love Durham as a Family. Participate in as many challenges as you like and earn a prize for each challenge you complete. Learn more about the Love Durham Campaign at LoveDurham.com.

Don’t miss these places and more as part of the Love Durham Challenge. Discover more of what Durham has to offer in the arts and for artists. Expand your horizons, be challenged by through-provoking pieces and love what makes Durham so special. You may even be inspired to create in ways you never thought possible.