Welcome to another year of the Arts Discovery Educational Series!
This program is curated to complement curriculum goals to meet the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Comprehensive Arts Education Standards to enhance students’ exposure to the arts.
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Support the Arts Discovery Educational Series
The Carolina Theatre of Durham is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to presenting vibrant, thought-provoking film, live performances, and children’s educational programs that contribute to the cultural and economic vitality of downtown Durham and the Triangle Region. Please consider making a donation to support our work.
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to the following sponsors for their support of Arts Discovery Educational Series:
Collaboration
Through combined resources with our partner organizations, we are able to offer richer arts experiences for our students. We are proud to partner with the following organizations:
Durham Arts Council
Durham Public Schools
University of North Carolina, Carolina Public Humanities, Carolina K-12
This project was supported by the Durham Arts Council’s Annual Arts Fund and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
Each year, we present Arts Discovery Educational Series performances to complement classroom curriculum as designated by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. With a specific focus on arts exposure as part of the Comprehensive Arts Education Framework, you will also find expanded curriculum tie-ins for each show. Our goal is to engage our young audiences in grades K-12 through captivating performances to foster learning across multiple subject areas.
Our Vision
To establish the Carolina Theatre as a leading field trip destination for performing arts experiences.
Goals
- Present high-quality performing arts — theater, dance, music, and film — for young audiences.
- Enhance teacher awareness of the arts as an effective medium for cultivating student appreciation of creative expression, academic learning, and artistic discipline.
- Provide an affordable field trip destination for performing arts experiences that complement curriculum goals for schools and community organizations serving children and their families.
Community Engagement
The Family Saturday Series, established in 2017, is a family-based program for all ages. This series features local and touring performing artists for one-hour performances on select Saturdays, once a month. Our goal is to provide high-quality, affordable arts experiences to introduce young audiences to the magic of live performances, music, storytelling, and more at an affordable price for the community.
The Sensory Friendly Film Series, established in 2023, offers a welcoming and supportive environment for autistic individuals and others in need of sensory accommodations. The series presents films in a comfortable environment once a month. This series is presented to the community free of charge in partnership with the Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development.
To see this season’s offerings for both series, please visit the Carolina Theatre of Durham’s website for ticket and reservation information.
All school groups, including homeschools, can reserve tickets to Arts Discovery performances through the Carolina Theatre’s website with a credit card. If you need an invoice to pay by check, contact efan@carolinatheatre.org. After your reservation is made, there is no need to print tickets — on the day of the event, simply check in at the door by giving your school’s name to an usher.
Please note – Reservations close five days before the performance, and all payments must be processed before the performance date.
CHAPERONES
Schools receive one free seat for every 20 seats purchased. Additional chaperones (teachers and parents) may purchase their ticket(s) separately. Infants under the age of one year that will be sitting on a parent’s lap will receive complimentary entry.
SEATS
Seating arrangements are made prior to the show by theater staff according to group size, grade level, and any special accommodation needed. If you arrive in smaller groups, please wait outside until your entire group is together and can be seated at one time.
ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS
Please include any accessibility needs, such as wheelchair access or hearing devices on your reservation. We encourage you to contact us at efan@carolinatheatre.org if you need further seating requirements.
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
If your school is delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather on the day of the performance, please notify efan@carolinatheatre.org as soon as possible. If the theater must cancel a show due to weather, every effort will be made to reschedule during the current season, and your tickets will be transferred.
DAY OF PERFORMANCE
Please arrive 30 minutes before show time to allow time for bus parking and seating. Police officers will direct buses for parking — make sure to get your bus driver’s name and phone number in case you need to locate your bus after the show.
A group leader should check in with Carolina Theatre staff, and volunteer ushers will direct everyone to their seats. Teachers and chaperones should sit at the ends of rows, so they don’t block the view for smaller children seated behind them.
All performances are approximately one hour unless otherwise noted. Eating inside the theater or on the plaza outside is prohibited. Study guides, when provided by the performing artist, are available on each show’s individual page on the Carolina Theatre website.
All Durham Public Schools reservations should be made by the school-designated arts liaison. To inquire about your school’s arts liaison, please contact your school’s principal or Senior Director of Education, Laurie Siegel at laurie@carolinatheatre.org.
