Duke is a place rich in diversity and culture. Throughout the year, employees and community members can take advantage of the many cultural events and unique offerings available at Duke. They can savor performances by top-flight orchestras and opera companies, hear thought provoking lectures by world leaders, enjoy the beauty of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens and be a part of the roaring crowd at Duke athletic events.
Duke Chapel
Duke Chapel, the icon of the university, stands 210 feet high at the center of West Campus. Built in the early 1930s, the Chapel houses 77 stained glass windows, a 50-bell carillon, a 100-voice choir, and is home to more than two dozen religious groups, including an interdenominational Christian congregation. The Chapel is open to visitors year round and hosts numerous weekly worship services, as well as other special events, making it one of the most active university chapels in America. All are welcome!
Sarah P. Duke Gardens
The Sarah P. Duke Gardens, 55 acres of landscaped and woodland gardens in the heart of Duke's West Campus, are open to the public daily. Each year more than 300,000 visitors enjoy the gardens' five miles of walkways and more than 2,000 species and varieties of plants.
Duke Libraries
Duke employees can visit Duke Libraries to borrow books, CDs, DVDs and even Kindles for free with their DukeCard. In addition to the main Bostock and Perkins libraries on West Campus, there are also libraries located on East Campus and within many of the professional schools at Duke. Employees can also go online to search titles and request or renew books using the “My Library Account” page.
American Dance Festival
Each summer the largest and most influential modern dance festival in the world takes place on the campus of Duke University. The American Dance Festival attracts more than two dozen modern dance companies and hundreds of choreographers, writers, and students to Durham for classes and performances.
Duke Forest
Duke Forest covers 7,700 acres of land and serves as a natural outdoor lab for Duke and neighboring universities. The forest is managed for multiple uses, including education, research, protection of wildlife and rare plant species, and demonstration of timber management practices. Selected roads and fire trails are open to visitors for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Duke Blue Devils (Athletics)
The Blue Devils are one of the nation's strongest university athletic programs for men and women. Duke participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference and is dedicated to developing true student-athletes. The athletics program has produced more than 200 All Americans, 26 Olympians, 14 NCAA titles (team and individual) and some of the country's most dedicated fans. For updates, see the GoDuke Weekly online news magazine.
Lemur Center
The Lemur Center, the only university-based facility in the world devoted to the study of prosimian primates, is home to the world's largest colony of endangered primates, including more than 250 lemurs, bush babies and lorises. More than 85 percent of the center's inhabitants were born on site. In 1997, the center began a program to reintroduce black and white ruffed lemurs to Madagascar, the first return of any prosimian primates to the island nation.
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University
The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University fosters the understanding and appreciation of the visual arts by providing direct experiences with original works of art supported by a range of exhibitions, programs and publications for the university and the broader community. The museum draws on the intellectual resources of a great research university and serves as a laboratory of the arts dedicated to multidisciplinary approaches to learning. These strategies make the Nasher at Duke a unique cornerstone of the arts for Duke University, Durham and the Triangle community, the State of North Carolina and the greater Southeast region.
Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
The Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture was designed to recognize and appreciate the heritage of black Americans. The Center features an art gallery, library and lounge, and it sponsors speakers on various issues throughout the year.
Doing Good in the Neighborhood
Duke's Doing Good Employee Giving Campaign is available to University and Health System employees each fiscal year. Duke staff and faculty can make contributions to any of the five employee giving categories – education, employment, health, housing & neighborhoods, and community and/or to the United Way of the Greater Triangle. Duke provides an opportunity to give via payroll deduction using the Duke@WCaork employee self-service portal. Our collective giving of time, talent and treasure to Doing Good nonprofits and community-based organizations helps forge purposeful partnerships with neighbors throughout Durham and the Triangle.
Department of Biology Greenhouse
The Department of Biology Greenhouses offer excellent educational opportunities for the community. It houses one of the most diverse collections of plants under glass in the Southeast, comprising more than 2,000 different species from many environments.
Duke Performances
Duke Performances is a professional performing arts organization that brings a variety of performances to Duke stages, concert halls and outdoor venues year round. Whether your taste is for classical music, jazz, world music, dance, theater, family-friendly performances, comedy or cutting edge — a variety of performing arts programming is nearby, and at very reasonable prices. Many special employee ticket offers are available through the PERQs program.