Five Free, Fun Things to Do at Duke in April
With spring in full bloom, enjoy nature and the arts throughout the month
The academic year may be coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean events across campus are slowing down. Lovers of music, arts and nature have plenty to keep them busy in April with events all month long.
Working@Duke brings you five, free fun things to do at Duke at the start of every month, so check back the first week of May and throughout the academic year for this monthly series.
April 7, 9 and 21 – Celebrate the Arts with Nasher Museum
The Nasher Museum of Art will host three events in April offering free access to collections and a documentary film screening:
- April 7 at 7 p.m.: Music in the Gallery. Take in works of art in the Medieval gallery while listening to live period music.
- April 9 at 10:30 a.m.: “Slow Art Day” tour. The Nasher joins museums around the country in celebrating Slow Art Day, which provides tours that stop and discuss pieces of art at length.
- April 21 at 5:30 p.m.: Screening of Glowing Lines. The film follows painter Odili Donald Odita and his technical team around Durham as they conceive, develop and complete two murals commissioned by the Nasher.
April 9, 16, 23 and 30 - Learn about Fauna and Flora
Sarah P. Duke Gardens hosts a family event Saturdays in April from 1 to 4 p.m. when children of all ages can find “exploration stations” focusing on the science of plants and animals. Scattered throughout the Gardens, families can stroll through the space and enjoy seasonal demonstrations, experiments and hands-on projects at each station that can be taken home.
April 21 – A Marathon Reading Session
From noon to 8 p.m., bibliophiles from across campus are invited to join Duke Romance Studies for a marathon reading challenge of Don Quixote in honor of the 400-year anniversary of famed Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes’ death. Duke community members can sign up to take turns reading from one of world’s seminal works of literature. The event, held in the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, is open to the public.
The Duke Chorale, directed by professor of the practice Rodney Wynkoop, will perform highlights from the group's 2015-16 season, including an eclectic array of selections from Baroque to modern, folksongs to spirituals. The Chorale is comprised primarily of undergraduates and features 50 singers in all. The event will be held from 8 to 9:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Biddle Music Building.
April 29 – Remembering a Jazz Legend
In an annual event celebrating the birthday of the namesake of its department, the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture will welcome students and employees for Mary Lou Day starting at 3 p.m. to commemorate the famed jazz pianist and composer who taught at Duke and directed the Duke Jazz Ensemble. The event, held at 101 Flowers Building, will include refreshments, live jazz and a reflection on the life of Mary Lou Williams.