Habitat for Humanity of Durham Issues First-Ever Call for Art, Inviting Local Artists to Help Build Homes
September 3, 2026
Habitat for Humanity of Durham Issues First-Ever Call for Art, Inviting Local Artists to Help Build Homes
Inaugural “FRAMED” art show fundraiser will put Durham artists’ work on easels — and 30 percent of every sale into affordable housing. Submissions close September 21st.
DURHAM, N.C. — Sept 2, 2026 — Habitat for Humanity of Durham today issued an open call for art, inviting Durham-area artists to submit original work for FRAMED: An Evening of Art for the House That Durham Built — the first art show fundraiser in the organization’s forty-year history.
Selected artists will have their work displayed on easels throughout the venue for one evening this fall. Thirty percent of every sale will go directly to Habitat for Humanity of Durham to build and repair homes in Durham; the artist keeps seventy percent. A limited number of pieces will be offered at auction.
“We have spent forty years building walls in this city,” said Nimasheena Burns, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Durham. “This fall we’re asking Durham’s artists to help us put something on them — and to help us build the next ones. Art and housing come from the same instinct. Somebody looks at an empty space and decides it ought to hold something beautiful.”
Habitat for Humanity of Durham has created nearly 500 homes and completed close to 1,000 critical repairs since its founding in 1985, financing homes for local families at zero-percent interest. Burns said the event is designed to open a door in both directions.
“There are people in Durham who have never set foot on one of our build sites and never will, but they’ll come out on a Tuesday night for good art and a some fellowship to learn about why our model is the best bet for homeowners in Durham,” she said. “We want them in the room. And we want Durham’s artists and Triangle Artist— especially the ones who haven’t had a gallery say yes to them yet — to have a wall, a crowd, and a check at the end of the night.”
Submission details
Artists 18 and older may submit up to three original pieces. Painting, drawing, illustration, photography, printmaking, fiber, and collage are all welcome; small to medium sculpture will be considered case by case. All work must be display-ready, appropriate for a general audience, and able to stand on an easel.
Each submission requires a photograph of the work, exact dimensions, approximate weight, an asking price, and a brief artist statement. There is a $25 non-refundable fee per piece, with confidential fee waivers available on request so cost is not a barrier to any Durham artist.
Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, September 21st. 2026. All artists will be notified of selection decisions by Thursday, August 24. Selected artists receive a full media kit, a printed wall label and catalog listing, a social media spotlight, and two complimentary admissions.
The full Request for Art and submission instructions are available at FRAMED: Call For Artist | Durham Habitat for Humanity. Questions may be directed to Framed@durhamhabitat.org
Habitat notes that it does not insure submitted artwork, that artists exhibit at their own risk, that all sales are final, and that delivery of purchased work is arranged directly between buyer and artist.
FRAMED will take place October 20th, 2026 at a The Rickhouse in Durham. Admissions start at $10. The evening will include soft live music, a bar, hors d’oeuvres, and information about Habitat’s work in Durham.
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About Habitat for Humanity of Durham
Habitat for Humanity of Durham is a nonprofit housing ministry founded in 1985 that partners with families, volunteers, and community supporters to build, repair, sell, and finance affordable homes in Durham. Serving as both builder and mortgage lender, Habitat offers zero-interest loans to families who do not qualify for traditional financing. Over four decades, the organization has created nearly 500 homes and completed close to 1,000 repairs. Learn more at durhamhabitat.org.