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SHARE YOUR
THOUGHTS
The Stagville Memorial Project Public Artworks Team, in partnership with the City of Durham and Durham County, is seeking feedback on our latest round of memorial designs for three artworks to be created and installed along the downtown Durham Rail Trail, with installation expected around 2028.
These designs incorporate input from Stagville descendants and community members gathered through prior public surveys and descendant-focused meetings.
Please review the artist drawings and renderings for each project section — Seating, Sculpture, and Signage —and complete the survey to share your comments and/or questions. Please note that there are two options presented for the "Sculpture" section, with space to leave commentary for both on the survey. For information on previous artist drawings and our artist team press release, click below.
Submissions are due by November 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM
ARTIST DRAWINGS
Click on the images below to expand and read more
SECTION I SEATING
SECTION II SCULPTURE
OPTION I, ENSLAVED DWELLING SCULPTURE
SECTION II SCULPTURE
OPTION II, "WE ARE NOT APART" SCULPTURE
SECTION III SIGNAGE
THE STAGVILLE MEMORIAL PROJECT
The Stagville Memorial Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the lives and legacies of people formerly enslaved at Stagville Plantation.
Through public art and community engagement, we aim to amplify lesser-known histories, expand our collective understanding of Durham’s past, and highlight Stagville's continued relevance today. We work to bring these stories into public spaces—not just to remember but to reflect, connect, and envision a more inclusive future.
THE PUBLIC ARTWORKS ARTIST TEAM
For more information and artist bios, click here
Stephen Hayes, Sherrill Roland, and Cricket Forge
Forthcoming in Downtown Durham
THE DURHAM RAIL TRAIL
The Durham Rail Trail is a new 1.78-mile linear park and rail trail with neighborhood connections, art components, stormwater treatment, road crossings, trailheads, and site amenities.
Detailed engineering and landscape architectural design for the Durham Rail Trail are well underway after the City Council approved the project for advanced design and significant construction funding in June 2024. The Durham Rail Trail is currently in the design phase, with construction scheduled to begin in the fall of 2026 and completion expected by spring 2028.
The Stagville Memorial Project Public Artworks is a collection of three artworks that will be created and installed along the upcoming Durham Rail Trail, located at 501 W. Main St. in downtown Durham.
