The Center for French and Francophone Studies at Duke University, the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute and Villa Albertine are gathering on Duke’s centennial, to host the first Night of Ideas in Durham.

Present in 100 countries worldwide and over 20 cities in the U.S., The Night of Ideas has become a nationwide phenomenon drawing tens of thousands of people. The national theme this year is "Outside the Lines”. Durham's own interpretation of it, "The Shadows Are All Mine" reverberates the words of Julian F. Abele, pays tribute to his work as the black chief designer of Duke's West Campus during segregation.

 This event, free and open-to-the-public, will shed light on the forgotten legacies that have shaped our cities and communities, as well as the difficult integration of nature and biodiversity in the design of North American, European, and African cities.

Participants include renowned artists and scholars from three continents such as Ngnima Sarr, aka T.I.E (performer); Tobin Freid (Durham County Sustainability Manager); Kofi Boone ( Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, NC State College of Design), Max Cowley (Director of Climate Research and Engagement at the Museum of Life and Science); Sébastien Marot (Historian of Architecture and the Environment); Léone-Alix Mazaud (researcher, PSL University), Emmanuèle Cunningham-Sabot (Professor of Urban Planning at École normale supérieure ­– PSL); Felwine Sarr (Anne-Marie Bryan Distinguished Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Duke); and many others – as well as members of the extended Durham community. 

Registration is NOT required, but it will help us get an estimate of how many people will attend. 

For more information, visit nightofideas.org.