This fall, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is marking a major milestone: its 20th anniversary. On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the museum will host a free, all-day community event celebrating the grand opening of its Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Sculpture Garden—a transformative project 20 years in the making.
Since its opening in 2005, the Nasher has become a vital cultural hub in Durham, known for its bold exhibitions, focus on underrepresented artists, and commitment to community engagement. As it celebrates two decades of impact, the museum is not only reflecting on its legacy but looking ahead to a future shaped by accessibility, sustainability, and creativity.
At the heart of the celebration is the unveiling of the museum’s newly transformed sculpture garden. Made possible by a $5 million gift from longtime supporters Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger, the outdoor space has been redesigned to reflect the museum’s mission: to create welcoming spaces that connect art, nature, and people.
What was once a steep, wooded area behind the museum is now a fully walkable, ADA-accessible garden designed by Duke alumna and landscape architect Claire Agre of Unknown Studio. The space features smooth paths for strollers and wheelchairs, native plants that support local biodiversity, and carefully integrated sculptures. It’s a landscape that invites reflection, exploration, and gathering.
The October 18 celebration begins at noon and is free and open to all. Families and visitors of all ages can enjoy hands-on art activities, poetry pop-ups, a puppet show by Jeghetto, performances by the NCCU Drumline, meditative movement sessions, and interactive workshops with The Scrap Exchange. Food trucks and free parking will be available, and the day will end with a headline set by Grammy-winning Durham native 9th Wonder at 5 PM.
The anniversary also coincides with a slate of compelling exhibitions that reflect the museum’s focus on contemporary and inclusive art, including Everything Now All At Once, Coming into Focus: A Snapshot of Photography at the Nasher, Power, Presence, and Future: American Indian Pop Art in Action, and Sherman Fleming: Unsettled, the artist’s first solo exhibition.
With the opening of the sculpture garden and continued commitment to free admission, inclusive programming, and sustainability, the Nasher Museum is poised to shape the region’s cultural landscape for the next 20 years—and beyond.
For details about the October 18th celebration, visit the museum’s website.
