Durham, N.C., August 28, 2026 – Net Friends, a Durham-based managed IT services provider, has become the naming sponsor for the theatre at the Durham Arts Council. The venue is now the Net Friends Theatre and was formally dedicated in a public ceremony on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The dedication event included a performance by the Boom Unit Brass Band and was attended by friends of the Durham Arts Council and Net Friends.
The Net Friends sponsorship supports the theatre’s ongoing use for performances, rehearsals, arts education classes, and community programming hosted by the Council and local arts organizations. At 174 seats, the Net Friends Theatre is the larger of the two theatres at the Durham Arts Council, which also houses two ballet studios, a blackbox theatre, a large clay studio, rehearsal rooms, art classrooms, music practice rooms, three major galleries and office space for arts organizations. The event calendar is filled year-round.
The Durham Arts Council was founded in 1954, making it the second-oldest arts council in the United States. Located at 120 Morris Street in downtown Durham, the Arts Council calls the Royal Center for the Arts home. This 52,000 square foot building has a rich history, built in 1906 as Central High School before later serving as Durham's City Hall. Today it's owned by the City of Durham, with the Arts Council serving as its steward. The building houses the Arts Council's own offices along with 15 other Durham arts organizations, making it a true hub for creativity in the city.
Net Friends has been a Durham-based business since 1997 with roots in downtown Durham’s Main Street. For over a decade, Net Friends has sponsored and supported CenterFest, the Council’s annual arts festival. Earlier this year, Net Friends CEO John Snyder was named to the Board of Trustees at the Durham Arts Council.
“Everything worth celebrating starts with people gathered in a room together,” stated John Snyder. “Whether it’s a performance, rehearsal, or first-grade field trip, Durham Arts Council has been gathering people and filling the room for decades. Net Friends is privileged to support this in a meaningful way with our theatre sponsorship.”
“The theatre is in use every week of the year as an essential creative space for artists and arts organizations to present performances by very young people through our elders. This new partnership with Net Friends supports a thriving, creative Durham through creating access to an affordable stage downtown,” said Katie Wyatt, Executive Director of the Durham Arts Council. “Support from a local company like Net Friends helps us sustain vital support for the entire arts community, and we are grateful for a partner whose roots in Durham run as deep as ours.”
About Net Friends
Net Friends delivers managed IT services, cybersecurity, and strategic IT consulting to organizations across North Carolina and the United States. For more than two decades, Net Friends has partnered with businesses to provide reliable, responsive, and people-first technology solutions that empower teams and drive success. Learn more at netfriends.com or connect on LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Emily Dao-Forrester
Net Friends, Inc
Brand Manager
emily.dao-forrester@netfriends.com
About Durham Arts Council
Founded in 1954, Durham Arts Council (DAC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the arts in Durham. Serving more than 400,000 people annually, DAC provides arts education, exhibitions, artist support, grants, and community events. Located in the heart of downtown Durham, DAC is committed to making the arts accessible to all while strengthening the region's creative economy and cultural vitality through meaningful opportunities for artists and the community. Learn more at www.durhamarts.org.
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