our programs
the HEART OF NORTHSTAR
SUNDAY SERVICE
Sunday Service is the heart of NorthStar: a community-led ritual space where art, politics, and spirituality meet. Twice each month, we gather to ground our bodies, honor our lineages, study creative ancestors, and imagine new worlds together. These are not sermons and this is not a traditional church service; it is an invitation into collective practice, reflection, and creative liberation.
Beginning in 2026, Sunday Service takes place:
First Sundays with Ifasina Clear, 11am - 1pm
Third Sundays with Kamakshi Duvvuru, 11am - 1pm
Space 25
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Our Location
NorthStar Church of the Arts, 220 W Geer St., Durham, NC
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free street parking
There is free street parking surrounding the building and limited ADA-accessible parking onsite. You can use the community lot on Geer Street, about half a block away. We also share use of a small overflow lot on North Street.
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mobility
We strive to maintain ADA accessibility in all public spaces. (If the ramp is ever temporarily out of service due to repair, we provide clear alternate entry instructions.)
WHAT IS SUNDAY SERVICE?
Sunday Service is a shared ritual built around somatic grounding, collective reflection and conversation, artistic inquiry and cultural study, and community-centered meaning-making.
We explore themes that help us survive the world as it is and imagine the world as it could be: liberation, grief, futurism, Black feminism, abolition, spiritual reclamation, pleasure, memory, embodiment, queerness, rest, accountability, and the creative practices that keep communities alive. We learn together. We explore.
Across the years, we’ve drawn guidance from thinkers and creators such as Octavia E. Butler, Toni Morrison, Nina Simone, Emory Douglas, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Kathryn Dunham, Alvin Ailey, Pauli Murray, Sangodare Wallace, and countless local cultural workers whose wisdom shapes Durham.
Sunday Service is intergenerational, participatory, and rooted in the belief that everyone carries something worth offering.
A typical Sunday includes:
opening grounding and breathwork
a short reading or teaching
collective dialogue or small-group reflection
art-making or embodied practice
closing communal ritual
coffee, snacks, and time to connect afterward
OUR FACILITATORS
First Sundays with Ifasina Clear
11am - 1pm
Third Sundays with Kamakshi Duvvuru
11am - 1pm
Sunday School (Ages 5–12)
Each service includes a Sunday School space facilitated by trained teaching artists. Kids explore the same theme the adults are working with through storytelling, art-making, and play. We honor children as full people, capable of imagination, wisdom, and worldbuilding.
What to Expect When You Arrive
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Come exactly as you are.
Sunday Service is casual and spacious. There is no dress code and no expectation of prior church attendance. Many of our community members come with religious trauma, complicated relationships to faith traditions, or no religious background at all. You are welcome here.
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Seating and Sensory Needs
Chairs and quiet corners are available. Feel free to bring your own cushion or mobility device.
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You can sit on chairs, the floor, or move as your body needs.
We encourage stretching, fidgeting, shifting, and tending to yourself throughout the gathering.
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Masks
Masking is welcome and we provide masks. Community members with chronic illness or immunocompromised loved ones are always prioritized in seating and space-making.
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There is no “right way” to participate.
You are invited into conversation, but never required. Some people choose to share; others sit quietly and take in the space. Both are beautiful and valid. If you make a mistake it’s okay, and it’s welcome. Life is messy and we are comfortable with discomfort.
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Dress Code
Wear whatever helps your body breathe and be present. Sweats, church clothes, crop tops, denim, whatever feels right is acceptable.
OTHER PROGRAMS
SPOTLIGHT SERIES
The Spotlight Exhibition Series provides 5 emerging artists the opportunity to present a solo exhibition at NorthStar Church of the Arts. Each selected artist receives a $2,000 stipend and hands-on support with production, installation, promotion, and curation.
This program is designed to uplift artists, particularly those from QT/BIPOC and working-class backgrounds, by removing barriers to exhibiting their work and providing resources to help them succeed.
This work is made possible in part by the Triangle Community Foundation’s Cultural Arts Grant and by supporters like you. Your contributions ensure we can continue to offer these opportunities and foster a thriving arts community.
Want to help support emerging artists? Donate today or learn more about how you can get involved.
COMING IN 2026
We are excited to announce that the Spotlight Exhibition Series will return in 2026! Applications will open in the fall of 2025. If you’re an emerging artist looking for support to showcase your work, keep an eye on our website and newsletter for updates.
FIND your CENTER
MOVEMENT AT NORTHSTAR
At NorthStar, yoga is more than a practice. It’s a journey toward healing, connection, and self-discovery. Our free yoga classes welcome all levels, offering a space to reflect and reconnect with your mind, body, and spirit.
Whether you’re looking for a restorative flow to find calm or an energizing session to invigorate your day, our experienced instructors guide you in creating balance and strength. NorthStar’s yoga programming is rooted in accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring everyone feels at home on the mat.
Come as you are. Leave feeling centered and empowered.
Winter session: January 6 - March 24
Spring session: March 31 - June 16
Fall session: September 1 - November 24
COMMUNITY EVENTS
NorthStar Church of the Arts is proud to offer our space for events that inspire connection and align with our values.
Whether you’re hosting a small meeting, a large celebration, or a recurring gathering, we’ve designed our rental programs to meet your needs while supporting our mission.
