What’s Next for Live at Bay 7?

Following a successful 9 week pilot in early 2026, Live at Bay 7 is taking a break to prepare for our next residency. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about future events and opportunities to get involved.

Live at Bay 7 will return in 2027!

Live at Bay 7’s mission is to make Durham a national destination for creative ideation and innovative performance, where audiences take part in inspiring, upclose experiences, and diverse communities come together in a space that is reflective of local artistic excellence.

The Mission

The Space

Bay 7 is a 10,000 sq.ft venue at the center of the historic American Tobacco Campus (ATC). Originally part of the world's largest tobacco factory, the space currently accommodates a wide variety of artistic, corporate, and personal events.

  • bridge the gap between large institutional theaters and small community spaces,

  • provide an intimate, accessible home for artists and ensembles who need affordable and flexible performance space

  • foster proximity between performers and audiences that traditional staging cannot offer

  • honor artistic constraints as creative opportunities, making performance lighter, more accessible, and deeply connected to Durham's cultural landscape

The Vision

2026 Featured Artists and Presenters:


The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle
The Monti
RedBird Theater Company
That Station
Phil Cook
Gerri Houlihan
Kristin Taylor Duncan
Kristin Clotfelter
Anna Barker
Lucian Ban
Mat Maneri
Skylar Gudasz
Fancy Gap
John Hollier
Nolen Durham
Lauren Moore
Jake Richter

Chania Wilson
Nicole Mitchell
Weirs
Joseph Decosimo
Bulldog Ensemble Theater
The Justice Theater Project
Quran Karrie
Jay Hammond
Bill Shannon
Jonathan Ong
Jonathan Dormand
Melinda Lee Masur
Briana Elyse Hunter
Matthew Swensen

…and many more!