We are excited to share our Summer Continuing Education offerings, featuring a wide range of courses and workshops in documentary film, photography, oral history and audio. Designed for adult learners at every stage of their creative or professional journey, this season offers both hands-on, in-person experiences and flexible online options.
From sharpening your eye for composition to preserving your family history, these courses are built to spark new creative momentum. Throughout the summer, we’ll also host free public talks and community events — stay tuned for details. We look forward to learning alongside you
Composing the World You See
Composition is the bridge between a fleeting moment and a photo that makes us stop and stare. In Composing The World You See, we'll build, stretch, challenge, and flex your composition muscles until creating photos with intention becomes second nature.
6 Weeks — May 20–June 24, 2026, 6–8 p.m. ET (IN-PERSON)
Learn more and register here.
Documentary Photo Book: Visual Storytelling
Transform personal image collections such as summer travel, graduation, or family archives into a cohesive documentary photobook while learning sequencing, design and visual storytelling. You’ll leave the course with a completed book.
2 Days — June 20–21, 2026, 12–4 p.m. ET (IN-PERSON)
Learn more and register here.
Photograph to Risograph: A 2-Day Intensive
Learn how to transform your photographs into layered Risograph prints using color, halftone, and ink while developing an understanding of how these elements interact to create depth, texture, and dynamic visual compositions.
2 Days — June 27–28, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET (IN-PERSON)
Learn more and register here.
Intro to Video Editing Workshop
A beginner-friendly two-day workshop on video editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, using documentary interview footage to introduce core editing tools, workflow, and storytelling techniques.
2 Days — June 13–14, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET (IN-PERSON)
Learn more and register here.
From Idea to Release: Navigating the Contemporary Film Ecosystem
A practical, holistic guide to how contemporary films move from concept to audience. The workshop breaks down the real mechanics of development, funding, festivals, project positioning, pitching, and distribution.
6 Weeks — July 1–August 5, 2026, 7–9 p.m. ET (ONLINE)
Learn more and register here.
How to Make Movies at the End of the World: Spiritual Guidance for Creative Artists
As global challenges intensify, independent filmmakers and storytellers must move away from a profit-driven model toward impact-focused filmmaking. This approach prioritizes community and collective wellbeing over traditional metrics like distribution, festivals, and financial gain.
6 Weeks — July 14–August 18, 2026, 6–8 p.m. ET (ONLINE)
Learn more and register here.
Audio Snapshots
Inspired by Jay Allison’s Sonic IDs, this two-day workshop guides participants in recording, editing, and workshopping sound-rich audio snapshots around Durham, culminating in at least one polished short “audio postcard,” with optional additional edits, and is open to all skill levels with some prior recording experience and access to basic audio equipment.
2 Days — May 30–31, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET (IN-PERSON)
Learn more and register here
Story Catching: Conducting Oral History Interviews
In this one-day intensive workshop, participants will learn the craft of conducting oral history interviews from pre-interview preparation through transcription and preservation.
1 Day — May 16, 2026, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET (IN-PERSON)
Learn more and register here
Exploring Your Family History through Oral History
Every family holds stories worth saving, and the people who carry them won't be with us forever. Exploring Your Family History through Oral History is a six-week online course that will teach you how to preserve those stories with the tools and methods of oral history.
6 Weeks — July 7–August 11, 2026, 5–7 p.m. ET (ONLINE)
Learn more and register here
From Idea to Release: Navigating the Contemporary Film Ecosystem
A practical, holistic guide to how contemporary films move from concept to audience. The workshop breaks down the real mechanics of development, funding, festivals, project positioning, pitching, and distribution.
6 Weeks — July 1–August 5, 2026, 7–9 p.m. ET (ONLINE)
Learn more and register here.
Exploring Your Family History through Oral History
Every family holds stories worth saving, and the people who carry them won't be with us forever. Exploring Your Family History through Oral History is a six-week online course that will teach you how to preserve those stories with the tools and methods of oral history.
6 Weeks — July 7–August 11, 2026, 5–7 p.m. ET (ONLINE)
Learn more and register here
How to Make Movies at the End of the World: Spiritual Guidance for Creative Artists
As global challenges intensify, independent filmmakers and storytellers must move away from a profit-driven model toward impact-focused filmmaking. This approach prioritizes community and collective wellbeing over traditional metrics like distribution, festivals, and financial gain.
6 Weeks — July 14–August 18, 2026, 6–8 p.m. ET (ONLINE)
Learn more and register here.