An instructor shows a student how to make a wet plate negative.

CDS Announces 12 Spring Continuing Education Courses

Durham, NC — The Duke Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) announces twelve new Spring 2026 Continuing Education courses for learners in Durham and beyond to explore photography, film, writing, audio and community-based storytelling. 

Holiday promo: Register by December 31 and receive 15% off using the code Gift26 at checkout. 

“Whether you’re returning to CDS or joining us for the first time, we hope these courses spark new ideas and help you develop the skills to tell the stories that matter most to you,” says Lauren Henschel, CDS’s new director of Continuing Education and a Duke professor whose own filmmaking and installation practice began at CDS. 

“We hope these courses help you develop the skills to tell the stories that matter most to you.” 

Rooted in CDS’s long-standing commitment to accessible, high-quality arts education, the CDS Continuing Education program brings together instructors at the top of their fields to create supportive, hands-on learning environments.  


The 12 courses, including one-day workshops and virtual courses, will begin as soon as January 15:

Graphic says Holiday Special: 15% Off Continuing Ed. Courses

 

Courses are open to participants of all backgrounds and experience levels. “One of the joys of the program over the years has been the intergenerational nature of the classrooms, where we have students from 18 to retirement age and every point in between,” says CDS Director Chris Sims.  

For decades, CDS Continuing Education has nurtured a vibrant community of storytellers, from emerging documentarians to working professionals. Many alumni have gone on to publish books, screen films, exhibit photographs and lead creative projects shaped by their time at CDS. After a pandemic hiatus and restructuring, CDS relaunched Continuing Education this fall with a set of courses that attracted enthusiastic participation and signaled renewed energy.  

“CDS was a catalyst in finding some forgotten sources of fulfillment in creative pursuits.”

David Harrison, a former CDS Continuing Education student, enrolled again this fall. He credits CDS courses with transforming his worldview and rekindling his passion for creative work. “CDS was a catalyst in finding some forgotten sources of fulfillment in creative pursuits,” he says. “As a writer, the new Writing Memoir in History course got me back on track to work deliberately and mindfully on my memoir.”  

Harrison says instructor Timothy B. Tyson — a civil rights scholar, activist and author — and classmates sparked ideas about increasing granularity in his writing, blending necessary history and cultural context with the personal experiences, and presenting sensitive details. 

This spring, CDS will also host free public talks and community activities to inspire more creative exchange and deepen connections across the documentary arts. 

“We are investing in our relaunched Continuing Education program as well as our other public-facing offerings, including the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and our exhibitions program,” says Sims. “In these challenging times, it is essential for us to safeguard our arts and cultural institutions.” 

Registration for Spring 2026 offerings is now open. Visit https://documentarystudies.duke.edu/continuing-education/ce-courses to explore the full list and join a community committed to lifelong learning, creative growth and storytelling that makes a difference.   

Main image: CDS Continuing Education Instructor Harlan Campbell teaches an Introduction to Tintype Photography workshop. Photo: Elizabeth Webb