Phone: (919) 683-1709
FAX: (919) 682-5869

URL: www.hayti.org
Email: hayti@hayti.org

St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc.
Hayti Heritage Center
804 Old Fayetteville St.
Durham, NC 27701

St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation, Inc. (SJHF) was established in August 1975 with the intent of preserving the embellished old sanctuary of the former St. Joseph’s AME Church and adapting it for cultural and civic purposes. SJHF’s mission is to preserve and promote the understanding of and appreciation for the African American experience and contributions to world culture. The mission is accomplished by providing enlightening and enriching programs in cultural arts and education. The Foundation’s goals are to consistently present the very best in quality cultural arts programs related to the African American experience, promote cross-cultural understanding between isolated communities, and foster intercultural support. Our primary objectives are to present a series of programs in the new St. Joseph’s Performance Hall and Hayti Heritage Center, including the annual Bull Durham Blues Festival; increase the audience base; and build upon our capacity to develop our earned income stream. The church complex, renamed the Hayti Heritage Center, is listed on the register of national historic landmarks.

The St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation/Hayti Heritage Center continues to be an agent of social change with a long-term commitment to utilizing the arts as a tool for bringing communities together and establishing common ground between the races. The Foundation is committed to providing the local community, as well as patrons-at-large, with leading African American artists, theater productions, and programs that define history and traditional techniques, as well as ceremonial, social, sacred, and contemporary works. These anchor programs intermix local, regional and national artists in programs for all ages and soci-economic demographics. Anchor programs consist of: Lyda Moore Merrick Gallery Exhibitions, ArtsQuest Summer Camp, Bull Durham Blues Festival, Heritage Arts for Youth Residency Programs, Concert Series (Jazz-Rhythm & Blues-Gospel), Kwanzaa Celebration, Raise A Reader Book Fair, Black Diaspora Film Festival, community rental space, and historic preservation/archival collection.