Announcing the 2026-2027 Artists-in-Schools Season

Chatham Arts Council Brings Professional Artists to All 20 Chatham County District Schools for Second Consecutive Year

2026–2027 Artists-in-Schools season brings flamenco, jazz, poetry, theater, African drumming, beatmaking, dance and more directly into classrooms

Get ready for another year of creativity in Chatham County classrooms. The Chatham Arts Council’s 2026–2027 Artists-in-Schools season will once again bring professional artists and arts experiences to all 20 Chatham County School District schools, giving thousands of students the opportunity to learn from, create with, and experience artists from across North Carolina and beyond.

This year’s lineup spans an extraordinary range of artistic disciplines and cultural traditions, including flamenco dance, jazz, poetry, African drumming and kora, theater, beatmaking, bilingual music, visual art, and more. Students will not simply sit back and watch—they’ll write poems, make instruments, create music, explore movement, perform, and work alongside professional artists.

“We could not be more excited to kick off the 2026-2027 season for Artists-in-Schools. The impact these artists have on students is invaluable. I love seeing students come alive through creativity and self expression.” said Amanda Moran, Artists-in-Schools Director.

The season kicks off in September with Black Box Dance Theatre at Siler City Elementary School and continues throughout the school year with an impressive roster of artists, including John Brown’s Big Band, Vivo Flamenco, Phillip Shabazz, Mike Wiley, Shana Tucker, Diali Cissokho, Only Us, Luke Vandergriff, and Magic of African Rhythm.

Several artists will return to Chatham County classrooms for multi-day residencies that give students the opportunity to go deeper into an art form. Poet Phillip Shabazz, for example, will work with seventh graders at Margaret Pollard Middle School and fifth graders at Chatham Grove Elementary, guiding students through poetry workshops that culminate in student poetry slams. Only Us will work with students at Silk Hope Elementary and George Moses Horton Middle School, while Senegalese-American musician Diali Cissokho will bring African drumming and kora to students at Moncure Elementary and Chatham Middle School.

The season will also directly connect students to core curriculum and learning standards via the pathway of arts learning. At North Chatham Elementary and George Moses Horton Middle School, musician Luke Vandergriff will combine bilingual music and hands-on instrument-making as students explore science standards related to force, motion, and sound. At JS Waters School, Shana Tucker will guide students through lyric writing and music composition, connecting to learning standards related to imagery, rhythm, and patterns. Theater artist Mike Wiley will bring performances and workshops centered on Henry’s Freedom Box and Dar He to six schools, connecting to social studies and ELA standards around oral history, narrative writing, historical perspective, and civil rights. Across all residencies, students will engage, create, and collaborate while using the arts to deepen their understanding of North Carolina core curriculum.

The Artists-in-Schools Initiative reflects the Chatham Arts Council’s commitment to nurturing creative thinkers by making meaningful arts experiences part of students’ everyday education.

“We want every student in Chatham County to have the chance to meet a professional artist, try something new, and discover their own creative voice. That’s what nurturing creative thinkers looks like to us. And that’s important whether the student goes on to become a lab scientist or nurse or professional artist themselves. We need folks in this community who are problem solvers and confident creative thinkers. As the first county in North Carolina to bring an Artists-in-Schools program to every public school, we’re proud to continue that commitment this year,” said Cheryl Chamblee, Executive Director. 

The 2026–2027 season runs from September 2026 through April 2027, with residencies and performances taking place throughout Chatham County.

About the Chatham Arts Council

The Chatham Arts Council nurtures creative thinkers by educating kids in the arts and investing in artists. Through its Artists-in-Schools Initiative, artist grants and features, Creative Placemaking projects, and other community programs, the Chatham Arts Council connects artists, students, and communities across Chatham County.