Chatham Arts Council

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October 24, 2025

History Steps on Stage: When One Man Becomes Fifteen

Black actor in suspenders, white shirt, and brown paints. Onstage, he gestures while speaking in character.

Our Northwood and Seaforth tenth-graders saw a performance–and they also what happens when storytelling meets history. Because in Mike Wiley’s hands, history doesn’t feel far away at all. It’s standing right there, center stage in front of you.

By Amanda Moran | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts education, Dar He, Emmett Till, Mike Wiley, northwood, play, playwright, school performance, Seaforth, tenth grade, theatre, US History

September 17, 2025

Check Out the 2025-26 Artists-in-Schools Season Lineup!

Do you remember the first time something a teacher said to you “clicked?” That moment when you finally understood the difference between a metaphor and a simile? That’s what the… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Events, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, AIS, artists, artists-in-schools, arts, Arts education, Arts in Education, Chatham County, Children, Collaboration, Community, Creative Culture, Creative Process, Creativity, dance, live music, Music, Musical Theater, Musical Theatre, performance, Poetry, Visual Arts & Crafts, Workshop, Writing

June 23, 2025

Meet This Artist: Makani McKenzie – Actor, Singer, Entrepreneur

The Chatham Arts Council is investing in artists through our Meet This Artist series, introducing you to 12 Chatham County artists each year in a big way. The fine folks… Read More →

By Heather O'Shaughnessy | Filed Under: Arts + Equity Grants, Meet this Artist, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: actor, anakeesta, carowinds, dollywood, makani mckenzie, Musical Theater, princess parties, singer, special effects, wig stylist

January 10, 2025

Mike Wiley Brings Theatre and Writing to Siler City and Virginia Cross

Mike Wiley residency

Siler City Elementary (SCE) and Virginia Cross Elementary (VCE) students and teachers enjoyed actor and playwright Mike Wiley’s solo performance of “One Noble Journey” this past November. In addition to… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, dance residency, fifth grade, Howard Craft, Mike Wiley, one noble journey, play, playwright, school performance, Siler City Elementary, theatre, Virginia Cross, virginia cross elementary, Writing, writing residency

September 19, 2024

Mike Wiley Productions at Siler City Elementary

Photo of Mike Wiley, a Black man, standing in front of a projection of Henry "Box" Brown escaping from a crate

Kids in northwest Chatham will be awed by the daring adventures of Henry “Box” Brown, an enslaved man who shipped himself to freedom. Mike Wiley, with the help of audience… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | |

September 9, 2024

Artists-in-Schools 2024/25 Season

Triptych L to R: smiling boys with their hands raised, young boy stands reading from a page, smiling girl seated, playing drum

Artists-in-Schools (AIS) is ten years old! And we’re celebrating by expanding into all places Chatham!  We know the arts save lives, so we’re thrilled to continue bringing professional teaching artists… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured |

January 5, 2024

Mike Wiley’s Masterful Residency: Teaching through Theatre at Bennett and Bonlee School

Photo trio from L to R: An actor in historical costume stands with boy in floppy hat; Girl stands next to same actor, both with heads raised to the sky; students laughing in class.

“This was absolutely great!” Board of Education members Gary Leonard and David Hamm were enthusiastic after sitting with Bennett School students and teachers to watch actor and playwright Mike Wiley’s… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, dance residency, fifth grade, Howard Craft, Mike Wiley, one noble journey, play, playwright, school performance, seventh grade, theatre, Writing, writing residency

September 12, 2023

Artists-in-Schools 2023-24 Season

Photo featuring Gaspard dancer leading students

We are so excited to announce our 2023-24 Artists-in-Schools season–our ninth! We know the arts save lives, so we’re thrilled to continue bringing professional teaching artists into Chatham County classrooms!… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured |

September 15, 2022

Arts for Resilient Kids 2022-23 Season

Members of Flamenco Vivo teach kids at Virginia Cross

We are thrilled to announce our 2022-23 Arts for Resilient Kids season! We’re kicking off Artists-in-Schools with new AIS educators Gaspard&Dancers. Truck-and-Trailer, ArtAssist for Kids, and ClydeFEST are all back,… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Events, Slideshow Featured |

April 4, 2022

Meet These Artists: Actors Huck Boone and Kinsey McCubbin

The Chatham Arts Council is investing in artists through our Meet This Artist series, introducing you to 12 Chatham County artists each year in a big way. The fine folks… Read More →

By Rachel Flanagan | Filed Under: Artist Close-Up, ClydeFEST, County Happenings, Meet this Artist, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: acting, actor, Chatham County, clydeFEST, Meet This Artist, pittsboro youth theater

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