Chatham Arts Council

We nurture creative thinkers

  • Arts Calendar
  • About
    • Our Who, What, Why, and How
    • Our Past
    • Our Friends
    • Our Press
    • Our Contact Info
    • Employment
  • Resilient Kids
    • Artists-in-Schools Initiative
      • Announcing the 2026-2027 Artists-in-Schools Season
      • Artists-in-Schools 2026-27 Schedule
    • ClydeFEST
      • Celebrating Clyde Jones
      • ClydeFEST 2025 was a Joy!
      • ClydeFEST Sponsor Benefits
  • Vibrant Communities
    • Creative Placemaking
      • Farm to Story
      • The Community Indigo Quilting Project
      • Robeson Creek Greenway
    • Grantmaking and Commissions
      • Grassroots Arts Grants (Closed for 2026-27)
      • Artist Support Grants (Closed for 2026-27)
      • Emerging Artist Grants (Will open Oct 2026)
      • Arts + Equity Initiative Artists :: 2024-25 Season
    • Meet This Artist
    • Arts Directory
  • GIVE
    • Individuals & Families
    • Businesses & Groups
    • Who Values Arts

Search Chatham Arts Council

September 3, 2026

Meet This Artist: Performing Artist Koialina Gray

The Chatham Arts Council is investing in artists through our Meet This Artist series, introducing you to Chatham County’s creative community one interview at a time. This Meet This Artist feature is made possible with support from VRC, Ltd. In this special audio feature, we meet Koialina Gray (AKA Makayla Graybeal). Koialina is a homegrown Chatham… Read More →

By Heather O'Shaughnessy | Filed Under: Meet this Artist, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: dance, Musical Theater, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, puppetry, tap dance, theater, theater arts, woodshed arts

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 CAC’s Artists-in-Schools Initiative is all about. By bringing professional artists into Chatham County schools, artists leverage the arts through interactive workshops that support teachers’ learning… 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 at Hobbs Architects in downtown Pittsboro are powering our Meet This Artist series this year. Architecture is art, and the Hobbs crew values art in our community. So, take… 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 the performance, Mr. Wiley hosted teacher and student workshops at both schools during his week-long artist residency in Chatham. An Audience-Fueled Performance: “One Noble Journey”… 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 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 into Chatham County classrooms. Last season, we added our first middle school to the AIS roster. This season, we’re adding two more! We can’t wait… 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 solo performance of “One Noble Journey.” The play’s narrative brought to life the remarkable journey of Henry “Box” Brown, a courageous slave who shipped himself… 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! For the past eight years, our Artists-in-Schools Initiative has been growing, and we’re proud to bring our first traditional middle school residency to Chatham Middle… 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, too!  SEPTEMBER • Gaspard&Dancers at North Chatham Elementary   Sept. 19-21 OCTOBER • Phillip Shabazz at Willow Oak   Oct. 12-14 NOVEMBER • Truck-and-Trailer Roving… 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 at Hobbs Architects in downtown Pittsboro are powering our Meet This Artist series this year. Architecture is art, and the Hobbs crew values art in… 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

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Become a Member

Help us invest in artists and educate kids through the arts in Chatham County. Will you renew your membership or join us for the first time today?

Join Now →


PO Box 418
Pittsboro, NC 27312
919-542-0394
Email Us

 

Subscribe to Our E-News

Proud member of Arts NC and Designated County Partner to the NC Arts Council
Copyright © 2026 Chatham Arts Council • Website by Tomatillo Design