Chatham Arts Council

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January 28, 2025

Bennett School Explores African Art with The Magic of African Rhythm

An African arts extravaganza arrived at Bennett School this past December. For two days, fifth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students traveled on a journey through Africa by dancing, drumming, storytelling, and print-making alongside Teli Shabu and his team of teaching artists, The Magic of African Rhythm. On the workshop days, each class rotated through spaces throughout… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: Adrinka, African dance, AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, chatham grove, chatham grove elementary, dancing, drumming, fifth grade, Magic of African Rhythm, print blocks, storytelling, teli shabu, the magic of african rhythm, tmoar

November 8, 2024

Flourishing with Flamenco at North Chatham and Pollard Middle

A flamenco dancer and students

This October, the tenth year of the Artists-in-Schools program initiative in Chatham County Schools, began with a flourish of Flamenco, led by four multi-talented artists from the Durham-based Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Dance Company! Interactive Performances :: North Chatham Elementary and Margaret B. Pollard Middle School Two schools–North Chatham Elementary and Margaret B. Pollard Middle… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, carlota santana, cultural event, dance, dance residency, fifth grade, flamenco, flamenco vivo, guitar, margaret b pollard middle school, Margaret Pollard Middle School, mbp, mbp middle, nce, north chatham, North Chatham Elementary, school performance, seventh grade, Singing

October 24, 2024

Go See This: 9th Annual Death Faire at The Plant

James Vose is a local business owner, US Army Veteran, and father. He currently serves as a Pittsboro Town Commissioner and is committed to generating a vibrant cultural community through projects like our Go See This series. Vose Natural Stone is proud to be our 2024-2025 sponsor, and we are delighted to present the first… Read More →

By Heather O'Shaughnessy | Filed Under: County Happenings, Creative Placemaking, Events, Go See This | Tagged With: death faire, emily merletto, Paperhand Puppet Intervention, Pittsboro, Smelt, susan baker cartledge, The Plant

September 10, 2024

Stories from the 2023/24 Artists-in-Schools Season

We were thrilled to bring professional teaching artists into 12 schools across Chatham County in our 2023-24 Artists-in-Schools season. You can read all about the joy these residencies bring to kids all across Chatham County! To celebrate our tenth season, we’re expanding to 14 schools in 2024-25! Click any image below to learn more about… Read More →

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

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 |

April 30, 2024

Chatham Grove Elementary Students’ Sensational Safari with The Magic of African Rhythm

Photo trio from L to R: seated girls; man stands with arms across his chest; students dance with arms raised.

“This week, we are going on a safari…a journey together,” announced Teli Shabu, lead artist of The Magic of African Rhythm.  Fifth-grade students traveled on their safari at Chatham Grove Elementary with Teli Shabu (pictured, above) and his team of artists last month, exploring the different parts of Africa (North, South, East, and West) through… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: Adrinka, African dance, AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, chatham grove, chatham grove elementary, dancing, drumming, fifth grade, Magic of African Rhythm, print blocks, storytelling, teli shabu, the magic of african rhythm, tmoar

March 14, 2024

Black Box Residency Bursts with Creativity and Collaboration at J.S. Waters School

Photo trio from L to R: two girls stand smiling with their arms around each other; female dancer leans forward as male dancer leans on her back; boy stands smiling clapping hands together.

Two groups of students–the fifth and seventh grade at J.S. Waters School–ran into the multi-purpose room to greet the lead teaching artists of Black Box Dance Theatre: Natalie, Alfredo, and Kate.  “We want to experience something new together! Go on this journey with us!” Natalie urged as the students gathered in a large circle.   Giggles… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, black box, black box dance, black box dance theatre, dance, dance residency, fifth grade, js waters, k8 school, school performance, seventh grade

January 30, 2024

Black Box Dancers Delight Fourth Graders at Pittsboro Elementary

Photo trio from L to R: Girl stands with hands above head; group of dancers dressed in black form circle and raise one dancer above their heads; girl kneels on one knee with arms open wide.

Just before winter break, Raleigh-based modern dance company Black Box Dance Theatre spent three days with fourth-grade students in high energy dance workshops and performances. Students buzzed with excitement about the experience–and about the upcoming break (which allowed for some creative and colorful outfits!). Class Workshops: Moving and Making with History in Mind The company’s… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, black box, black box dance, black box dance theatre, dance, dance residency, school performance

December 7, 2023

Igniting the Flame of Flamenco: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Moncure School

Photo trio from L to R: Woman stands next to boy in dance pose with hands above head; woman in traditional flamenco dress stands in dance pose; boys seated in bleachers all smiling and raising their hands.

It was the start of an ordinary school week when an extraordinary opportunity knocked on the doors of Moncure School. A dance residency–led by four international artists from the Durham-based Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Dance Company–had arrived! The Performance: Where Education Meets Entertainment The Moncure gym’s wooden floor echoed the rap-tap-tap of the dancers as… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, art residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, carlota santana, cultural event, dance, dance residency, fifth grade, flamenco, flamenco vivo, guitar, moncure school, school performance, seventh grade, Singing

October 31, 2023

Movement Matters: Silk Hope School and Gaspard&Dancers

Photo trio from L to R: Girl sitting and smiling at camera; Woman stands in group with arms raised; boy stands with arms raised above his head.

In the span of just a few transformative days, Silk Hope School kids got to experience the joy of dance. One fifth-grader summarized the experience: [I learned] “how to be more me.”

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: artists-in-schools, Arts education, dance residency, gaspard&dancers, silk hope school

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