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

October 22, 2025

¡Olé, Chatham! A Flamenco Celebration at Perry Harrison and Silk Hope

Flamenco dancer performs in red dress, with red shawl, as students watch.

If you wandered into Perry Harrison or Silk Hope schools between October 20 and 22, you might have heard it first—a rhythmic tap, a guitar string hum, a voice lifting in song, and then… the magic of Flamenco. Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana brought a swirl of sound, color, and culture to fifth- and seventh-grade students as part of the Chatham Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools program.

By Amanda Moran | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts education, flamenco, flamenco vivo, perry harrison, school performance, Silk Hope

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

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

November 15, 2024

Music Production and Poetry at Bonlee School

“The assembly, as a whole, created a moment of unity and positivity for everyone, and students’ musical creations were the spark for that experience,” shared AIG Teacher, Mark Spring.

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artist residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, beat making lab, Blackspace, bonlee school, fifth grade, music making, music production, music residency, pierce freelon, Poetry, Rem, seventh grade, songwriting, Writing

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… 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

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

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… 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

November 14, 2023

Poetic Pursuits: Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary

Photo trio; young boy sits at desk with hand raised; Man with twists stands in front of class full of raised hands; young boy stands with paper and look of surprise on his face

As the second week of October rolled in, the weather began to cool, but the fifth-grade classrooms at Perry Harrison were warm and snug. Visiting artist-in-residence Poet Phillip Shabazz strolled… 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, fifth grade, perry harrison, phillip shabazz, poem creation, poet, Poetry, poetry slam, writing residency

October 31, 2023

Sparking Creativity: Blackspace’s Beat Making Lab at Chatham Middle

Photo trio L to R: boy in black tshirt stands with man in black hat and gray sweater; Center - Man with dreads, wearing denim jacket and holding a mic; girl is seated with laptop while man squats next to her

“The assembly, as a whole, created a moment of unity and positivity for everyone, and students’ musical creations were the spark for that experience,” shared AIG Teacher, Mark Spring.

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artist residency, artists-in-schools, Arts education, beat making lab, Blackspace, Chatham Middle, music making, music residency, pierce freelon, Rem, seventh grade

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