Chatham Arts Council

We nurture creative thinkers

  • JumpstART Commissions
  • Arts + Equity Initiative
  • About
    • Our Who, What, Why, and How
    • Our Past
    • Our Friends
    • Our Press
    • Our Contact Info
    • Employment
      • – Annual Fund Manager
  • Kids
    • Artists-in-Schools Initiative
      • Artists-in-Schools 2023-24 Season
      • AIS Stories from Last Season (2022/23)
    • ClydeFEST
      • Sunday Sun Shines on ClydeFEST 2023
  • Artists
    • Meet This Artist
    • Go See This
    • Arts Directory
    • Arts Calendar
    • Grant Programs
    • – Arts + Equity Opportunity (Open now!)
    • – Subvención de Artes + Equidad (¡Disponible ahora!)
    • – Artist Support Grants (Deadline: September 1, 2023)
    • – JumpstART Commissions (Deadline: September 19, 2023)
    • – Emerging Artist Grants (Deadline: December 30, 2023)
    • – Grassroots Arts Grants (Deadline: March 5, 2024)
  • GIVE
    • Individuals & Families
    • Businesses & Groups

Search Chatham Arts Council

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 this season.

Our goal is to be in every public school in Chatham County every single year. When we get there, we’ll be the first county in all of North Carolina to do it! 

Photo of Black Box Dance Theatre's Stephen leading Virginia Cross students
Steven of Black Box Dance Theatre leads students in choreography they created.

SEPTEMBER
• Blackspace at Chatham Middle School
Sept.21-Oct. 6 with a student showcase at Shakori Hills Grassroots Music and Dance Festival on Oct. 7
• Gaspard&Dancers at Silk Hope School
  Sept. 27-29

OCTOBER
• Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary
  Oct. 9-13
• Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Moncure School
  Oct. 23-25

NOVEMBER
• Mike Wiley Productions at Bennett School
  Nov. 27-29
• Mike Wiley Productions at Bonlee School
  Nov. 27-Dec. 1

DECEMBER
• Black Box Dance Theatre at Pittsboro Elementary
  Dec. 13-15

Photo of young girl, wearing a face mask "sneaky walking" with Mike Wiley in performance of One Noble Journey
Mike Wiley presents his play One Noble Journey with a student assist.

JANUARY
• Phillip Shabazz at North Chatham Elementary
  Jan. 8-12

FEBRUARY
• Black Box Dance Theatre at JS Waters
  Feb. 5-16
• Diali Cissokho at Siler City Elementary
  Feb. 26-Mar. 1

MARCH
• The Magic of African Rhythm at Chatham Grove Elementary
  Mar. 19-21

Female and male students dance in front of other students who are playing the drums.
Students dance with abandon during a Diali Cissokho drum circle.

APRIL
• ClydeFEST 
  (weekend of April 12-14)
• Diali Cissokho at Virginia Cross Elementary
  Apr. 22-26

Related

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

From the Horse’s Mouth…

Don’t take it from us! See what Chatham County students, teachers and administrators are saying about their Artists-in-Schools experiences.

  • “Children were so excited to write and to share. They all came away talking about writing and wanting to talk about poetry. They looked forward to his [Phillip Shabazz] visits each day.” –Classroom Teacher
  • Photo of black man in sweater vest, seated, assisting a female student.
  • “It felt relieving and comforting to express myself during the workshop.” –6th grade student
  • “I really liked showing my feelings in my work.” –4th grade student
  • “This is my 4th time in this school division participating with an artist residency. They have all been wonderful. It is a great opportunity for students to learn in different ways. My hope is for this to be available to us every year.” –Classroom teacher
  • Photo of Black Box Dance Theatre's Stephen leading Virginia Cross students
  • “It made me feel happy because I got to use my imagination.” –5th grade student
  • “It felt good for me to release all my emotions.” –5th grade student
  • Photo of boy with ponytail, with head thrown back in laughter
  • “The students talked about the experience for a week after.” –Classroom teacher
  • “Watching the kids put their plan into action for the performance and actually dance, all while doing so in front of their peers is the reason we do this…The experience was amazing!” –Elementary Assistant Principal
  • “I have a student that is a newcomer to our school, as well as to our country. She found great comfort in being able to communicate with instructors in her native language and showed such enthusiasm in her willingness to participate. It was beautiful. We would welcome the opportunity again in the future!”  –K-8 Principal
  • Photo of Flamenco performer raising her hand in a choreographed movement, with students following behind her
  • “It felt good to be myself in school.” –6th grade student
  • “I personally saw students who, in my experience, have never been willing to speak in a group, let alone dance, do both without fear or hesitation.  Students who participated have asked to join band – they want to have more opportunities to participate in music.  Students in subsequent meetings have asked to learn more about Senegalese cultures.” –K-8 Music teacher
  • “It felt like the best days ever.” –5th grade student
  • Aya Shabu, in front, leads a group of students in an African dance

AIS Stories from Last Season (2022/23)

Gaspard&Dancers at North Chatham Elementary

Phillip Shabazz at Willow Oak Montessori

Willa Brigham at Woods Charter

Mike Wiley at Chatham Grove and JS Waters

Black Box Dance Theatre at Virginia Cross and Perry Harrison

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Siler City Elementary and Bennett School

Diali Cissokho at Bonlee School

Diali Cissokho at Chatham Charter

John Brown Band at Moncure School

Black Box Dance Theatre at Virtual Academy


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

Local Businesses Investing in the Arts

  • Women of FearringtonLogo
  • the-beagle-2
  • Vose Natural Stone Logo
  • REV_Lilys Golden Birthday LOGO
  • Cheek Electric_logo
  • Connie Fenners State Farm_logo
  • Copy of NCAC50_Logo_Large_0
  • Hobbs Logo Hi Res
  • triangle-custom-printing
  • Sara Donaldson State Farm Logo
  • Chatham20Homes20Realty20LOGO
  • DFH & Crematory Logo Vector File with Fonts Outlined
  • Duke-Energy-Logo-4c
  • 2018-1102-CAC_The-Jester-Group-at-BAIRD_Logo-3
  • BNI_BCBSNC
  • Carolina Meadows Logo
  • MOSAIC-LOGO-CMYK_HORIZONTAL
  • Chatham County LOGO_CMYK 4 color
  • Chatham_Park_Logo_Oneline_196x196
  • harrison-family-trust
Subscribe to our E-News
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Proud member of Arts NC and Designated County Partner to the NC Arts Council
Copyright © 2023 Chatham Arts Council • Website by Tomatillo Design