Chatham Arts Council

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March 13, 2025

Diali Cissokho Drums and Dances with Seventh-Graders at George Moses Horton Middle

“Diali is truly remarkable with the kids!” said a Bonlee custodian who watched the workshops and performance. “He makes me want to have this kind of joy every day.”

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: African dance, AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Diali Cissokho, drumming, george moses horton middle school, Horton, Middle school, Pittsboro, seventh-graders

March 13, 2025

Black Box Dance Theatre Collaborates with the Chatham Middle “Ram-ily”

This February, seventh-graders at Chatham Middle experienced a Chatham Artists-in-Schools dance residency with the artists of Black Box Dance Theatre–and it was linked with math concepts, too! Made possible by the cARTwheels funding through the NC Arts Council and private sponsorship through Carolina Credit Union Foundation, the week-long visit included dance workshops with students–and also… 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, Chatham Middle, Chatham Middle School, dance, dance residency, school performance, seventh grade, Siler City

March 11, 2025

EbzB Productions Enhances EL Science & Writing Curriculum at Pittsboro Elementary

In January, Pittsboro Elementary School’s fourth-graders transformed into lively springboks, fierce opossums, armored armadillos, and gentle monarch butterflies under the excellent tutelage of actors Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen of Ebzb Productions. Serena and David used learning tools from the dramatic arts to develop child-generated choose-your-own-adventure scenes, integrating concepts from the students’ current science… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education | Tagged With: acting, AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts education, Arts in Education, Chatham County, david zum brunnen, EbzB, ebzb productions, pittsboro elementary, serena ebhardt, theatre

February 6, 2025

Poet Phillip Shabazz Visits Silk Hope School

Creative words warmed up a chilly week at Silk Hope School as Phillip Shabazz conducted his Powers of Poetry residency with fifth- and seventh-graders. “Art is an opportunity to express yourself.” –Mr. Shabazz Mr. Shabazz shared some of his own work, the words of others, and then let the students know that they would explore,… 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, phillip shabazz, poem creation, Poetry, poetry residency, poetry slam, shabazz, silk hope school, student poetry

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

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

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 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

May 17, 2024

Diali Cissokho Drums and Dances alongside Fifth-Graders at Virginia Cross Elementary

Photo trio: Girl stands dancing; seated man with dreads holds arm high in excitement; boys dance for classmates

“Diali is truly remarkable with the kids!” said a Bonlee custodian who watched the workshops and performance. “He makes me want to have this kind of joy every day.”

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: African dance, AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Diali Cissokho, drumming, Siler City, Virginia Cross

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

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