Chatham Arts Council

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November 14, 2023

Poetic Pursuits: Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary

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

Movement Matters: Silk Hope School and Gaspard&Dancers

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

October 31, 2023

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

“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

June 6, 2023

Diali Cissokho Introduces a Little Bit of West Africa to Bonlee School

Triptych of Diali Cissokho residency; L to R photo of female student dancing; photo of Diali, a black man wearing a white dashiki; photo of male student playing drum and laughing.

“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, Bonlee, Diali Cissokho, drumming

June 6, 2023

Black Box Dance Theatre Sets History and Math Lessons to a New Beat at Virginia Cross and Perry Harrison

Photo triptych of Black Box Dance Theatre residencies

In January and February, the magic of movement was in full swing with the fifth graders of Perry Harrison and Virginia Cross elementary schools!

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, black box dance theatre, dance, math, perry harrison, revolutionary war, Virginia Cross

June 6, 2023

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Spices Things Up at Siler City Elementary and Bennett School

Triptych of Black Box Dance residency; L to R smiling boy; woman raising hand in the air;Man playing guitar in front of a group of seated students

Can you hear the click, click, click of the castanets? ¡Ole!  In February, dancers with the Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Dance Company, one of America’s premier flamenco companies with home… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Bennett, flamenco, Jazz, John Brown Quartet, Siler City

June 6, 2023

Diali Cissokho Brings Smiles and Beats to Chatham Charter

Triptych of Diali Cissokho residency; L to R students playing drums; Diali, a black man playing drums in front of seated students; male and female students dancing

“One student … told me that he had been sharing what he learned at home with his family and practicing on the dinner table. That brought me a lot of joy,” shared Diali.

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Chatham Charter, Diali Cissokho, drums

June 6, 2023

The John Brown Quartet Jazzes Things Up at Moncure School

Photo triptych of John Brown Quartet playing for Moncure School

The performance time was up for the John Brown Quartet, but at the end of their original set, a Bennett teacher asked if the band had time to play just… Read More →

By Jessica Rigsbee | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Jazz, John Brown Quartet, moncure

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