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May 9, 2023

Willa Brigham Stitches Together Songs, Poems, and Stories at Woods Charter

Triptych of students sewing and Willa Brigham assisting one student

  November brought cooler temperatures to Chatham County, but in a classroom at Woods Charter, the warmth of two-time Emmy award winner Willa Brigham was a welcome change. Students were… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: AIS, artists-in-schools, Arts for Resilient Kids, textiles, willa brigham, woods, woods charter

November 1, 2022

Phillip Shabazz Brings the Power of Poetry to Willow Oak

Photo triptych of Phillip Shabazz residency

NC poet Phillip Shabazz delighted the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade combined classes at Willow Oak Montessori Charter, making our second Artists-in-Schools residency of the season a smashing success. “Imagination… Read More →

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

October 20, 2022

Gaspard&Dancers Kicks Off New Season of Artists-in-Schools

Photo featuring Gaspard dancer leading students

Our 2022-23 Artists-in-Schools season kicked off at North Chatham Elementary with Durham-based dance company Gaspard&Dancers in an arts residency sponsored by Lily’s Golden Birthday. Founded by former Pilobolus dancer, Gaspard… Read More →

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

September 15, 2022

Arts for Resilient Kids 2022-23 Season

Members of Flamenco Vivo teach kids at Virginia Cross

We are thrilled to announce our 2022-23 Arts for Resilient Kids season! We’re kicking off Artists-in-Schools with new AIS educators Gaspard&Dancers. Truck-and-Trailer, ArtAssist for Kids, and ClydeFEST are all back,… Read More →

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

June 23, 2022

Diali Cissokho Brings More Than Drumming to Chatham Grove and Chatham Charter

It’s not hard to understand why Diali (pronounced Jelly) Cissokho is one of the most memorable teaching artists we have here in Chatham. With his brilliantly colored dashiki, booming voice,… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Chatham County, Children, Cultural Events, Music

June 22, 2022

John Brown Band Jazzes Up Learning at Bonlee and Willow Oak

Most kids think of jazz as “old-people music,” if they think of it at all. Thanks to Artists-in-Schools, the students at Willow Oak and Bonlee School learned there’s a lot… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Chatham County, Children, Cultural Events, Music

June 10, 2022

Math and Science Meet Dance in Siler City and Silk Hope

You expect a company called Black Box Dance Theatre to know a lot about dance. But they know a lot of other stuff, too! Perfect example–when they arrived at Silk… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Chatham County, Children, Cultural Events, Music

June 10, 2022

Bennett Students Explore the Art and History of Masks

Masks created by students at Bennett School

The ongoing pandemic has had masks at the top of nearly everyone’s mind, including teaching artist Serena Ebhardt of EbzB Productions. “During the height of masking for the pandemic, I… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Chatham County, Children, Cultural Events, Music

June 9, 2022

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Dances into Chatham County Schools

Members of Flamenco Vivo teach kids at Virginia Cross

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana is no stranger to our Artists-in-Schools program. This season, we were thrilled to bring them into three Chatham County schools to teach the art and history… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Chatham County, Children, Cultural Events, Music

March 3, 2022

North Chatham Elementary and Moncure School Meet Jackie Robinson

It’s Monday morning, and there’s a lot of energy in the room. Artists-in-Schools artist Mike Wiley is about to perform his play Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart for the second… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Chatham County, Children, Cultural Events, Music

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AIS Stories from the 2023/24 Season

Sparking Creativity: Blackspace’s Beat Making Lab at Chatham Middle featuring Grammy-nominee Pierce Freelon
Photo of Black man with dreads showing 3 middle school students the mixing board

Movement Matters: Silk Hope School and Gaspard&Dancers
Students play a game of making different shapes with their bodies through dance with the help of professional instructors inside a school multipurpose room.

Poetic Pursuits: Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary

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

Mike Wiley’s Masterful Residency: Teaching through Theatre at Bennett and Bonlee School

Black Box Dancers Delight Fourth Graders at Pittsboro Elementary
Black Box dancers lead fourth graders in dance at Pittsboro Elementary.

Poet Phillip Shabazz Supports Fifth Graders at North Chatham Elementary
Poet Phillip Shabazz instructs a class of fifth grade students on poetry writing.

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

Diali Cissokho Dives Into Drumming with Siler City Elementary Fifth-Graders
Photo of three smiling boys, two brown and one black, sitting playing drums

Chatham Grove Elementary Students’ Sensational Safari with The Magic of African Rhythm
A young Black boy and a young white girl printmaking in classroom

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

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

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