Chatham Arts Council

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December 28, 2021

Arts for Resilient Kids Season 2021-22

Artists-in-Schools 2021-22 Our 2021-22 season was a smashing success! We visited 15 Chatham County Schools through our Artists-in-Schools Initiative, 2 Chatham County neighborhoods with Truck and Trailer Roving Performances, and… Read More →

By Andrea Akin | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ClydeFEST, Events |

December 7, 2021

JS Waters and Woods Charter Students Embrace Their Poetic Sides with Phillip Shabazz

The ongoing pandemic has impacted everyone, but maybe kids most of all–so many months of not being in school, not interacting with friends in person, and just not being able… 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

September 20, 2021

Who Values Arts: The Jester Group

The Jester Group at Baird is a wealth management group that vows to partner with its clients to build an enduring relationship based on trust and integrity. The company fosters… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, ClydeFEST, Resources for Artists, Slideshow Featured, Who Values Arts | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, Arts education, Chatham County, Collaboration, Community, Creative Culture, Creative Process, Cultural Events

June 9, 2021

Who Values Arts: Dorrie Casey and Archie Purcell

Dorrie Casey and Archie Purcell have lived in Chatham County for 40 years. Dorrie, a visual artist who makes incredible pieces from found objects, lives and breathes the arts. It… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artist Close-Up, Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured, Who Values Arts | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, Arts education, Chatham County, Collaboration, Community, Creative Culture, Creative Process, Cultural Events

June 3, 2021

Oh, What a Year! Virtual Artists-OUTSIDE-Schools Residencies Reach Nearly 2,000 Kids!

When the pandemic swept through the world in 2020, it hit us like a ton of bricks. Halfway through an amazing line-up of teaching artists for our Artists-in-Schools Initiative, we… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Arts in Education, Chatham County, Children, Collaboration, Community, Creative Culture, Creative Process, performance, theater, theatre, Visual Arts & Crafts, Workshop, Writing

May 14, 2021

ClydeFEST in the Wild 2021: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way!

With COVID still a concern, we were not sure how we could possibly bring the glittery, messy fun that is ClydeFEST to this community. But the solace and hope that… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, ClydeFEST, County Happenings, Events, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Chatham County, Children, clydeFEST, Collaboration, Community, Creative Culture, Creative Process, Cultural Events, Music, performance, Pittsboro, Siler City, Visual Arts & Crafts

November 27, 2020

Who Values Arts: Betty Wilson

Betty Wilson exudes creativity. She was a Kindergarten teacher at Pittsboro Elementary for 10 years at a time when there was only a list of general skills her pupils needed… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artist Close-Up, Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured, Who Values Arts | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, Arts education, Chatham County, Collaboration, Community, Creative Culture, Creative Process, Cultural Events, Pittsboro, Siler City

May 4, 2020

Taking Artists-in-Schools to Students Across Chatham with Online Arts Videos

Many members of the Chatham Arts Council’s staff now find themselves with children schooling at home. You too? If so, we have some exciting new arts curricula to share with… Read More →

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

February 17, 2020

Artists-in-Schools: Pittsboro Elementary School Embraces Every Beat with West African Musician Diali Cissokho

Diali (pronounced “Jelly”) Cissokho arrives at Pittsboro Elementary School bright and early. He has 25 drums to unload and set up so that he’s ready to teach 3rd grade classes… Read More →

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

December 10, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: The Power of Ancient Dance Takes Hold of J.S. Waters School with Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana

The excitement builds at J.S. Waters School as students eagerly await their performance. They’re sitting in neat rows on the floor, not exactly sure of what they’re here to see,… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured, Uncategorized | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, artists, Arts education, Arts in Education, Chatham County, Children, Cultural Events, Music, performance

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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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