Chatham Arts Council

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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 did not want to halt the program. We were determined to continue reaching students with a creative outlet that has been proven to provide unique… 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 comes with kids making art outside together felt more important than ever, and a whole lot of generous people came together to make it happen!… 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 to accomplish by the time they graduated. She embedded the arts into most lessons, having the uncanny ability to pivot at a moment’s notice if… 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 you (and all of Chatham County!), and we couldn’t be more thrilled about it! With COVID-19 stay at home orders in place, executing our amazing… 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 how to do what comes so naturally for him – play the drums. What these students may not know is that Diali, a well-known West… 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, but sure they’ve taken a mini field trip – a break from their normal routine – so something exciting must be about to take place…. 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

November 26, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: A Deep Dive into Civil Rights History and Literature with Mike Wiley

If you know Mike Wiley, you know that he is full of expression, captures an audience almost instantly, and finds a way to pull out the inner theater artist in everyone he meets. This fall, students and teachers at Perry Harrison Elementary and Bennett School discovered this first-hand during Wiley’s performance of Jackie Robinson: A… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, acting, Arts education, author, Chatham County, Children, Community, Creative Culture, performance, theater, Writing

November 20, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: West African Musician Diali Cissokho Unifies Students, Drumming to a Central Beat

Stretching across the multi-purpose room, you see an audience full of wide eyes and slight restlessness. The students at North Chatham Elementary are curious about the performance they’re about to see and anxious for it to begin. As soon as West African musician, Diali (pronounced “Jelly”) Cissokho, begins playing the kora (a West African jumbo… 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

October 21, 2019

The Chatham Experience 2019: Exceptional Talent, Unique Collaborations, HOT Fun!

True. Chatham. Experience. If you were lucky enough to attend The Chatham Experience: Benefit Concert for Chatham Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools Initiative in late September, you know what we’re talking about. Only in Chatham could you go to a unique venue like the Chatham Beverage District, enjoy local eco-friendly food and drink while listening to well-known musicians… Read More →

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

September 25, 2019

Go See This: The Chatham Experience

As new members of our Chatham County community, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series this year because art is an integral part of Chatham County’s identity. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . . Here at the Chatham Arts Council, we’ve got a uniquely Chatham gathering for you–The Chatham… Read More →

By Selbe Bartlett | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Events, Go See This, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, Art Show, artists, Arts education, Arts in Education, Bluegrass Experience, Chatham Beverage District, Chatham County, Chatham Rabbits, Children, Craft cocktails, Creative Culture, Cultural Events, Diali Cissokho, live music, performance, Smelt, spirits, tommy edwards

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AIS Stories from the 2026/27 Season

Clap. Strum. Dance. Olé!: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana at Bennett and Bonlee Schools
A flamenco dancer is a red floral dress with turquoise scarf holds a fan above her head while two musicians sit on stage near her - one singing in clapping, the other playing a guitar.

All That Jazz, and Then Some!: John Brown’s Little Big Band at Northwood and Seaforth High Schools
John Brown's little big band playing on stage with a pink and teal background.

Push. Pull. Leap. Fly: Black Box Dance Theatre at Siler City Elementary
Black Box Dance Theatre dancers in flowing skirts perform for students in the Siler City Elementary gym.

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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