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July 2, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: Curriculum Come to Life in Two Chatham County Elementary Schools

History, math, science – sometimes everyday curriculum can be difficult to grasp for elementary school students. The concept seems unfamiliar or too far removed from everyday life to grasp. But… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured |

June 24, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: The West African Kora Makes its Way to Three Chatham County Schools, Thanks to the Talented Diali Cissokho

This May, three Chatham County schools experienced an interactive performance of West African kora (a West African jumbo spike-lute with 22 strings made from fishing line), singing, and drumming with… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured, Uncategorized |

May 22, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Residencies Bring Out the Inner Artists in Students at Two Chatham County Schools

Spanish dancing. It’s not the typical after-school activity for students at Moncure School or North Chatham Elementary. When Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana arrived at those two Chatham county schools this… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured |

May 9, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: JS Waters Students Open to New Experience with The Magic of African Rhythm

Just days before spring break, something magical happened at JS Waters School. Something that could make you forget where you were and transport you to another continent. You could hear… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured, Uncategorized |

February 4, 2019

Artists-in-Schools: Mike Wiley Inspires Student Confidence in Two Chatham County Schools

In early January, nationally known theater artist, Mike Wiley, made his way to Siler City Elementary and Silk Hope School as part of the Chatham Arts Council’s Artists-in-Schools initiative. His… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Artists-in-Schools, Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: Arts education, Arts in Education, Chatham County, Collaboration, Creative Process

January 23, 2019

Dorrie Casey’s Pop-Up He(art) Event Spreads Love (and Hearts!) All Around

Do you He(art) hearts and Valentine’s? If you do, you’re in for a treat. Pop in to the Chatham Arts Council’s pop-up show featuring new He(art) works by local artist,… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: Arts education, Arts in Education, Chatham County, Collaboration, Creative Process

December 6, 2018

Calling All Art Lovers for the I He(art) Art Campaign

Art. It’s more than beauty and conceptual ideas. It’s more than visual works and performances. It’s something that can connect us all. Think about a designer, who is by nature,… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: Arts education, Arts in Education, Chatham County, Collaboration, Creative Process

December 5, 2018

One More Year of Reveling in the Fiddle: Pickin’ 2018 Sure Was Fun!

Well, it’s come and gone – Pickin’: A Music Celebration, that is. It’s so hard to believe Chatham Arts Council’s Annual Benefit for Artists-in-Schools is over. All who gathered in… Read More →

By April Starling | Filed Under: Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Slideshow Featured, Uncategorized | Tagged With: #ArtsEd, Arts education, Chatham County, Community, live music, performance

December 4, 2018

Buy Local and Give Locally on Giving Night

Local arts and artists, a creative culture, small businesses, and Pittsboro’s authentic downtown are all topics we’re passionate about so you could say we’ve been glowing about Giving Night in… Read More →

By Lesley Landis | Filed Under: Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Events, Slideshow Featured |

November 5, 2018

GO SEE THIS: PICKIN’: A MUSIC CELEBRATION on November 11! Featuring The Bluegrass Experience. Sponsored by Opus Financial Advisors.

Pickin 2017

We’re trying something new with our Go See This series—a more intimate look at the behind-the-scenes of creating arts events in Chatham County. We hope you enjoy this, the second… Read More →

By Luis Melodelgado | Filed Under: Arts in Education, ChathamArts News, County Happenings, Events, Go See This, Slideshow Featured | Tagged With: artists-in-schools, Arts Ed, Bluegrass Experience, catherine hobbs, Chatham Central High School, choral music, Chorus, Megan Clark, Music, pickin', robena meek, snuffy smith, tommy edwards

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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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