Chatham Arts Council

We nurture creative thinkers

Go See This: Chatham Experience, featuring JumpstART artists

As Chatham Park continues to develop its community, they remain dedicated to supporting local art in Chatham County. As part of that commitment, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . .

Ready for some outdoor fun with the arts? We’re gearing up for an outdoor Chatham Experience event that has a little bit of everything — music, literary work, textiles, sculpture, and painting — produced by the recipients of our JumpstART grant. Chatham Experience will take place as part of Pittsboro First Sunday on November 7, and it’ll feature Chatham County-based artists you’ve followed for a while, as well as newer artists who’ll be featuring some innovative pieces. 

Perch Coworking

All of these artists have created fresh work thanks to JumpstART. If you’re unable to make it downtown on the 7th, you can check out the visual art on display from October 30 through November 16 in participating businesses and the Welcome Center in downtown Pittsboro. We feel very fortunate to have so many local businesses in Chatham County that are so willing to support local artists by proudly displaying their art. As Betsey Elbogen, Manager of Perch Coworking comments, “Perch believes in supporting local artists — the arts are a very intricate part of our community. We look forward to participating in the Chatham Experience.” 

Our JumpstART grant aims to help get Chatham County artists back to work by paying artists to make art–and to put the arts in the public sphere as we reconnect with one another in our public spaces. We awarded spring 2021 JumpstART grants to performing, visual, and literary artists living in Chatham County who’ve been financially impacted due to COVID-19 cancellations and closures. This work was generously funded by the Manbites Dog Theater Fund and the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation. 

So many of our Chatham County artists have been unable to share their art out in the community because of COVID-19, and supporting them in every way we can is a top priority. As Chatham Arts Council board member Heather Buster comments, “The pandemic has been difficult for local artists. Lost incomes due to closed storefronts, cancelled shows, lack of ability to teach, and many other factors have made this time very hard for artists. I do think it has been a time of reflection and of searching for creativity, as well. We hope to shine a light on some of that creativity from this tough time.” 

Breadfoot

For local musician Breadfoot, a JumpstART grant helped him get some of his projects off the backburner. “I spent a lot of the last couple years hamstrung,” notes Breadfoot. “And I suppose like many others who were hamstrung, I spent a lot of time being envious of those artists that weren’t. Being awarded the JumpstART grant assuaged those feelings of inadequacy and frustration. The funds provided allowed me to pull some numbers off the backburner and return to the studio to engage with other musicians in a long overdue, creatively satisfying way.”  

Not only has Breadfoot been able to return to the studio, but he now has his sights set on a few other goals. “I’m also hoping to kick a live performance here and there or possibly strike out on a few short tours. Mostly though, I’m keen to return in earnest to a project that had its genesis before all this crazy Covid stuff took over. It’s a rock banjo opera that is wanting to be called Sunnyland.”

Chatham Experience would not be possible without generous support from local sponsors, MOSAIC and Chatham Park, and the partnership with The Pittsboro Business Association and Main Street Pittsboro. As Kirk Bradley of MOSAIC and Vanessa Jenkins of Chatham Park agree, “MOSAIC and Chatham Park are excited to team up with the Chatham Arts Council in downtown Pittsboro for the Chatham Experience. Quality of life is a key component to successful communities, and this arts experience is something we wholeheartedly support.”

Please join us in downtown Pittsboro on November 7 for this exciting Chatham Experience! 

  • What: Chatham Experience, featuring JumpstART artists
  • Where: Downtown Pittsboro
  • When: Sunday, November 7, 2021 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Cost: Free!

Performance schedule:

Art display locations:

Your Go See This sponsor. Visit them on Grant Drive.

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