The Chatham Arts Council is investing in artists through our Meet This Artist series, introducing you to Chatham County’s creative community one interview at a time. In this special audio feature, we meet Joseph Megel, longtime artistic director of the Process Series at UNC–Chapel Hill. His work has championed new plays, performance art, dance, and… Read More →
Check Out the 2025-26 Artists-in-Schools Season Lineup!
Do you remember the first time something a teacher said to you “clicked?” That moment when you finally understood the difference between a metaphor and a simile? That’s what the CAC’s Artists-in-Schools Initiative is all about. By bringing professional artists into Chatham County schools, artists leverage the arts through interactive workshops that support teachers’ learning… Read More →
Poet Phillip Shabazz Visits Silk Hope School
Creative words warmed up a chilly week at Silk Hope School as Phillip Shabazz conducted his Powers of Poetry residency with fifth- and seventh-graders. “Art is an opportunity to express yourself.” –Mr. Shabazz Mr. Shabazz shared some of his own work, the words of others, and then let the students know that they would explore,… Read More →
Music Production and Poetry at Bonlee School
“The assembly, as a whole, created a moment of unity and positivity for everyone, and students’ musical creations were the spark for that experience,” shared AIG Teacher, Mark Spring.
Poet Phillip Shabazz Supports Fifth Graders at North Chatham Elementary
“Repeat after me, “ poet Phillip Shabazz began. “Happy Monday! Good to see you! Welcome to our grumpy fifth-grade class!” “We’re gonna have some fun this week! Let’s go! Make some noise!” The fifth-graders at North Chatham repeated each phrase as instructed, clapped with wide smiles, and started their week-long Powers of Poetry artist residency. … Read More →
Poetic Pursuits: Phillip Shabazz at Perry Harrison Elementary
As the second week of October rolled in, the weather began to cool, but the fifth-grade classrooms at Perry Harrison were warm and snug. Visiting artist-in-residence Poet Phillip Shabazz strolled in and boomed, “Good morning!” With that, students perked up, and they began . . . A Poetic Adventure Begins The theme of the week… Read More →
Phillip Shabazz Brings Poetry to the Pittsboro Elementary Pandas
North Carolina poet Phillip Shabazz brought the joy of the written word to Pittsboro Elementary this season, and a good time was had by all–even some administrators! Fourth-grade students were introduced to a number of different types of poems–rhyming couplets, lunes (3-line, 11-word poems), list poems, odes, and more. Mr. Shabazz also had students read… Read More →
Apply Today for the JumpstART Grant: Designed by Artists for Artists
The CAC’s JumpstART grant was born out of the pandemic as a way to help get Chatham County artists and arts-workers back to work. JumpstART pays artists to make art–and to put the arts in the public sphere as we reconnect with one another in our public spaces. 2021 JumpstART was deeply impactful, so we’re… Read More →
Calling all Artists! Apply Now for the Artist Support Grant
Artists – listen up. This is for you! We have an exciting grant opportunity you won’t want to miss. Like last year, we are partnering with the fine folks at the NC Arts Council, United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, and other local arts councils to bring the Artist Support Grant to Chatham County… Read More →
New Jumpstart Grant Opp Designed by Artists for Artists
Last year, the pandemic shut down the arts economy in Chatham County. No one really thought that one year later, we’d still be wading through the pandemic, waiting for life to go back to “normal.” Because artists and arts-workers have been hugely impacted by the pandemic, we launched the Chatham Artists and Arts-workers Relief Effort… Read More →