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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 playing their hearts out for a good cause. We’re talking about Chatham Rabbits, The Bluegrass Experience, and Diali Cissokho and John Westmoreland! Amazing!

Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: April Starling
Photo Credit: Bett Foley
Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard

But what pulled at our heart strings was seeing students from several Chatham County schools join these amazing bands to form unique collaborations before hundreds of people, especially our youngest performer, who was in second grade.

Photo Credit: Bett Foley
Photo Credit: April Starling
Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: Bett Foley
Photo Credit O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: April Starling
Photo Credit: April Starling

Aside from sweating on an unusually hot September afternoon, attendees also had an opportunity to peruse the Smelt Art Gallery, where they continued to be a part of true Chatham at its finest. Art from local artists featured in the Chatham Arts Council’s “Meet This Artist” series hung alongside art from students in Chatham County schools. Inspirational!

Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard
Photo Credit: O’Brien Millard

We’d like to thank all of our sponsors, especially Opus Financial Advisors, who, like us, know that every students deserves to have an arts education in school. Because of all of you, we’re able to bring professional artists into 13 schools this year, impacting more than 3,500 children. THANK YOU!

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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

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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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