SMARTS Arts Education Program
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SMARTS Arts in Education aims to ignite creativity and imagination in students through live arts experiences with renowned North Carolina artists. Our mission is to inspire and prepare students not only for creative careers but also for well-rounded, fulfilling lives. By engaging with the arts, students become critical thinkers, develop curiosity, and gain the skills necessary to lead productive and meaningful lives. Our program ensures that the arts play a vital role in nurturing well-rounded individuals.
Arts Davidson County coordinates programming annually with qualified NC artists, nonprofit organization personnel, school administrators, and teachers in the three public school districts, as well as independent schools in Davidson County. Some of our past artists have included Julia Taylor Ebel, Poet and Author; Mike Wiley Productions’ “One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom", Pierce Freelon "The Beast, and Shared Radiance, a performing Arts Company.
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The arts not only enrich our lives, communities and culture, but they are vital to a child’s education. A strong arts education promotes the skills children need to be successful. Skills such as creativity, collaboration with their peers, confidence, cultural awareness, empathy, and critical thinking. Support Arts in Education in Davidson County by donating today!
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SMARTS Arts – The Powers of Poetry Project
During the 2024/2025 school year, acclaimed poet Phillip Shabazz brought his Powers of Poetry Project to several Davidson County Schools. This weeklong creative writing workshop concludes with a celebratory Poetry Slam, where students have the opportunity to showcase their work. Throughout the workshop, students engage in writing various types of poems, sharing their work, and giving and receiving constructive feedback. By the end of the workshop, students leave with enhanced writing skills and new creative ideas for their poetry.
Phillip Shabazz has been hailed by educators as "one of the most inspiring individuals in the arts." He is the author of three poetry collections and When the Grass Was Blue, a novel in verse. His poetry has been featured in anthologies such as Literary Trails of the North Carolina Piedmont: A Guidebook and Home Is Where: African-American Poetry from the Carolinas. His work has also appeared in journals including Fine Lines, Galway Review, Hamilton Stone Review, Hamline Lit, K'in, Mason Street Journal, New Critique, Sky Island Journal, and Thimble.
What Teachers Say:
• "It is the most effective writing workshop I have ever seen."
• "I got loads of good ideas to present to my students."
• "His methods succeed in showing teachers how to use poetry as a tool of learning and communication."
• "His teaching style is engaging, fun, and direct."
What Students Say:
• "He taught me to write about things that related to my life."
• "He knew how to talk with young people."
• "He related to us as people instead of students."
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This program is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
