With so many arts and cultural organizations in Selma and Dallas County, we’re glad the Black Belt Community Foundation took notice and awarded several thousands of dollars in grant money to our arts initiatives.

Many say that a community can be changed and shaped by the arts — and we agree. The Selma Art Guild, ArtsRevive and the Community Concert Series are just a few groups that work to provide residents with quality outlets for expression. Selma is rooted with rich history, and it is this history that plants the roots for a vibrant arts community.

With our historic, antebellum homes and scenic river draped in Spanish moss, we already offer the perfect setup for a vibrant arts community. All we need is the revenue to push us further. With the help of the BBCF along with individual efforts, we can make Selma and Dallas County greater than it already is.

Along with the many organizations that support the arts, we also commend individuals like Jo Pate, Martha Lockett, Jo Taylor and a host of others, who continuously work to keep the arts thriving and at the forfront of the community. It’s people like this that demonstrate the true spirit of Selma and Dallas County.

With this grant money, we hope the rest of the region will begin to take note of Selma and its vast opportunities in the arts.