YOUR SAY: Get out and explore, through art, the area's diverse communities

February is an important month to the arts world and to communities throughout the United States -- Black History Month, a time to honor the achievements and rich tradition of creativity and culture that African Americans have brought and bring to our communities. Across the country, the arts are proving to be a powerful tool to celebrate group identity and unite communities. America is becoming increasingly diverse, and the need for community cohesion is critical.

This week, the national nonprofit organization Americans for the Arts is bringing their New Community Visions Initiative to Macon to explore the role that arts can play in pursuing the vision of a healthy, vibrant and cohesive community, and how individuals, arts institutions and support organizations can help to achieve that vision. With generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, this is the fifth of eight meetings across the country -- with participants from 10 states -- that will start a conversation on how the arts allow us to explore all aspects of our communities and ourselves.

In the past, glimpses into other cultures were often voyeuristic. People came to view cultural practices from other communities as a spectacle -- something to be gawked at rather than engaged with in a meaningful way. In Macon, the arts are playing a central role in the exploration and communication of group identity. Through events such as the Pan African Festival, hosted by the Tubman African American Museum; the Ocmulgee Indian Celebration held at the Ocmulgee National Monument; and the Greek Orthodox Church's Greek Festival, people are beginning to look at the lived, cultural experiences of others in their community with a sincere desire to increase their awareness and empathy for others.

The arts are also helping to build community cohesion on the neighborhood scale. In East Macon, Mill Hill, the East Macon Arts Village, an arts-based community development initiative led by Macon Arts Alliance and the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority, is leveraging the power of the arts, culture and creativity to bring the community together to build a cultural master plan for the neighborhood. A visiting artist program is convening local and national artists to work side-by-side with community members, building on local gifts and talents and empowering residents. This emerging, socially cohesive community is just one example of the impact the arts can have as a collaborative partner for positive change.

The next decade will surely see significant shifts in the way some groups define themselves in light of a quickly changing American landscape. Strong communities are an important factor in creating both policy and social change, and the need for community cohesion is crucial.

You can play a vital role. Share your experiences with the rest of the community and be receptive to the experiences of others. With the help of resources like the Macon Arts Alliance's ovations365.com calendar for arts, culture and creative experiences, get out and explore the rich cultural offerings of Macon and engage with our diverse communities. Let's work toward a society in which diverse backgrounds and circumstances are appreciated and valued.

Jan Beeland is the executive director of the Macon Arts Alliance. Abel Lopez is the president of the boards of directors of Americans for the Arts and chairman-emeritus of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 9:13 PM with the headline "YOUR SAY: Get out and explore, through art, the area's diverse communities ."