Batesburg-Leesville is investing in an event aimed at fostering arts education.

The town is giving $1,800 to the nonprofit Arts on the Ridge, which puts on the annual Fall for the Arts festival. It’s the first time Batesburg-Leesville has given financial support to the third-year event.

“This event gives local artists and performers an opportunity to come out and showcase their talents, and to be able to come out and sell the items that they either draw or that they make,” said Ted Luckadoo, Batesburg-Leesville’s town administrator. “Overall arts are a great thing for the quality of life in any community.” 

Carolyn Ellis, a retired art teacher from White Knoll Middle School, has been involved with Arts on the Ridge since she retired from education. 

 The festival isn’t just about bringing arts education into town – Ellis told the Chronicle that the festival is also about community engagement.

“This festival has a well-rounded education to it, there’s a chance for learning for both children and adults.” said Ellis “And you know, we need to get off our phones and go do something fun and exciting. What better thing to do than get involved in the arts?”

The festival will take place Sunday, Oct. 8. It will be held on North Oak Street in the Batesburg business district.

“We don’t want to mess with anybody’s football game,” Ellis joked as she explained why Sundays are the perfect day for the festival.  “Pull up a chair, sit and enjoy the band. You know and just have a nice, pleasant Sunday afternoon.” 

This year’s festival will host more than 25 local artisan and food vendors. Music will be performed by The Experiment and I-20 Horns.

Arts on the Ridge was founded in 2015 to promote the arts in Batesburg-Leesville and surrounding areas. 

And, before the pandemic, the nonprofit offered free summer camps for young adults to get involved with all forms of art.

“We had visual arts, music, drama, dance, and you know, we try to include all of them,” Ellis told the Chronicle. “That was a two-week-long summer camp that Arts on the Ridge paid for for students to go to.”

Even though Arts on the Ridge doesn’t currently offer arts camps, Ellis said it was something they may bring back in the future. 

“COVID hit us really hard so we’re just backing up and regrouping,” Ellis said. “We’re finding out where the needs are and we’re trying to do it. We’re trying to come up with new ideas.”