We all know that Downtown Wilmington attracts some of the most talented performing artists around - from music stars in every genre to dancers to acrobats - you can experience great entertainment from around the world with a simple trip to the DuPont Theatre, The Grand Opera House, or World Cafe Live at the Queen - all within a few blocks on Market Street.

But lately I've been struck by the amount of talent we're seeing produced right here in Wilmington.

We are seeing talented film-makers, producers, musicians, and others in the creative arts growing in their talents and skills right here.

Allow me to offer just a few examples:

Corey Osby has put on some great shows and is now getting ready to take his talent to Las Vegas, you can see his story here:

And last Saturday, Wilmington's Ivan Thomas got together with singer Melba Moore and created this beautiful video - right in the heart of Downtown Wilmington:

And did you know that Wilmington has some impressive members of the fashion industry here, check out this report from a recent fashion event:

There's a growing system of support for our local artists and entertainers. One of the key organizations behind this support system is Gable Music Ventures.

If you want to experience some of this great local talent first-hand, I highly recommend coming out to the Queen on December 19 for the next Singer-Songwriter Showcase.

Again, these are just a few examples - let me know what you are seeing in our growing arts and entertainment community.