As the David Owsley Museum of Art will offer a special late hours trial run next year, we thought we would feature these special evening events in the community.

The next First Thursday is upon us! Prepare for fun on Thursday, December 5th. The special day is a monthly event held in Downtown Muncie to celebrate art and culture in the community.

First Thursday is a means to spotlight the arts in downtown Muncie. Galleries stay open late and often offer exhibition openings and refreshments.

First Thursday galleries are also great supporters of the David Owsley Museum of Art. For example, frame restoration for the Museum of Art is often done by Gordy Fine Art and Framing. Just a sample of the businesses and galleries open during First Thursday include Gallery 308, Gordy Fine Art and Framing, and The Artist Within.

“First Thursday gallery walk is a monthly event celebrating local arts and culture in Muncie’s historic downtown district. All the downtown art galleries simultaneously launch their monthly exhibits with extended hours on the first Thursday evenings of every month. Stroll the streets, meet the artists, enjoy live music and find free refreshments at nearly every stop.”

–Muncie  Downtown Development Partnership

Each year in October First Thursday becomes an even larger affair called Arts Walk. Along with art vendors and gallery exhibitions, there is music, performances, gallery openings, and many businesses welcoming visitors. The artists and performers are students or teachers at Ball State University as well as members of the community. Muncie Downtown Development, in partnership with Muncie Arts and Culture Council and Ball State University’s Departments of Fine Art and Music, present the full-scale ArtsWalk every year.

This year, the David Owsley Museum of Art participated in Arts Walk with a booth and offered free posters and activities. Children loved crafting beaded bracelets and drawing on the sidewalk with chalk. Intern Regan Kelly, administrator Christine Lussier, and director of education Tania Said were on hand to answer questions about the new galleries too.

“The overall experience of Arts Walk is fun and exciting. I bought jewelry from the Ball State Metals Guild, toured studios of students and professors of Ball State, met local artists, and enjoyed the music in the green behind our table.”

-Regan Kelly

Plan on the next First Thursday on Thursday, December 5! Dress warmly, have fun, and support the art community. And it’s not too early to start thinking about your participation in Arts Walk next October.

For more information about First Thursday and Arts Walk, including next year’s plans, visit DowntownMuncie.org’s website or follow Downtown Muncie on Facebook.