At 5 p.m. Thursday, April 5, local businesses in downtown Bay City will open their doors to the public, all in the name of art.

The event is a gallery walk, called First Thursdays. The walk is a monthly happening that got its start in 2005.

April’s walk is unique in that it will focus on students, faculty and alumni of SVSU.

Avram Golden, owner of Golden Gallery and Custom Framing, is looking for poets, fine artists and musicians to showcase their talents.

Because he wants the submission process easy as possible for inexperienced artists, he will not require  frames or mats on submitted artwork. Although, Golden said, it is ideal to have art ready to hang.

His aim is not to feature several pieces from one artist. Instead, Golden wants to represent several artists.

Submitting pieces to Golden Gallery is free for this show.

Hideki Kihata, art department chair, said students do not realize how important it is for an artist to exhibit their work.

“Performing music in front of people is the end product of hours of practice for musicians; the performance is the end product,” Kihata said. “Exhibition is our performance.’

Amanda Abraham, photography senior, said events such as First Thursdays are beneficial to the community.

“I like that community brings together all different kinds of people to appreciate the beauty in the place that they live,” Abraham said.

Three of her photographs will be shown at Golden Gallery.

One photo depicts a landscape from Italy, where she studied abroad. The second photo is a close-up shot of a car featured in a Michigan car show. The last image is a portrait of her cousin.

“I wanted to give a variety of images,” Abraham said.

Populace Coffee, a new coffee shop located at 1003 Washington Ave., will feature the work of alumnus Corey Gilbert.

Andrew Heppner, owner of Populace Coffee, said he appraciates events such as First Thursdays because it gives community members another reason to visit his new place.

Blake Johnson, graphic design professor, will also have his skateboard designs on display for the event.

Johnson made it a class assignment to creat fliers for this event.

Artists must submit work before April 2 at Golden Gallery, located at 113 Third Street in downtown Bay City.

For more information on next month’s First Thursdays event, contact Golden at avram@avramgolden.com.