SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Visit Downtown Santa Barbara for 1st Thursday, an evening filled with FREE art, culture and music! The April 3rd event will include more than two dozen cultural art venues, standing by with poetry, art, music and more, for National Poetry Month.

Sullivan Goss – An American Gallery (7 & 11 E. Anapamu) will celebrate the life and work of Barry Spacks, Santa Barbara’s first Poet Laureate and beloved artist. The Spacks’ estate provided 108 works of art that will be offered at $108, a number that is sacred in the artist’s Buddhist religion. Special poetry readings will take place throughout a not-to-be-missed evening. Swing by CASA Magazine (23 E. Canon Perdido) for more poetry, art and music and don’t forget Salt (740 State), for “Poetry in the Cave,” for a fun-filled evening of words and community in their.pink Himalayan salt caves. For another spoken word experience, the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (653 Paseo Nuevo Terrace) is presenting a performance by Julia Landois and Erik Saden, Live Ballast (7:00 PM).

For a performance of a different sort, you’ll find award-winning Plein Air artist Jason Sacran conducting a painting demonstration at Waterhouse Gallery (1114 State, #9). Drop by Gallery 27 at Brooks Institute (27 E. Cota) to sample selections from graduating students, in the April 2014 Portfolio Show. And if you’ve never met Eric Kelley, now’s the time – help him celebrate his 35th anniversary as the proprietor of The Book Den (15 E. Anapamu), California’s oldest used bookstore (founded in 1902).

Santa Barbara Historical Museum (136 E. De la Guerra) opens a new exhibition, “Impressions in Ink: Etchings from the Collection,” including artist Henry Chapman Ford. What’s more “cultural” than world travel? Santa Barbara Travel (1028 State) presents the world of Oceania Cruises – you’ll find your next port-of-call!

The UCSB Middle East Ensemble brings its unique repertoire of music from Arab, Turkish, Persian, Armenian, Greek, Jewish and Assyrian cultures to Paseo Nuevo Center Court. In the “hands-on” category, learn how the Santa Barbara Art Foundry makes unique bronze sculptures in a step-by-step process on Marshalls Patio (900 State). UCSB Dhadkan will feature various South Asian music and dance forms at the Arlington Theatre Foyer (1317 State), many of which will be featured at its flagship event of the year: Nachle Deewane, an intercollegiate Bollywood and Bhangra dance competition (April 12th at the Arlington).

Join the newly refreshed Lobero Theatre (33 E. Canon Perdido) from 7:30-9:30pm for 1st Thursday: After Hours. Don’t miss une bonne soirée onstage: enjoy hors d’eouvres from Sojourner Cafe, vin provided by Roblar Winery and eclectic cabaret presented by Kerrilee Kaski. La vie est belle. The New Vic, The Granada Theatre and The Lobero Theatre are teaming up to offer these new 1st Thursday: After Hours events that will be held at a different theater each month.

All of these attractions and many more are FREE during 1st Thursday on April 3rd. With more than two dozen stops on this month’s 1st Thursday Passport, there is something for everyone. For more information and a complete listing of the specific programming offered at each gallery, as well as all public performances and interactive exhibits, go to http://www.santabarbaradowntown.com/about/1st-thursday.

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