Today on campus and downtown, students and community members can take part in what Katie O'Toole hopes will be a "mini Arts Festival."

First Thursday, happening today, has been held in State College since February 2007, said O'Toole, coordinator of First Thursday.

Happening on the first Thursday of each month, the event is an effort to bring a large spectrum of art programming to the community, Dana Kletchka, curator of education at the Palmer Museum of Art, said. All of the events are free and open to students and the community.

The partnership between downtown and campus resources is important so different programs can be offered at various times of the day, Kletchka said.

And though not all students and community members have taken advantage of the wide range of planned activities and events involved in First Thursday, O'Toole said she hopes that will change.

Scott Dutt, optician and owner of Happy Valley Optical and participant in First Thursday events, agreed.

"I've been very disappointed in the turnout for the First Thursday events. I would like to see more students support First Thursdays," he said.

O'Toole said despite declining attendance in the past, she is hoping for a good turnout for the events today. She added First Thursdays have been successful in nearby counties and even large cities such as Chicago.

"There is no reason why this couldn't work in State College because we have a community that is really devoted to the arts, as well as the energy and vitality of the university," she said.

This month, First Thursday is offering a wide range of possibilities for arts lovers, on campus and at various downtown venues, according to the First Thursday Web site:

On Campus

The HUB-Robeson Galleries will be hosting a reception for an abstract exhibition titled Something To Look Forward To from 5 to 8 tonight. The exhibition features works by 22 artists of black American decent.

Painter Tom Block's Response to Machiavelli will be on display in the HUB Gallery until Dec. 2.

The exhibit The Lion's Roar: Penn State Spirit will celebrate the 150 years of Penn State's mascot and will be on display in Pattee Library from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Dec. 30.

The Union Made-Labor's Cultural Production will be featured in Paterno Library. The exhibit will feature various displays about the working middle class and will be available for viewing from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. until Jan. 5.

The Palmer Museum of Art will host a talk on the exhibition The Culture of Collage, featuring professors that specialize in the art of collage, at 7 p.m. The Culture of Collage is on display in the Zoller Gallery from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 24.

Downtown

Creative Oasis, 133 E. Beaver Ave., will host a demonstration of wheel-thrown and hand-made pottery from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Happy Valley Optical, 208 S. Allen St., will host artist William Snyder III, who will display his chalk renderings from 5 to 7 p.m.

Destination Cameroon will take place at the Schlow Centre Region Library, 211 S. Allen St.

This event will feature dancers, songs and food native to the Central African region.