By Rose Picón, staff writer

If you’ve been to any art galleries in Syracuse in the last few years, you may have noticed that several partake in Third Thursday (Th3). In fact, about 20 art venues participate. But what is Th3, and why are art galleries so interested in it?

Th3 is the brainchild of Courtney Rile, an arts administrator, and Bill Delavan, owner of the Delavan Art Gallery. In 2007, Delavan was looking for a communications assistant, and he called Rile to see if she was interested in the position. During her interview, Delavan asked Rile if there was anything in particular that she would do if she got the job. Rile eagerly replied that she would start an “arts night.”

When Rile was back in Philly, she had witnessed the success of the “First Fridays,” where museums and galleries across the city opened to the public for free during the first Friday of every month. Rile noticed how “First Friday” made galleries accessible, and she thought that having a similar night in Syracuse would help elevate the city’s arts scene. Coincidentally, Delavan had been discussing this same possibility with some other folks in town; Rile landed the position, and the work began.

To jumpstart the initiative, the duo linked with an advertising course at SU and received assistance with brochures and website design to promote what they were calling “Th3” or, “Third Thursday,” a day when the public could go to art galleries for free on the third Thursday each month, from 5pm to 8pm.

Rile explains that “the idea was to share audiences. We have a situation where each venue has a specific kind of audience. If there was a shared directory or shared resources, we could get people to attend more galleries and check out new places.”

Th3 has been successful for several years now and has greatly helped many galleries, especially those in the center of the city which are located just short walking distances from each other. Other spaces that are more “off the beaten path” have been helped by being listed in Th3’s brochure.

Briana Kohlbrenner, an active member of the art community and owner of Craft Chemistry on N. Salina Street, is a big fan. “I know a lot of people who intentionally go out on the third Thursday, and I definitely think that it’s helped and has brought more traffic to all the places it lists.” 

So block out the next Th3, grab a pal, and take in some local art! In October, you can check out the long-awaited exhibition of Jerome Witkin, an internationally-known painter and professor at Syracuse University. His work will be on display at SU Art Galleries, just steps off the Connective Corridor bus route, a FREE service. Check out Th3’s website and see how you can infuse your life with art!