The Art Exchange of Long Beach will host Get On Up, a ska-themed art exhibit created by a Cal State University Event Planning class.
The event accepted 15 different art donations from CSULB students. All proceeds will be donated to Art Exchange and will benefit local artists.
“It’s tough for students to be recognized as artists when they have to compete with professionals, and this event gives them the opportunity to be publicly noticed,” said Stephanie Atwood, the event planner and a senior communications student.
Get On Up was originally only accepting ska-inspired art to go with the theme of the exhibition. However, Atwood said she and the other event planners realized they did not want to limit artists’ creativity. This way, more students were able to submit, Atwood said.
Besides the exclusive CSULB art exhibit, Get On Up will feature art activities, a live DJ, a photo booth, drawings and alcoholic beverages for attendees of age.
This was an assignment for Atwood’s communications class, and she said she is grateful to have received funding of roughly $2,000 from CSULB for the event. The project was designed to help create awareness of CSULB student artists.
“The school is happy to provide funding as long as they can see the efforts it’s going towards,” Atwood said.
The exhibit is the featured event for Art Exchange’s 3rdsday, which is a program to host art-related events every third Thursday of the month.
Get on Up will be on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Art Exchange in Long Beach. Admission is free.