Once a month, travelling down St. Claude Avenue comes with an added bonus to the regular galleries, shops and eateries along the street. The Second Saturday Art Walk lights up the street with artists and patrons setting up stations for pedestrians to take a look at what the community has to offer.

The St. Claude Art District can be found in the New Orleans’ Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods and is bounded by the outskirts of the French Quarter and the Industrial Canal. From 6p.m. to 9 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month, local artists display their visual art as well as crafts. There is also live music, dance shows and other creative performances and events taking place along the street.

One of the participants is Barrister’s Gallery, which is home to folk and ethnographic art. Last month marked the opening of its new location on 2331 St. Claude Ave. after a move from Royal Street, a location Barrister’s held for 23 years. Another participant is Dancing Grounds, which is located at 3705 St. Claude Ave. Dancing Grounds is a dance studio that works to expose the Big Easy’s diverse community to a host of different dance styles.

Many of the contributors of Second Saturday are establishments that work to give back to the local community through some type of education. The Front, another participant, is a non-profit art gallery and artist collective that works to enhance the development of modern art. The Front hosts free lectures, exhibitions and screenings to the public to help with their mission.

The other participating venues are Aquarium Gallery and Studios, Arbor House Floral, Audiowood: Analog Living, Birds Nest Studio and Gallery, Byrdie’s Cafe and Gallery, Cafe Istanbul, Good Children Gallery, Kebab Restaurant and Gallery, LA46 General Store and Vintage Market, May Gallery and Residency, May Books, New Orleans Arts Center, New Orleans Community Print Shop, Second Story Gallery, Staple Goods Gallery, Suis Generis Restaurant, and UNO St. Claude Gallery.

Second Saturday provides an opportunity for local artists to showcase their work and garner support from the community. It also allows Tulane art enthusiasts to explore an emerging art scene and explore a severely underrated area of the city, a culturally-enriching alternative to the usual Saturday night.