Art collectors and enthusiasts in Bowling Green will have a chance to meet local artists and view local artwork tonight at the final Gallery Hop of the year.

  The Gallery Hop is a free event in which several local museums and art galleries feature local artists and open their doors to the public for a night, Gallery Hop Chairperson Robin Gentry said.

“There are a whole lot of artists around here that don’t get enough recognition for their work,” she said.

Gentry said that the event is put on every year by local gallery owners and is not for a profit.

“The Gallery Hop is really a celebration of visual arts in Bowling Green,” she said. 

The event begins at participating venues at 5:00 p.m. and will last until 8:00 p.m., though some places will remain open later into the night, said Lynn O’Keefe, owner of the Gallery at 916, one of the participating venues.

The Gallery at 916 is planning on staying open until around 9:00 p.m. and will be featuring local photographers, she said.

Michael Barron, owner of Candle Makers on the Square, said his store will participate in the Gallery Hop to support local artists as well.

“We have several pieces from local artists in our store on consignment,” he said. “We give them an opportunity to sell them.”

Barron said admission to the Hop is free, and refreshments are usually offered.

He said that most venues tonight will be featuring one or more specific artists from the area, with some of the featured artists on hand at the studios.

O’Keefe said this is the third year Bowling Green has hosted Gallery Hops throughout the year.

She said that about 13 galleries will be open around town tonight.

Barron said the events have been popular in the past, and he hopes there will be good turnout tonight.

“It’s always a leisurely, fun night,” he said.