Visual art can make a great gift at the holidays. Consider this: A piece of original art can last a lifetime, offer opportunities for reflection and pleasure and can fit the individual taste of the giftee and, of course, the budget of the gifter. It’s good to know that while some local collectors head up to New York to buy art, there’s a booming regional art scene right here in Philadelphia, a.k.a. the "Athens of the New World." Many local galleries, by highlighting smaller pieces and work by regional and emerging artists, make buying original art even more affordable at this time of year.

Shelley Spector, owner and director of SPECTOR, energetically promotes work by regional artists and is now presenting her annual holiday show of artwork for less than $100 (and as little as $5) at "Red Dot 4." Besides the bottom line, the show helps to promote the gallery to new and budding collectors. Spector says, "A lot of people really want to buy art but can't always afford it. The mission of the gallery is to make art accessible to people who love it, and this show really accomplishes that." This year, Red Dot will feature new work made especially for the show by 25 to 30 local artists, including miniature water towers by Eric Steinberg, small drawings by Rob Matthews, a children's book by spousal team AMMO and tiny hooked rugs by Whitney Lee. Visitors can tear a free print by Jeff Wiesner off one of the tablets of prints that he also offers for sale. Take note: When the door opens on the first day of Red Dot, there's always a line down Bainbridge Street.

Down the street from SPECTOR, B Square Gallery will be offering a great selection of sculpture, prints, jewelry and handbags by regional artists. Heather Bryson, the gallery's owner and director, is a sculptor and makes many of the pieces herself. Her magnificent brooches have imaginative interplays of hand-fabricated sterling silver elements, cast natural objects and coral, pearls, garnets and other gemstones. Her less-expensive handmade earrings and rings are just as delightful. Bryson will also exhibit work by local artists Romy Burkus and Laurie Fitzpatrick. Burkus creates multiple-block woodcuts using geometric and botanical imagery to create a lacy web of indefinite depth. Fitzpatrick's mixed-media sculptures combine natural and figurative elements on house-shaped pedestals. Much of the work in the gallery is priced at under $100, and goes up to about $700.

The Fleisher/Ollman Gallery is also focusing on regional art. Their upcoming show, "The New Acropolis," is curated by the gallery’s staff, who promise exciting new work by 17 young local artists, and it will include paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, video installation, sound art and laserism. The exhibition, named after a renowned diner/hangout in Fishtown, refers to "a new Philadelphia style of eclecticism and a reconstruction of classicism" and will offer exposure to new talent. By contrast, Locks Gallery will exhibit work by the well-known local artist Neysa Grassi, who paints lush and evocative gouache paintings on paper. Locks will also have a print exhibition with work by Joseph Beuys, Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, the legendary Philadelphia artist Edna Andrade and several others. Prices for Grassi’s work will start at about $1,500 and the prints will start at $1,000.

Another great place to shop is Project Room’s holiday party and "Behind the Bling Bling" show, a reprise of their installation at the Tacony Palmyra Flea Market. On display will be objects (priced at $5 to $50) made by more than three dozen local artists, such as Clint Takeda, Jane Irish, Joy Feasley and Charles Burns. For more cool stuff, check out Space 1026’s Annual Art Auction of work by local artists on Dec. 5 and the opening of the Annual Flipbook Festival exhibition -- some flipbooks are on sale for about $20 to $200. Space 1026’s fabulous online store, www.marketeast.com, features posters by Bobby Puleo and Angela Boatwright; limited-edition books and zines; an assortment of stickers, buttons, hats, postcards, stuffed animals; and a paperweight by Jim Houser -- all mostly between $5 and $40. "Wild West," at Basekamp, highlights the work of four young international artists, and most of their photographs and videos are for sale at prices that start at around $200. For only $5, you can pick up a copy of artist Bj°rn Hegardt’s magazine, Fukt, which is published in Stockholm.

Works Gallery has irresistible handmade jewelry and ceramics by both local and national artists, along with an exhibition of approximately 75 tiny portraits of gritty characters (presidents, acrobats and pirates) in the form of teacups by the ceramic artist Wesley Anderegg, priced $385 to $500. Bridgette Mayer Gallery will exhibit paintings and photographs by seven young emerging artists (four from Philadelphia) who explore the theme of urban life through images of architecture, grids, cityscapes and the energy of urban life. Prices are $300 and up. The nonprofit cooperative artists’ space Vox Populi is presenting "Black Friday," a not-to-be-missed sale of "affordable art" from Vox members and other local artists. You can also see exhibitions by Vox members Sam Belkowitz and Mauro Zamora, and guest artist Brian Doyle.

Many local arts nonprofits, such as the Fabric Workshop and The Clay Studio, have gift shops that operate year-round, and all stock up special items for the holiday season. The Clay Studio’s annual holiday exhibition, "Gifted," has tableware, tiles and small sculptures by more than 100 regional and national artists. The Old City glassworking studio, Hot Soup, will have its local artist holiday show, with functional handmade glass items, such as Christmas ornaments, bowls, vessels and beautiful two-color vases, all in the $25-to-$300 price range. The Wood Turning Center has put together a holiday show, "Wood Rocks! Turning Around the World," that features woodwork at prices for every pocketbook by local woodturners and hidden talent, as well as internationally known wood artists. You can find beautiful handmade wooden bowls, jewelry and pens, as well as sculptural pieces and tiny animals made from ring turnings.

Yes, the holiday season is a great time for us ordinary folks to try on the role of art collector -- without going broke -- and delight our loved ones with something really special. The holidays will also be a little brighter for Philadelphia’s hard-working artists. Plus, art galleries are usually not as crowded as the mall!