Philadelphia’s Old City is jam-packed with art lovers on the first Friday of each month, when the neighborhood’s art galleries hold open houses. On May 6, the work of emerging artists from Penn’s School of Design will be on display,  just like the work of professionals.

A group of students in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Class of 2011 will exhibit their artwork at the student-run gallery called Project Space 240 Church, located at 240 Church St., just off Third Street, between Market and Arch. The gallery, founded by MFA candidate Robert Dimin, gives students an opportunity to show their work to a broader audience away from campus.

The students’ art covers diverse subjects and is presented in a variety of media. It includes paintings, sculptures, photographs and conceptual pieces. The First Friday exhibit will showcase students’ artwork created over the past year, leading up to their thesis projects.

“It makes my peers really excited when people who really don’t have an art background, or [do] have an art background, come in off the street and engage them about the work,” says Dimin, who also serves as the director of the gallery.

The exhibit opens on Friday, May 6, and runs through June. The gallery is also open Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 to 5:30 p.m.

On First Fridays, more than 40 neighborhood galleries remain open from 5 to 9 p.m. Many serve wine and snacks. Most galleries can be found between Front and Third, and Market and Vine streets.

For more information, visit www.visitphilly.com/events/philadelphia/first-Friday.