The Arts and Culture Scene in Bahrain

AGSIW was pleased to host a conversation on the arts and culture scene in Bahrain with Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, an artist and the culture and arts director at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities.

Bahrain is home to a flourishing art scene that is now being recognized by the international art world. The country’s art history predates its establishment as a modern state; it was the first country in the Gulf to welcome art with painting classes in 1919, and the first to open a movie theater in 1937. In the middle of the 20th century the first generation of painters started to emerge, and an arts society was founded in 1983.

Although Bahrain is a newcomer to the world of contemporary art in a global context, Bahraini galleries are making a positive impression at international fairs and several state-sponsored projects are providing space for local art and culture to flourish.

Speakers:

Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director of Culture and Arts, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities

Kristin Smith Diwan, Senior Resident Scholar, AGSIW (Moderator)

The views represented herein are the author's or speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AGSI, its staff, or its board of directors.