Tamkeen, in partnership with Art Select, have proudly launched the ambitious ‘Bahrain Art Across Borders’ (BAAB) Programme, an inspiring venture that aims to showcase Bahrain’s emerging and established talent in the visual arts to the world, in an effort to further promote the country as an artistic hub on the regional and global map.
BAAB has been designed to foster excellence in the arts through exhibitions and educational programmes that will serve as a catalyst for the future development and recognition of Bahrain artists across the world. Each year BAAB will select prominent creative talent in the Kingdom and provide them with the opportunity to exhibit their works in reputed venues across major cities in the world, including galleries and museums. This year, the first BAAB 2016 International Exhibition will be held in the heart of London and fifteen shortlisted artists will be sponsored to participate and display their creations.
Tamkeen’s Director of Marketing and Communications Hala Sulaiman stated that this initiative comes in line with Tamkeen’s commitment to provide Bahraini individuals with opportunities to promote and develop their businesses with the aim to make a difference, enhance their income level and contribute to the national economy. She said “BAAB provides a significant platform for local-based emerging and established artists to transcend borders and represent Bahrain’s rich talent and creative nature to the world. The programme idea was inspired by the multitude of talent we have in the country; there is tremendous potential to turn art into a sustainable industry for future generations, drive investment and firmly position the Kingdom on the global map as an epicentre of arts in the region. It is a great opportunity for the selected candidates who will surely benefit from the exposure and above all the experience of having their works showcased in key global arts hubs.”
BAAB has already kicked off with an open call to interested local creative talent to submit their artworks; submissions can cover a range of genres related to art, architecture and design, including but not limited to painting, sculpture, installation, photography, videography, film, craft, animation, sound and new media. All material will be reviewed by a panel of judges of prominent artists, art consultants and related professionals in the field, and candidates will be selected at the end of this month.
According to Kanika Subberwal, Founder of Art Select and Co-founder of ArtBahrain, “BAAB is a much needed conduit for local artists to open their wings and become part of the international arts community. We want to give people the means to grow outside of their home-base, we want to invest in their skills and capabilities, at the end of the day their work is a reflection of Bahrain’s artistic wealth. We are very impressed with the material submitted so far, there is so much talent in this country and selecting only a handful of candidates will be tough. However, this is the first in a series of exhibitions and initiatives planned under the BAAB umbrella and there will be many opportunities in the coming future.”