Here art changes lives
Bahraini artists sold over BD 605,000 worth of artworks all over the world with the help of Tamkeen’s Art Bahrain Across Borders (ArtBAB) Initiative, it has emerged. The amount was generated from various exhibitions held in London, Moscow, India, England, Paris and Bahrain over several years. According to Tamkeen, in 2016, 29 Bahraini artists took part in an exhibition held in London which achieved a total sales of BD50,000.
While in 2017, a total of 37 artists participated in exhibitions held in Moscow, India, England and Bahrain with total sales reaching in excess of BD105,000. And in 2018, 43 artists took part in exhibitions held in India, Paris and Bahrain achieving over BD148,000 in total sales. The move, according to Tamkeen, is an assertion of the contribution and potential of arts and culture in what has become known globally as the “creative economy” or “creative industries”.
“Sustainability of economic growth is strongly dependent on innovation, and the arts sector being a key springboard for innovation,” Tamkeen said in a statement. Tamkeen launched the ArtBAB initiative in 2016 to facilitate and enhance cooperation between Bahraini artists and renowned names in this sector, as well as support their participation in prestigious international exhibitions to promote the exchange of experiences and enable them to sell their creative outputs. Taibah Faraj, a Bahraini artist, said she benefited immensely from the ArtBAB Initiative.
“This initiative helped me not only reach a wider audience but also personally grow as an artist because each international exhibition, whether held in a museum or an art gallery, is like a condensed art course of new knowledge and experiences.” “I am grateful to Tamkeen for their support and trust they have in us as international ambassadors of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” Faraj said. Faika Al-Hassan, also a Bahraini artist, viewed ArtBAB as a very important platform for Bahrain and its artists to highlight the Kingdom of Bahrain on the global stage.
“It also made it easy for artists to be present in exhibitions and countries where it would have been difficult otherwise.” She applauded the level of organisation of the programme and support given which led to numerous success stories and widespread interest of global audiences in international exhibitions.
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