As the momentum builds for the inaugural ArtBahrain – the international art fair in Manama, Bahrain – has announced ArtBahrain Talks, its in-depth education forum and a VIP programme.

image ArtBahrein / Courtesy of ArtBahrein

ArtBahrain Talks and the VIP programme will be headed up by Janet Rady and Renaud Siegmann respectively, bringing their wealth of experience to the Middle Eastern art market. Rady’s ArtBahrain Talks will include daily guest speaking slots delivered from some of the participating international and Bahraini artists at ArtBahrain, consisting of three sessions of talks, discussions and presentations per day from October 13-15, 2015.

Designed for a small group of VIP participants, the sessions will highlight topics including collecting art, the preservation of art and sharing/patronage of the arts. These workshops will be followed by individual MENASA artists’ presentations who will showcase their practice. The speakers will be drawn from a range of international and regional specialists and each will give an opportunity to engage with the other and to enrich their knowledge base in the context of a Bahraini forum.

image Hanibal Srouji, Boogie Woogie II, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 15 cm / Courtesy of ArtBahrein

image Khaled Ben Slimane, Ascension, 2008-2009, Acrylic on canvas, 200x200 cm / Courtesy of Elmarsa and ArtBahrein

Artists participating at the ArtBahrain Talks panel discussions include artists Elisabeth de Bolza, Zoulikha Bouabdellah and Bassam Kyrillos. Workshops will be held by speakers such as Francesca Polo, Executive Director of Vastari, Pierre-Olivier Baudot of Baudot Patrimony, an investment fine art and collectables company, and Priya Khanna, an Indian art restorer.

Meanwhile, Siegmann’s tailored VIP programme will aim to give visitors an expansive insight into the artistic history and culture of Bahrain, with a guided tour throughout the entirety of the fair. This includes visits to the Bahrain National Museum, the Bahrain Arts Society, the House of Qur’an and the Bahrain Fort.

image Omar Al Rashid, The Knight, 2014, Acrylic on Canvas / Courtesy of ArtBahrein

image Pham An Hai, Teapot Dream, Shades of Grey, Oil on Canvas / Courtesy of ArtBahrein

A VIP preview of ArtBahrain on October 12, 2015, one day prior to the public opening.

Both programmes exemplify the CEO Kaneka Subberwal’s aim to promote ArtBahrain to the emerging creative industries in Bahrain and the Middle East. "I feel the inclusion of ArtBahrain Talks and our VIP Programme will create an immersive experience for those coming to Bahrain for the first time. Being interactive and engaging our audience will be key if we want to show the full potential of Bahrain."

ArtBahrain is preparing to host up to 200 international art collectors, 2,000 VIP clients and approximately 10,000 visitors. The event is set to be a culminating point for artists, art collectors and art lovers.

ArtBahrain will take place from October 13-16, 2015.


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