Al Riwaq Art Space was credited with creating a vibrant art scene in Adliya, Bahrain, before rising rents forced it to vacate its premises in March 2018. The venue, which lead the popular The Nest street festival and provided a base for local creatives, was so beloved that more than 2,000 people signed a petition against its closure, but to no avail. Now, the gallery’s masterminds are planning a comeback, as a new venue will open its doors in a new location, with a new vision, later this year.
Al Riwaq Art Space will move to Manama’s Yateem Centre – Bahrain’s oldest mall. Extensive redevelopment work at the shopping complex is ongoing and nearing completion. Al Riwaq owner Bayan Kanoo partnered up with A M Yateem Brothers to drive the transformation to Manama and turning the city into a destination for arts and culture, locally and internationally.
The area chosen for the new development, close to the Bahrain capital’s souq, is in the middle of an ambitious regeneration project that aims to regain its status as a cultural and commercial centre of the island. This scheme has already given rise to the opening of The Merchant House boutique hotel and the rejuvenation of the historical Bab Al Bahrain building.
“My hope is that the new Al Riwaq will be a place where creativity in all its forms can thrive – for all people, not only artists,” Kanoo tells. “The goal is for art enthusiasts to further their interests, aspiring artists to develop new skills and established creators to launch careers.”
The new venue have a ground floor and mezzanine area across 1,400 square metres. The new venue will be opening in September along with a co-working space, a 3D-printing and fabrication lab, a studio, gallery and cafe. Al Riwaq’s notable concept store will also make a return, once again giving local artists a chance to sell their work to the public. The rooftop of Yateem Centre will be redesigned as a garden and park for events and pop-up markets.
Al Riwaq Art Space’s inaugural exhibition titled Post-Fiction will showcase Manama’s fictional narratives that have created a lasting impression on the kingdom. The exhibition will allow certain versions of history to be scrutinised by participating artists, which includes Abu Dhabi’s Nasser Alzayani, Bahraini architects Ali Karimi and Hamed Bukhamseen, and artist and designer Mariam Alnoaimi, also from Bahrain.
The centre will begin launch some in-person events before its official opening. These will include sessions on art appreciation and history, portfolio preparation for a variety of disciplines, film screenings and some skills-based workshops.
Giving local artists and creatives a platform through which to hone and improve their skills is what Al Riwaq Art Space is all about. “Nurturing a creative ecosystem is one of the most important ways we can make the world a better place,” says Kanoo.
