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H.E. Shaikha Hala Al Khalifa, director of the Culture & Arts Directorate within Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, has taken part in a conference organized by the Royal University for Women entitled ‘Women & Society’ on 19 April 2016. The conference was held for two days (19-20 April) and was organized under the high patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty the King and president of the Supreme Council for Women (SCW). 

H.E Shaikha Hala’s participation comes as part of one of the conference’s themes, namely women’s relationships with their communities across cultures. Royal University for Women’s first annual research conference explores the dimensions and nuances of ‘Women and Society’. Employing multi and interdisciplinary approaches, this conference will be a platform to discuss the relationship between women and society in historical, social, legal and creative contexts. The key topics explored are: women in business and leadership, in creative environments, across cultures, legislation and human rights, innovation and technology.
H.E. Shaikha Hala spoke about her passion with arts and painting as a child when she took the decision to follow her dream of becoming an artist. In 1999 H.E. Shaikha Hala obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts, earned during a Five-Year Combined Degree program between Tufts and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA. H.E. continued her postgraduate education and graduated with an MA in Fine Arts from a UK university.

H.E expressed her pride and appreciation for her successful career in arts and the impact it had on her personal life. Indeed, keen to develop her management skills and explore the museum administration, H.E. Hala was appointed between the years of 2008-2010 in many positions at the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar, where she was nominated as the head of the Arts Education Department, and later, as the Museum Education Center director. Between 2011-2015, H.E. went through many posts and positions, such as Arts Center director and director of Creative Commons (matḥaf al-fann al-islāmī), Doha, which provided and still provides support and studios for artists in residence and helps them develop their artistic works. H.E presented a number of Qatar’s Islamic Art Museum acquisitions, art activities photos and events for children.
With regard to artistic and cultural programs and events, H.E Shaikha Hala stressed the importance of the family in encouraging children to explore the mysterious and magical world of arts. Children of all ages should be encouraged to develop creative artistic gifts and talents through education institutions concerned with art and creativity.
H.E also spoke about cultural programs planned by Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities concerning arts and creativity, such as the pioneering ‘Food is Culture’ project. H.E said, “It was an amazing experience whereby fine artists met, some for the first-time, with great chefs in Bahrain to create art masterpieces arousing our senses.”
Speaking about the unique art experiences offering artists a private space for inspiration and creative ideas, H.E Shaikha Hala said, “Creativity is born from a pen, words and a painting brush.” In fact, H.E’s works are influenced by the names of the masters of contemporary Arab art and by her own views on life and experiences, using different mediums to express her artistic language. H.E added saying that, “I went through a nice experience in Qatar; I revisited my original career as a painter working in my private space in a building of more than twenty art studios. I am very proud to have transformed the former Fire Station into Artists in Residence space.” H.E argued that Qatar Museums has made a huge mark on the artistic landscape not only in Doha but the entire region, and the residency project shows the importance of allocating a space and programs for young talent to grow.
At the end of her speech, H.E Shaikha Hala Al Khalifa praised the role of Royal University for Women for organizing this important conference, thanking the organizing committee and the academic and administrative staff. H.E also expressed her deep appreciation and gratitude to Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa for patronizing this event and for her relentless support for Bahraini women.
H.E Shaikha Hala Al Khalifa has addressed an invitation to all attendants to visit Bahrain’s Annual 24th Heritage Festival held in a special tent near Bahrain National Museum from 18-21 April 2016.