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The Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities’ selection of ‘Your Destination Bahrain’ as the slogan for the year 2016 was driven by the intent to promote the island, unravel its glorious past and explore its exceptional natural landscapes and its distinctive modern character. Bahrain National Museum plays a pivotal role in this trend as a leading cultural institution in the country as it continues to gather all the elements of local cultural manifestations and events from the Arab region or the world at large. The building is one of the finest museums of its kind in the Gulf region. Over the years, Bahrain National Museum has played a key role in preserving Bahrain’s heritage and culture and has served as a center for the promotion of Bahrain’s ancient Dilmun heritage and for the development of the arts. The temporary exhibition halls have hosted a myriad of international exhibitions, reaching out to the local and international community.

A Myriad of local and international, art and historical exhibitions

Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities has masterminded and acquired a series of exceptional exhibitions at the Arts Hall, including art masterpieces and works by famous pioneers of the Bahraini art movement and modern artists. As the visitor enters the Hall, he is attracted by the abstract paintings of H.E Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Interior Ministry Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs, and Honorary President for Bahrain Arts Society. Then, the visitor travels in the magic world of sensational art acquisitions, ranging from paintings, photography, sculpture and impressionism masterpieces by artists such as the late Dr. Ahmad Al Baqer, Abdullah Al Muharraqi, Balqees Fakhro, Abdulrahim Sharif, Ibrahim bu Saad, Adnan Ahmad, Khalil Al Hashemi, Mariyam Haji, Waheeda Malallah, Zoheir Said, Marwa Rachid and others.

The temporary and visiting exhibitions’ Hall actually is hosting special photo exhibition titled ‘Spitfire’ that will showcase and highlight the most prominent periods of UK-Bahrain relations with regard to the long-standing aviation relationship between the two nations. The exhibition was inaugurated on 23 May 2016 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa may God protect him, and will run until next October. The exhibition comes as part of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities celebration of the 200th anniversary of the close relationship between Bahrain and the UK, in cooperation with BAE Systems and British Royal Air Force. The centerpiece of the exhibition is the iconic super marine Spitfire, probably the most famous fighter aircraft in history, which first flew 80 years ago. This is the aircraft that defended the skies during the Second World War, including that of Bahrain. This Spitfire is on loan to the Bahrain National Museum from the RAF Museum, in partnership with BAE Systems. A number of other aircraft are on display in the exhibition, including the Anson, designed and built in the North West of England by Avro, was used to establish the Gulf Aviation Company in 1950 which today has become Gulf Air, the national airline of Bahrain; and the Vickers VC-10 was used for commercial flights into Bahrain by the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) from 1964 and by Gulf Air in the 1970s.

Wandering around Bahrain National Museum, the visitor can also enjoy an exhibition titled ‘Intersections’, organized by Bahrain’s Authority for Culture & Antiquities in celebration of World Museum Day, showcasing temporary exhibitions at Dilmun, Tylos and Islamic period halls. The exhibition will run until 31 December 2016 and will attract visitors by integrating modern technologies into exhibition techniques. By adding new artifacts and redeploying existent ones, this exhibit illustrates new arguments in new contexts, hence permitting additional interpretations. The exhibition presents 139 new displays, such as jars, metal pieces, jewelry, and geographical maps shown for the first-time, which are the results of the last excavations made in many areas in Bahrain (Jabal-Al Dokhan, Sar, Al-Maqshaa, Karranah, Al-Marekh, Al-Janabia, Hamad Town and A’ali). The exhibition also attempts to establish a link between the showcased artifacts and their wider contexts of discovery and how the recent discoveries add to the whole picture beautifully painted in the three permanent halls (Dilmun, Tylos and Islamic Periods).

Preparations for Future Cultural Activities

While works to dismantle the tent at the courtyard of Bahrain National Museum are underway, Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities is working on its new cultural agenda for the coming year. In addition, boat trips from the Bahrain National Museum to Bu Maher Fort located in Muharraq, starting point for the project ‘Pearling: Testimony of an Island Economy’, will resume after dismantling the tent throughout the week. BACA is also planning exceptional events in celebration of the 28th anniversary of the Bahrain National Museum next December, by rescheduling ‘Manama Nuit Blanche’, ‘Sleepless Manama’ event for the 4th time.