Manama: In a new achievement adding to the Kingdom of Bahrain's artistic and cultural record, young Bahraini photographers made a strong international showing as Bahrain ranked tenth in the first category (under 16 years) of the FIAP Youth Biennial for Photography, organised by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) with entries from 18 countries.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the accomplishment comes as the Kingdom hosts this international event for the first time, underscoring Bahrain's commitment to supporting young talent and promoting creativity in visual arts, while reinforcing its growing status as a promising regional hub for photography.
Shaikha Marwa bint Rashid Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Arts Society, expressed pride in the result, describing it as an important step in enhancing the Kingdom's presence on the international artistic map and a testament to the excellence of the new generation of Bahraini photographers. She commended the creativity shown by the participating students, extending appreciation to the Ministry of Education for its support and cooperation in enabling young talents to participate in this inspiring international experience.
Shaikha Marwa bint Rashid also expressed appreciation to the Society's Honorary President, Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, for his continuous support for the arts in Bahrain, emphasising that such backing remains essential to helping national talents reach global platforms of excellence. She highlighted the key role of the National Arts Council, chaired by Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa, in promoting artistic culture and supporting various art forms through initiatives that advance the visibility of Bahraini artists both locally and internationally, positioning the Kingdom as a nurturing environment for creativity and refined artistic expression.
Shaikha Marwa bint Rashid added that Bahrain will host the closing exhibition of the FIAP Youth Biennial in December, featuring the winning and selected works from participating countries, offering local and international audiences a unique opportunity to discover the visions and photographic creativity of youth from diverse cultures united by shared artistic aspirations.
The competition saw strong participation from leading young talents worldwide, with the Sultanate of Oman taking first place in the first category, followed by the Russian Federation in second and South Africa in third. In the second category, Oman again ranked first, followed by South Africa and the United States in second and third places respectively.