Al Riwaq Art Space

Al Riwaq Art Space is a contemporary gallery on Al Guful Avenue in the Block 338 area of Adliya, Manama, Bahrain. Housed in a building known as Bank House 1, the space presents rotating exhibitions of Bahraini and regional artists, covering painting, photography, sculpture, installation and mixed media. It is free to enter and is listed by the Ministry of Culture as open daily from about 10:00 to 22:00, though visitors should confirm before going. The gallery is bright and uncluttered, so it is easy to move through the exhibitions in about an hour, reading wall labels in Arabic and English and talking with staff, who can explain the artists' backgrounds. Because the shows change regularly, repeat visitors often find something new, and openings are a good chance to meet local artists. The space sits among Block 338's cafes and restaurants, which makes it a natural stop before dinner, and late afternoon is the best time, with gentle light, fewer visitors and the district waking up. Weekday afternoons are quietest, while opening evenings can be busy. The street outside has murals and photogenic villa facades. Photography is usually permitted in the gallery without flash, but visitors should check the rules for individual shows and ask before photographing artworks marked as restricted. Visitors are asked to keep voices down and avoid touching works. A taxi or Careem from Bab Al Bahrain takes about ten minutes, and the gallery is close to Al Fateh Grand Mosque.