Bahrain: Adliya’s   popular dining district has been transformed into a haven for lovers of art and food.

The Nest 2015, organised by Al Riwaq Art Space, sprawls across block 338 in Adliya and incorporates outdoor installations, art pieces and food stalls as well as workshops, film screenings and concerts.

Project manager Mercedes Gonzalez Degaray told the GDN that this year’s affair was more challenging to put together than
previous years. 

“It was very, very challenging because we fully merged Alwan 338 and Market 338,” she said. 

“So we have almost 20 Bahraini and international artists, plus 19 designers, food vendors and craftsmen from Bahrain and the region.

“We’re extending the programme by five weeks: We now have music programme on Thursdays and film screenings on Fridays.

“The films were designed especially by Sharjah Art Foundation, and they’ve only done it in the Museum of Modern Art
in New York before.

“So having it in Bahrain is a great
opportunity.

“We transformed the park into a playground for children, as well as a café.

“We designed and transformed the whole neighbourhood, and we’re running activities for children every Friday 5pm to 7pm and Saturday 11am to 1pm.”

She said the main aim of the event was to bring people together to celebrate the history of gathering in the streets of Bahrain. 

“The most important thing is bringing everyone together,” she said.

“We aim to create a community-driven event, to have fun in the streets, to reclaim the streets again, to know that the streets of Bahrain are beautiful, to change some habits of life we have.

“We want to try to be more green, more sustainable, get people to know their neighbours – there are things that have been lost in Bahrain and it’s a shame and we need to bring it back.”

Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa visited the festival and
applauded the variety.

“Having events like this is important because it encourages tourism and you can clearly see how people enjoy themselves,” he said.

“It’s also very close to National Day, so next week’s event will coincide and it’ll be a good part of the celebrations.

“All the families are out, but it’s also a youth-driven event, with lots of young people involved, taking part or attending.” 

The Generous Light Company co-founder Karima Sharabi, who has a stall at the event, said that it was an essential part of the art scene in Bahrain.

“We wanted to take part in The Nest because this market is such an important part of the art scene in Bahrain,” she said.

“It’s not just crafts, it’s also artists that take part and they are putting their art on different product to make it available for people.

“Al Riwaq changed and shaped the art scene in Bahrain through this event.

“The company is still young and we’ve been doing good, but there’s been a lot of trial and error to understand what people like, what sells and what doesn’t.

“We want to be able to source more things in Bahrain, it’s so much better that way, having an all-Bahraini product.

“We also have specially designed bracelets and all proceeds from its sale will go to the Sadalsuud Foundation, a non-profit organisation supporting educational opportunities for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.”

Shop Bahrain promoter Enas Shukallah explained that this year’s Taste Tour encompassed restaurants around the block.

“For the Taste Tour, a number of restaurants are taking part every weekend, at BD3 each,” she said.

“You go to the restaurant and they give you a platter of their best dishes, and you rate each one
from 1 to 5.”

The restaurants taking part are Beijing, Café Amsterdam, Century, La Cucina, Lanterns, Mino’s, Nicoles, Passion, Russo’s, Salad Boutique, The Hot Spot, The Houseboat and Vinoteca
Barcelona. 

The Nest will run every weekend until January 9, 2016. 

For more information, visit www.alriwaqartspace.com or on Instagram @alriwaq.

laala@gdn.com.bh