99

Since the 2000s, Gulf countries have developed their artistic and cultural scenes as instruments of soft power, integrating art and culture into their communication strategies and the construction of a national narrative. In Bahrain, this process has fostered the emergence of a dynamic and multi-scalar artistic landscape, where various actors—cultural institutions, private galleries, and artist-run spaces—contribute to the evolution and diversification of the sector. This article explores the dynamics of Bahrain’s artistic field by highlighting the interactions and forms of collaboration, as well as the tensions, interdependencies, and forms of resistance that shape it. Based on fieldwork conducted between 2018 and 2022, it examines the role of cultural institutions, private galleries, and artist-run spaces, shedding light on the strategies adopted by artists to navigate between institutional support, the pursuit of visibility, and aspirations for greater autonomy.