ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the ongoing professional development of women artists in the Gulf region, with particular attention to the role that universities and grassroots educational foundations and arts collectives can play in both nurturing and launching contemporary women artists in the region. It discusses the opportunities, such as new programs and substantial public funding, and obstacles, including family pressures and cultural norms, faced by women artists in the region. It also examines the successes of long-term private and semi-governmental professional development organizations such as Tashkeel (Dubai), Warehouse 421 (Abu Dhabi) and the Fire Station (Doha) and discusses the role of galleries and biennials in supporting emerging women artists.
