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OPEN CALL: Designers, Artisans, and Innovators! Kingdom of Bahrain Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka

We are excited to announce an exclusive opportunity for local designers, artisans, and businesses to showcase their products at the Kingdom of Bahrain Pavilion Gift Shop during Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan!

This is your chance to represent the creativity, craftsmanship, and entrepreneurial spirit of Bahrain on an international stage. Expo 2025 Osaka is expected to attract millions of visitors from across the globe, offering you an unparalleled platform to promote and sell your products to a diverse, global audience.

We invite submissions from talented individuals and brands across a variety of categories, including but not limited to:

• Stationery: ex. unique, handcrafted notebooks, cards, writing tools, etc.
• Homeware: ex. candles, pottery, kitchenware, vases, etc.
• Beauty: ex. cosmetics, skincare, oils, soaps, etc.
• Fashion: ex. apparel, scarves, bags, accessories, etc.
• Jewellery: ex. daily jewellery, rings, bracelets, earrings, etc.
• Children's Items: ex. toys, educational products, coloring books, story books, etc.

Whether you’re a seasoned brand or an emerging talent, this is an excellent opportunity to get your work in front of a global audience and celebrate Bahraini craftsmanship and innovation.

Submission Deadline: 7 October 2024


Gift Shop Overview

The Bahrain Pavilion gift shop at Expo 2025 Osaka offers a distinctive platform to showcase local products that celebrate Bahrain’s historical and contemporary relationship with the sea. As part of the pavilion’s theme, “Connecting Seas,” the gift shop highlights how Bahrain’s rich maritime heritage continues to inspire innovation and entrepreneurship in modern-day crafts and design.

Through a curated selection of products that blend tradition with modernity, the gift shop reflects the Kingdom’s ability to connect with the world through the sea, embracing both its past and its forward-looking vision for the future. Each item embodies Bahrain’s spirit of resilience, adaptability, and its drive to empower communities through shared cultural and economic exchange.


Expo 2025 Osaka Overview

Building on its successful participation in previous Expos, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is proud to announce the participation of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Expo 2025 Osaka, themed “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Expo 2025 will take place on Yumeshima Island, Osaka, from April 13, 2025, to October 13, 2025, and is expected to attract over 28 million visitors, providing Bahrain a unique opportunity to showcase its cultural legacy, innovation, and contemporary contributions to the global stage.

At Expo 2025, Bahrain’s pavilion will focus on the theme "Connecting Seas". This theme highlights Bahrain’s historical relationship with the sea, emphasizing the Kingdom’s enduring openness, connectivity, and resilience. Throughout the ages, Bahrain’s strategic maritime location has facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and economic growth, making the Kingdom a vital hub between East and West. The pavilion will explore the evolving role of the sea in Bahrain’s history—from ancient trade routes to modern economic developments—and its ongoing importance in shaping sustainable coastal cities of the future.

The pavilion’s design and exhibitions will embody Bahrain’s commitment to sustainability, focusing on environmentally conscious architecture and showcasing innovative solutions to the rising challenges of climate change and sea level rise. By incorporating elements inspired by traditional dhow craftsmanship and Japanese carpentry, the pavilion will also reflect Bahrain’s commitment to reusability and environmental responsibility.

Visitors will experience Bahrain’s unique story of resilience and forward-looking innovation through an immersive journey that blends the nation’s historical past with its ambitious vision for the future.


Criteria for Submission

We are committed to curating a high-quality collection of products that reflect the diversity, craftsmanship, and spirit of Bahrain. Please follow the criteria below carefully:

 

Eligibility Criteria:
• Submissions are open to all citizens and residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
• Applicants must be 18 years or older.
• Only one proposal per applicant will be accepted.
• All products must be original creations and adhere to Bahraini cultural and ethical standards.
• Products should be ready for retail (not prototypes), and must include necessary product information (ex. ingredients for food items, materials used, etc.).


Proposal Submission

The application form is to be completed online on www.culture.gov.bh.

Submissions must include:
Brief Introduction: Maximum 500 words about yourself, your business, and your product line.
• Product Description: Provide a clear and concise description of each product.
• Product Images: High-quality images of your products (front, back, and detail shots).
• Materials and Ingredients: A detailed list of materials or ingredients used in each product.
• Cost Breakdown (in BHD): A detailed price breakdown of the products, including retail and wholesale price

 

Additional Submission Guidelines:
• Ensure that all product information (descriptions, materials, and images) is complete and accurate.
• All proposals must be submitted in PDF format.
• Any missing or incomplete submissions may be disqualified from the selection process.

The deadline to submit is 7 October 2024, 11:59 p.m. (Bahrain Local Time).


Evaluation Criteria

The selection committee will review submissions based on the following:
1. Authenticity: Products must be authentically represent Bahraini craftsmanship or innovation.
2. Quality: Only high-quality, retail-ready products will be considered.
3. Innovation: We encourage creative, modern interpretations of Bahraini traditions and culture.
4. Feasibility: The product must be suitable for a retail environment and ready for production and sale.
5. Marketability: Products must have the potential to appeal to international visitors.


Terms and Conditions

1. Submissions are open to all citizens and residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
2. Applicants must be 18 years or older.
3. Only one proposal per applicant.
4. Applicants must include clear images, detailed materials/ingredients, and pricing breakdowns of all products in the proposal.
5. The acceptance of proposals is not guaranteed. The selection committee reserves the right to accept or reject any submission at its discretion.
6. All applicants must ensure the authenticity and originality of their products. Any form of plagiarism or copyright infringement will lead to disqualification.

 

By submitting a proposal, applicants confirm:
• They are the creators and rightful owners of the submitted products.
• They understand and accept the evaluation and selection process as outlined above.


Notifications

Applicants will receive a confirmation email once their proposal has been successfully submitted. Selected applicants will be contacted directly for further discussions.

Should you have any inquiries, please contact us on BahrainExpoOsaka@culture.gov.bh

Participation Form