Art gets boost as paintings, theatre gain popularity in Oman

Muscat: The art scene has been getting a boost in Oman with increasingly more artists simultaneously getting opportunities and gaining audiences.
This was confirmed by data revealed by the official Twitter handle of the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), which suggests that paintings and theatre were becoming increasingly popular among Omanis and expats in the Sultanate.
Taking interest
There has been an increase in the number of paintings being displayed in Oman, besides an increase in the number of people taking an interest and visiting these art exhibitions, according to NCSI data. “As many as 950 paintings and drawings were displayed in the Sultanate by the end of 2017, a rise of 19 per cent by the end of 2016,” NCSI tweeted.
“Some 15,750 visitors went to art exhibitions in the Sultanate by the end of 2017, a rise of 3 per cent by the end of 2016,” another NCSI tweet read.
“As many as 912 Omani artists participated in fine arts exhibitions by the end of 2017,” NCSI added.
Moreover, there were more takers for theatre in the Sultanate, with more than a 300 per cent spike in the number of plays being performed in the country.
“Some 132 is the number of theatre performances in the Sultanate by the end of 2017. The number registered is three times higher than that reported at the end of 2016,” NCSI added.