A series of ‘Master Classes’ will be held for the first time at the annual Gulf International Exhibition for Interiors, Design and Furniture (Gulf Interiors 2012) in Bahrain next April.

The Master Classes are being planned for visitors, said Bahrain-based Hilal Conferences & Exhibitions (HCE) which is organising the show scheduled for April 24 to 26 at the Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Centre. The event will feature companies from across the design and interior sector.

These include specialists in contract and residential furniture, interior design services and contracting, textiles and upholstery fabrics, beds and bedding, floorings and wall coverings, lighting, kitchens and bathrooms, art and accessories, ceramics, marble and granite, outdoor living, hospitality and office interiors.

Specialists from Bahrain, the Middle East and around the world are expected to participate in Gulf Interiors 2012 which builds on the highly successful 2010 debut, HCE said.

The Master Classes, which will feature workshops and presentations from experts on topics such as colour coordination and fabric selection, are being introduced in response to strong consumer interest shown in the inaugural Gulf Interiors show.

HCE managing director Jubran Abdulrahman said: 'The interiors sector is important from both a retail and wholesale perspective, and attracts interest whatever the economic climate. Increased spending on hospitality and leisure projects in the Gulf, as well as the construction of new housing units in the region, affords ample opportunity for interiors-related businesses of all sizes to leverage the benefits of large investment programmes.'

HCE conference director Ahmed Suleiman added: 'We understand that in the interiors business the consumer, as the end-use customer, accounts for a significant proportion of visitors attending Gulf Interiors. With this in mind, we hope our newly-introduced ‘Master Classes’ add a practical element to the show and enable visitors to become more knowledgeable buyers.'

More information on the show is available at www.gulfinteriorsexhibition.com