There has been an increase in public galleries exhibiting modern art in Saudi Arabia. This is supported by the influx of commercial galleries in the country and a growing grass-roots movement of artists which have acquired international status. Saudi Arabia is making its mark on the contemporary art scene and at the centre of this are women. These artists are noted for pushing at existing boundaries in the socially conservative country. Their work is largely feminist in nature—posing questions on the current political climate and women’s rights. They question existing parameters and challenge proposed gender roles and social norms and use art to express injustices in order to give voice to an otherwise marginalized group. Origins The scene began in Saudi Arabia's Asir Province where Prince Khalid Al Faisal, himself a poet and artist, inaugurated a cultural center that promoted young fresh talents. It was from this project that one of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent contemporary artists, Ahmed Mater, emerged. The coastal town of Jeddah also saw the emergence of a grass-roots art scene, where artists incorporated media outlets such as photography and video technology, which enabled their work to make a transitional path through to the global art scene. Under King Abdullah, the Saudi Arabian government has encouraged women to have better work and educational opportunities. In September (2011) the government stated that in the future women would be able to vote in the Shura Council, the appointed consultative council that advises the king and advocate women’s rights in the kingdom. This has set into motion a burgeoning movement of female artists expressing themselves in the artistic domain. Manal Al Dowayan, an artist central to the movement, claims that their art gives them a voice otherwise denied them to express themselves in a society where they have little opportunity to do so. Women are typically considered dependents and are often contingent on male guardians. They are subject to male guardianship laws which oblige them to seek permission from their husbands, fathers or even sons to work, travel, study and many other activities. Important shows Nabatt Nabatt: A Sense of Being (2010) is an exhibition of contemporary art from Saudi Arabia. It is presented by the Saudi Arabian Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. Amongst the artists exhibiting, it features works by Shadia & Raja Alem, Reem Al Faisal, Lulwah Al Homoud, Jowhara Al Saud, Noha Al-Sharif & Maha Mullah.