Afaq Academy For Arts And Culture Inaugurated By Ministers In Riyadh

The Afaq Academy for Arts and Culture was inaugurated by the Ministries of Culture and Education, with Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan in attendance. This event coincided with the closing ceremony of the Cultural Skills Competition at the academy's headquarters in Riyadh, drawing cultural and educational leaders.

The academy is a groundbreaking initiative in Saudi Arabia, aiming to nurture artistic talents among public school students. It combines academic curricula with specialised programs in visual, musical, and performing arts. This approach offers students an innovative learning experience that merges knowledge with creativity.

The Cultural Skills Competition celebrated student creativity during its third edition. Launched by both ministries, this national competition seeks to identify and nurture talented students across all levels of public education. The winners were announced in various categories such as theater, singing, digital art, instrumental music, handicrafts, photography, short story, film, and manga.

In its initial phase, the academy has been established in Riyadh for boys and Jeddah for girls. It targets students in the fourth grade of elementary school and the first year of middle school. Over time, it plans to expand to include all levels of public education throughout Saudi Arabia.

The academy boasts modern facilities including theaters and specialised studios. These are designed to provide a balanced educational environment that inspires creativity and excellence among students. The aim is to equip them with skills that will enhance their artistic abilities.

At the conclusion of the Cultural Skills Competition ceremony, registration opened for the competition's fourth edition. This marks another step towards fostering artistic talent among young learners in Saudi Arabia.

This initiative represents a significant advancement at both national and regional levels. As the first institution of its kind in the Kingdom, it sets a comprehensive model for cultivating artistic talents among public school students.

With inputs from SPA