Launch of Afaq Academy for Arts and Culture in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Culture
In a strategic move reflecting the deep integration between government sectors to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, inaugurated the “Afaq Academy for Arts and Culture” on Wednesday. This launch comes in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and coincides with the conclusion of the third edition of the “Cultural Skills” competition, which has become a leading national platform for discovering and developing the creative talents of male and female students across the Kingdom.
An integrated partnership to build the future
During the launch ceremony, the Minister of Culture emphasized that this strategic partnership between the culture and education sectors is not merely a protocolary collaboration, but rather a fundamental element in the Ministry's journey towards building national capabilities in various cultural and artistic fields. His Highness explained that true and sustainable investment begins with people, specifically from the early stages of education, by discovering, nurturing, and empowering latent talents to contribute effectively to enhancing the Kingdom's standing in the global arenas of creativity and innovation.
The Ministry of Culture indicated via its official account on the “X” platform that the academy aims to explore new educational dimensions to develop cultural skills and enhance creative abilities, inviting students to join the journey of creativity at the #Afaq_Academy_for_Arts_and_Culture.
An environment that fosters creativity
The Afaq Academy is a pivotal step towards building an integrated educational and cultural system, designed to provide a stimulating environment for learning and artistic practice. The academy aims to instill values of belonging, excellence, and responsibility in its students, ensuring the graduation of a generation aware of the importance of culture and the arts as an integral part of national identity.
The Minister of Culture congratulated the winners of the Cultural Skills Competition, expressing his gratitude to all partners in the education system for this partnership, which is perfectly in line with the aspirations of the wise leadership to create a vibrant society and a thriving economy.
Vision context and human capacity development
The launch of this academy comes within the framework of the "Human Capabilities Development" program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to prepare globally competitive citizens. Integrating culture and the arts into the educational system is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for honing soft skills and fostering critical and creative thinking in young people.
Historically, the Kingdom has witnessed unprecedented cultural activity in recent years, transforming culture from a marginal sector into a key driver of development. Since its inception, the Ministry of Culture has worked to bridge the gap between educational outcomes and the needs of the growing cultural market, and this academy serves as the bridge connecting talent with professionalism.
Expected economic and social impact
The Afaq Academy for Arts and Culture is expected to play a pivotal role in bolstering the Kingdom's creative economy. By developing young Saudi talent, the academy will contribute to supplying the local market with creative individuals in the fields of theater, music, visual arts, and literature, thereby reducing reliance on foreign expertise and strengthening local content.
Moreover, this project has a significant social impact, as it enhances the quality of life and creates diverse cultural and recreational options, thus consolidating the Kingdom’s position as a regional and international cultural destination, and preserving the Saudi cultural heritage by presenting it in modern forms that keep pace with global changes.
