King Saud University and Ministry of Culture Launch Saudi Arabia's First College of Arts

RIYADH - In a groundbreaking move aimed at fostering cultural education and development, King Saud University in Riyadh, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, has inaugurated the country's first-ever College of Arts. The launch ceremony, held at the university's theater on Sunday, drew the attendance of Deputy Minister of Culture Hamed Fayez, University President Dr. Badran Al-Omar, and numerous cultural enthusiasts from across the Kingdom.

Deputy Minister Fayez emphasized the College of Arts as a testament to the commitment of Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, to education and its vital role in fostering cultural growth within the framework of Vision 2030. Reflecting on the minister's dedication to education, Fayez stated, "'Education comes first,' His Highness the Minister emphasized on my first day at the Ministry of Culture. Since then, we have worked tirelessly with the education and training ecosystem to develop programs and projects that build cultural capacities across different learning stages, from early education to supporting professionals in the workforce."

The establishment of the College of Arts signifies a monumental stride towards the advancement of higher cultural education in Saudi Arabia, projected to greatly contribute to national cultural development. It aims to lay the foundation for an academic pathway that is instrumental in nurturing creative talents and enhancing the cultural landscape on a broader scale.

Deputy Minister Fayez further underscored that the launch of the College of Arts is part of the strategic partnership between the Ministry of Culture and King Saud University. This collaboration, aimed at achieving the objectives of the National Culture Strategy and the Strategy for Developing Cultural Capabilities, seeks to cater to the needs of the cultural workforce and supply cultural professions with highly skilled individuals, thereby enabling the sector to achieve ambitious national targets.

The College of Arts, which commences with three new departments - Design, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts, represents just the initial phase of ongoing cultural and scientific cooperation between King Saud University and other esteemed national institutions, Fayez affirmed.

Following the ceremony, attendees had the opportunity to explore an exhibition that showcased the Saudi cultural sector and highlighted the opportunities provided by the Ministry of Culture for students to develop their skills and pursue careers in cultural professions. The exhibition also shed light on the objectives behind establishing Saudi Arabia's first College of Arts, including offering high-quality specialized academic programs aligned with national and international standards, fostering a supportive environment for research and innovation, attracting exceptional and talented students through specific admission criteria, equipping graduates with technical, scientific, and professional skills, and conducting specialized scientific research and studies in the arts.

The College of Arts encompasses a range of scientific cultural departments, such as the Design department, which focuses on graphic design, fashion, and jewelry; the Performing Arts department, offering programs in theater, cinema, and music sciences; and the Visual Arts department, dedicated to the teaching of printing, drawing, sculpture, and Arabic calligraphy.

The Ministry of Culture and its cultural bodies are committed to supporting the College of Arts by providing expertise in these fields, assisting with curriculum development, supporting faculty members, offering training programs for students, and meeting the college's requirements.

The establishment of the College of Arts is just one of several projects initiated under the cooperation agreement signed in December 2021 between the Ministry of Culture and King Saud University. This partnership involves the Ministry and cultural bodies including the Fashion Commission, Heritage Commission, Music Commission, Film Commission, Visual Arts Commission, and Theater and Performing Arts Commission as expertise houses. Together, they provide support to the university in various areas of cooperation, including specialties and curricula, student affairs, research and publications, faculty members, events and symposiums, cultural professions, cultural programs, business incubators and accelerators, and cultural asset activation.

Through this partnership with King Saud University, the Ministry of Culture aims to establish specialized educational pathways in cultural and artistic fields, address the cultural sector's demand for qualified domestic professionals, increase the number of academic specialists in various cultural professions, and nurture qualified national leaders and competencies.