Abu Dhabi: More than a week since it was launched, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development’s cultural summer programme has already drawn a high number of registrations, as the programme aims to keep young students busy during their spare time in the summer,

The programme, which will continue till August 10, will hold more than 90 workshops on a range of topics such as creative writing, music, and theatrical arts among many others with the goal of allowing young students a chance to express their creative talents. The programme will also include tours and visits to historical and archaeological sites in the country.

“The national programme ‘cultural summer’, with its specialised workshops, creators, authors, theatrical and musical artists, will not only utilise students spare time during the summer holidays, it will also identify creative, artistic and literary hobbies of students aged between 7 to 17 and invest them in a scientific way,” said Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.

Shaikh Nahyan further added that the ministry wanted to turn its cultural centres around the country into incubators of spreading knowledge.

“Our goal is to transform the cultural and knowledge centres of the ministry across the country into hubs playing an important role in building a knowledge-based society in the literal sense of the word,” he said.

Detailing some aspects of the summer programme, Shaikh Nahyan said that 38 specialists would be involved for the workshops, with the workshops divided into specific and more general themes.

Shaikh Nahyan also emphasised that it was a strategic policy and commitment of the UAE to promote culture and heritage, and to provide an avenue for young people to turn their passion and hobbies into real skills that could benefit the country.

“We, in the United Arab Emirates, are proud of the wise vision of the leaders of this beloved country and their interest in culture and knowledge and their role in nurturing young talents and supporting their creative abilities,” he said.

Culture summer programme

Where: Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development centres

When: Running until August 10

Who can register: Students aged from 7-17 years old, application form can be found on the ministry’s official page: https://mckd.gov.ae/sites/mcycdvar/en-us/pages/summerprogram2017.aspx