His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, affirmed that the huge turnout for registration witnessed over the past few days for the courses and workshops in the fields of theatrical arts, music, creative writing of poetry, stories or novels and visual arts, launched as part of the national program “Cultural Summer” organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development across its centers, reflects the utmost trust of parents and students in the ministry’s programs and initiatives. The Ministry, through its initiatives, aims is to invest and develop the talents and abilities of students to introduce to the UAE society real talents worthy of raising the the name of the UAE in various fields locally and internationally. Sheikh Nahyan further explained that the discovery of talents and its care, in addition to community’s cultural development falls within the strategic goals of the ministry and is one of its main messages of promoting the values of knowledge and culture within the UAE society. “The national program “cultural summer”, with its specialized workshops , creators, authors, theatrical and musical artists, does not only aim to occupy students spare time in the summer holiday, it rather aims is to identify creative, artistic and literary hobbies of students aged between 7 to 17 and invest them in a scientific way. Thus, help such students turn their hobbies into real creative works and pave the way for them to invest and development their talents.”, noted Sheikh Nahyan who further stressed that creativity begins to show in such young ages which explains the keenness of the ministry to attract a large number of experts and innovators to help students develop their potential in an organized way over the course of six weeks. His Excellency explained that the program can be categorized as one large workshop through which the most creative and talented students in the four fields set by the ministry, are qualified to be part of a year-long program which will enable them to develop their skills, and eventually introduce a real innovator and an addition to the developed cultural, artistic and knowledge scene of the UAE. Sheikh Nahyan called on parents to follow up with the organizers of the program to identify the development of their children in the various phases of the program, which will continue until the 10nth of August. “Our goal is to transform the cultural and knowledge centers 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. With 38 specialists in the fields of theater, creative writing, visual arts and music who will train students through more than 38 main workshops and more than 57 general workshops in various fields, in addition to cultural, archaeological and touristic trips to various archaeological, heritage and artistic sites in the country.” pointed out Sheikh Nahyan. HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak added that the focus on the development of cultural and artistic talents is one of the most important foundations of the Ministry’s work, considering “knowledge development” to be the basis of a knowledge based society, in which knowledge production , dissemination and application is an important basis for the development of national wealth, the support of comprehensive renaissance and an essential tool in the achievement of progress in all areas of human activity and deepening the efficiency and effectiveness of individual behavior throughout different stages of life. “We, in the United Arab Emirates, are proud of the wise vision of the leaders of this beloved country and their interest in the status of culture and knowledge and their role in nurturing young talents and supporting their creative abilities. I highly appreciate the sincere efforts and support of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and their brothers Rulers of the UAE, to achieve successful cultural and knowledge development throughout the country.” On the other hand, all the cultural centers of the Ministry in Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Dibba Al Fujairah, Masafi, Ras Al Khaimah and Al Dhafra, organized an open day to welcome students participating in the program, which is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development under the patronage of HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. Cultural centers were also keen to receive parents of students and provide them with all the information about the details and timing of the program and answer all their questions about the role of the program in the development of the abilities, talents and hobbies of their children.