His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, presided over a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) on Wednesday at the Academy’s headquarters in University City, Sharjah.
H.H. Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Art Foundation and Vice Chair of SPAA, was also present.
The Ruler praised the Board for its continued guidance and oversight, which have significantly contributed to the Academy’s progress and numerous accomplishments. SPAA is widely recognised as a pioneering institution offering advanced and innovative training across a broad range of artistic and performing arts disciplines.
During the meeting, the Board discussed upcoming plans aimed at enhancing theatre, performing arts, and music education in Sharjah and the wider region. The discussions centred on adopting strategies that strengthen, modernise, and elevate the standards of specialised arts education.
The Board also reviewed the possibility of appointing notable international experts from various artistic fields to join its membership. This step is expected to boost the Board’s capabilities and broaden the range of disciplines offered in line with the Academy’s growth. Members further explored initiatives intended to support graduates in producing artistic and theatrical works in multiple languages, enabling them to apply their skills in real-world settings and participate in international festivals that highlight the Academy’s excellence and the talents of its students.
His Highness also took the opportunity to assess the progress of the new College of Music building, which is nearing completion and is set to become an important addition to the Sharjah Academy of Performing Arts.
During a tour of the site, he examined the architectural plans and received a detailed briefing on the building’s modern facilities, including advanced classrooms, training studios, a purpose-built theatre, and a range of amenities designed to meet top international engineering and educational standards for music programmes.
The meeting also included distinguished attendees such as Ismail Abdullah Ismail, Secretary-General of the Arab Theatre Institute; Dr. Habib Ghuloom Al Attar, Secretary-General of the Theatre Association; Dr. Peter Barlow, Executive Director of the Sharjah Academy of Performing Arts; Ahmed Mohammed Bu Rahima, Director of the Theatre Department at the Department of Culture; Dr. Yousef Abdullah Eidabi, Cultural Advisor at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre; Qassem Istambouli, founder of the Lebanese National Theatre; Dr. Nadia Al Hassani, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Sharjah; and Dr. Abeer Al Jundi.
(Inputs from WAM)
