Riyadh: The Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, has unveiled the "Arts and Culture Academy," marking the first government-operated school of its kind in the Kingdom. This initiative is designed to identify, support, and cultivate cultural talents among students within the general education system.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the academy is set to commence operations in its inaugural year in the cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. It will admit students in the fourth grade of primary school and first grade of intermediate school, focusing on those who exhibit talent in cultural and artistic disciplines such as drawing, theater and acting, music performance, and singing.

The institution will merge accredited academic curricula with specialized cultural programs, creating a vibrant learning environment. Initially, the academy will target primary and intermediate students with an expansion plan to include all educational levels and extend its reach to additional regions across the Kingdom.

The curriculum at the academy will feature the standard courses approved by the Ministry of Education, complemented by rigorous cultural programs. The comprehensive daily schedule will be divided into two sessions: academic subjects in the morning and cultural programs in the afternoon.

The Arts and Culture Academy is scheduled to launch in the academic year 2025/2026 with two locations: Al-Nakheel district in Riyadh for boys and Al-Sheraa district in Jeddah for girls. The admission process will involve three stages: online registration, a performance evaluation and personal interview, and notification of admission results. Admission is dependent on passing all evaluation stages and the availability of seats.