Shoura council urges culture ministry to expand music and cinema programs, calls for arts school independence

Saudi Gazette

3 days ago

Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — The Shoura Council on Monday called on the Ministry of Culture to broaden its academic programs in music, cinema, theater, and performing arts, while also working toward full financial and administrative independence for its cultural commissions to ensure their sustainability and effectiveness.
During its 39th regular session, the council urged the ministry's Museums Commission to upgrade exhibits at the National Museum to reflect recent archaeological discoveries, and called for an annual publishing plan for Saudi literary works.
It also encouraged coordination with the Ministry of Education to revive school theater programs and stimulate domestic theatrical activity.
The council issued several other recommendations across government sectors. It asked the National Center for Mental Health Promotion to establish a unified national framework to accredit public and private mental health providers and monitor psychological consultation apps, and to support school health awareness efforts in partnership with the Ministry of Health.
Regarding the National Institute for Educational Professional Development, the council proposed recognizing teacher preparation programs in employment standards and called for the formation of professional learning communities in schools.It also pressed the General Authority for Competition to implement preemptive deterrents against anti-competitive practices and urged faster integration with the government's 'Etimad' platform.Separately, it called on the General Authority for Statistics to enhance the release of economic and development data and coordinate to boost Saudi talent placement in global organizations.The council advocated for attracting and localizing Saudi capital abroad to align with domestic investment opportunities, and advised resolving overlapping jurisdictions to improve the investment climate ahead of Expo 2030.On sports, the council asked the Sports Boulevard Foundation to comply with Cabinet reporting guidelines and improve services at its facilities.It also reviewed the Ministry of Health's annual report, recommending equal healthcare access, better availability of essential medicines, and direct user feedback through the 'Sehhaty' app.Members emphasized improving capabilities at specialty hospitals in remote areas and incentivizing skilled staff.They also proposed new regulatory frameworks for healthcare practitioners creating media content and stricter oversight of health content on social platforms.Further suggestions included enabling remote consultations with central hospitals, and developing medical wellness resorts to utilize Saudi Arabia's natural assets for sustainable economic and healthcare benefits.In education and investment, the council called on the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to evolve regional incentive frameworks and align with local sectoral priorities.It also urged the Ministry of Sports to fast-track club privatization, expand school and university sports, and foster talent pipelines tied to professional athletics.Members stressed the need for greater private investment in sports, enhanced sports medicine, and a professional media ecosystem to support Saudi Arabia's global sporting ambitions.They called for a youth-focused strategy for community and competitive sports, and for nurturing talent across all age categories to elevate Saudi athletes on the global stage.