His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA), chaired, on Thursday, the Academy's Board of Trustees meeting, at the Academy's building in University City, Sharjah.

At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah welcomed the members and new joiners of the Board of Trustees. His Highness praised the Board's efforts in developing all aspects that contribute to advancing the Academy, its programmes, and its academic degrees. This is to ensure the success of the Academy's experience as a pioneer in its fields of study at the national and regional levels.

The Board discussed several topics and future plans for the Academy, ways to achieve them, and the efforts made to support the Academy and make it an educational institution that provides specialised, high-quality education to talented and creative students from within and outside the country.

The Board discussed SPAA progress in several areas, including its faculty, practical training for students, and improving and developing the educational environment. It also reviewed the Academy's efforts to expand its relationships with relevant entities through the signing of memoranda of understanding.

The Board reviewed the Academy's plans for graduating its 2025 students this June, approving several graduation decisions. The meeting also addressed plans to offer programs specialising in film studies and film production.

The Board discussed several topics related to the preparations for the opening of the Academy's College of Music, which is scheduled to begin at the beginning of the next academic year. Student admission criteria have been set to the highest standards. The meeting also discussed several plans to expand the field of music studies, offer specialiSed music courses for young people, and participate in international arts festivals.

On the sidelines of the meeting, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah received a commemorative plaque from the Lebanese National Theatre Festival, whose third edition's slogan was inspired by one of the famous works of the late Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi. A film about his life and immortal artistic experience was screened during the festival, and the plaque was signed by all the artists who participated in the third edition.