His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, President of the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA), announced the establishment of an association for graduates of the academy in the Emirate of Sharjah, to follow up and care for graduates everywhere, provide them with the necessary support and strengthen their enduring relationship with Sharjah.

His Highness’s words came while addressing, Sunday morning, a graduation ceremony of the first batch of students from the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, which was held at the Academy’s Theatre. 

"These numbers of graduates may dissolve in societies that do not value theatre, or may not have theatres. Considering this, we establish the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy Alumni Association, which will be based in Sharjah, and every graduate of this academy can consider it as his or her home, and we will give all care to them, and we hope that they will always be with us, sharing our joys and sorrows, and we will be of help to them at all times. We hope their graduation is the beginning of setting their feet on a path filled with warmth that receives them at any time,” His Highness said.

Noting the continuous increase in the number of students affiliated with the academy, His Highness said: “ At the opening of the Academy, 16 male and female students had been accepted, and I said  we would start with this number because “a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”, and indeed, we started, and that beginning was the fruit of today’s graduates. Next year, the number of graduates will be greater to reach 250 male and female graduates, and year after year, the numbers will increase more and more.”

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah talked about the beginnings of the idea and work of establishing the academy, and the efforts and keenness of His Highness to set a clear vision and message for it, which brought about this success and excellence, praising the efforts of the academy director who managed the academy with love and belief in the important message of arts and theatre.

Pointing to the College of Music, His Highness said it would soon join the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, wishing to see the college graduates with their colleagues from other disciplines.

During his speech, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah extended his thanks and appreciation to the parents of the graduates, saying: “I would like to thank the fathers and mothers of the graduates who have entrusted their children to our care, and for me personally, they are like my sons and daughters, and our relationship with them continued for four continuous years, during which we kept asking about them and about their performance, their studies, their health, and their travels, and here we are today reaping the fruit.”

His Highness, the President of the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, also congratulated the graduates, wishing them success and a safe return to their homelands.

His Highness also extended his thanks and appreciation to the teaching staff of the Academy, who toiled for four continuous years training and equipping the students with the necessary qualification and tools, which was evident during the directing, performance and acting of the Nimrod play, which highlighted their activity, knowledge and performance style.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah concluded his speech by directing the authorities concerned with theatre and the arts in the Emirate of Sharjah to attract and support graduates through involving them in the various theatrical celebrations and festivals the emirate organises.