The launch is part of the Centre’s activities for National Reading Month 2022.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT - Abu Dhabi), has launched the ‘Integrated Creative Writing Programme’ as part of its activities for National Reading Month 2022.

The programme aims to strengthen young talent across various literary disciplines, empowering them to develop their capabilities and produce distinguished works. It offers a series of year-round training programmes and courses, introducing participants to various literary fields, namely, novel writing, short stories, social media writing, children’s books, journalism and article writing, and literary criticism. The list also includes numerous other creative fields, such as scriptwriting for theatre and cinema, critical writing, and biography writing, in addition to manuscript reviewing.

Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, acting executive director of the ALC, said: “The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre is committed to investing in young people’s capabilities. It is the largest segment of the population and we are confident there is a lot of talent and creativity in this generation. Facilitating Arabic content creation and empowering talented people is a major part of our development plans, and with that mind, we launched the ‘Integrated Creative Writing Programme’ during National Reading Month. This brings the initiative in line with the UAE’s strategy to empower individuals and enhance their knowledge; they are the very foundation of our development. We are dedicated to our role in upskilling and supporting creative talents, allowing them to supply libraries with their works in the future, drive cultural movement with their achievements, and advance and promote Arab culture.”

“Creative arts – whether literary, scientific, or intellectual in nature – are powerful nation-building instruments. There can be no development without prioritising education, and supporting our human capital,” Al Tunaiji added. “We are not starting from scratch; we have solid foundations to build on, which include a deeply entrenched Arab culture, the Arabic language, and a long legacy of accomplishments in novel writing, poetry, prose, theatre, cinema, and manuscript studies. This compels us to keep searching for promising models to reinvigorate our cultural movement and use it as a launchpad for dialogue with cultures and peoples around the world.”

Joining the ‘Integrated Creative Writing Programme’ can be done through its ALC official website.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre organised a series of events and activities throughout National Reading Month, designed to promote a culture of reading, empower the community, and provide access to various sources of knowledge. The Centre set a busy schedule for the month-long event, which included seminars, lectures, workshops, and cultural and knowledge events targeting all segments of the community.

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