RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture has opened nominations for the National Cultural Awards Initiative. 

The public can submit their nominations for those who have achieved excellence in various cultural sectors by Thursday. 

This can be done through the electronic platform dedicated to the fourth National Cultural Awards Initiative via the link: https://ncajp.moc.gov.sa/.

After the deadline, there will be a sorting, evaluation and arbitration stage for the nominations through specialized committees.

The winners will be announced at the initiative’s closing ceremony, which will be held in September.

The awards include the film award, the fashion award, the music award, the national heritage award, the literature award, the theater and performing arts award, the visual arts award, the architecture and design arts award, the culinary arts award, the publishing award, and the translation award.

The National Cultural Awards Initiative, launched in 2020, is part of the National Culture Strategy under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

It aims to acknowledge the achievements of individuals and cultural institutions and support the Kingdom’s international roles in stimulating international cultural exchange.

In its previous three rounds, the initiative honored a group of local and international individuals and cultural institutions in appreciation of their cultural and artistic efforts.

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, is set to host the third Formula 1 in Schools National Competition from July 4-13.

Twenty Saudi teams with 120 students will compete at the center’s headquarters in Dhahran, vying for a chance to represent Saudi Arabia on the global stage.

The competition serves as a qualifying round, with the top three teams earning the right to represent the Kingdom at the international competition in November, where they will face teams from 40 countries. 

These 20 teams emerged victorious from regional competitions across six regions of the Kingdom, which initially involved 270 students.

More than 38 local and international coaches provided intensive training to the participants, guiding them in designing model cars that simulate Formula 1 vehicles.

The program aims to develop awareness of various sciences, technology and mathematics according to high-precision educational and engineering standards.

It offers students a comprehensive journey that combines scientific imagination with purposeful competition, culminating in a final product showcased globally.

The competition offers a variety of events for visitors and students, including an exhibition dedicated to Formula 1 driver attire, artistic installation of a full-scale replica of a Formula 1 car made from 10,000 water bottles and recycled materials, in addition to an interactive pit stop experiences, both real and virtual.

Visitors can also participate in designing their own car box covers in an art workshop and try their hand at interactive driving simulations using eight different Formula 1 simulation modes.

Panel discussions will cover various topics related to car manufacturing and design, featuring influential figures in the world of Formula 1 who will share their inspiring stories.

The Formula 1 in Schools program, supported by Ithra, is one of the world’s leading educational initiatives for school students.

It aims to raise awareness of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among students globally.

The program covers topics including physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacturing, branding, graphic design, sponsorship, marketing, leadership, teamwork, media skills, and financial strategies. Students apply their learning in a creative and competitive environment, mirroring Formula 1 teams on a smaller scale.