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Culture, info dept should be re-established

The SCC have also stressed the importance of making a qualitative assessment of the the various cultural activities in the emirate and to examine how best TV presenters, producers and others can contribute to enhancing the quality of local television programmes.

The 14th SCC session, which was held to discuss the policy of the Department of Culture and Information (SDCI) and Sharjah TV, was attended by Abdullah Al Owais, Director-General of Department of Culture and Information (SDCI); and Khalid Siffir, Director of Sharjah TV, as well as Abdul Aziz Mussalam Director of the Heritage Section of SDCI.

The SCC urged the establishment of a cultural council in central areas which can be affiliated to the SDCI in an effort to produce better programmes and attract a bigger audience. It also stressed on the importance of improving the department's marketing strategy to attract leading media companies so that Sharjah's industry and its markets can be developed. The synergy will also help improve the functioning of Sharjah TV.

Earlier, the SDCI and STV members were asked about their role in developing children and sports programmes and the SDCI plans to attract UAE youth to join the media.

Meanwhile, Al Owais while replying to some questions said, "The SDCI has played a pioneering role in terms of spreading Arabic and Islamic culture through organising fairs, exhibition, and various cultural activities.

The Sharjah Biennial Art Exhibition alone, for instance, attracted 117, 000 visitors last year and was seen as a major success.

Siffir pointed out that similarly, Sharjah TV programmes have been targeting all sections of society and the channel is now producing historical-Islamic programmes which will be released during Ramadan and can be seen throughout the Islamic world and elsewhere.

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