TEHRAN -- Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati opened the Boys’ School of Fine Arts in Tehran on Saturday at the beginning of the Iranian school year.

Jannati gave his congratulations to the students for the rebirth of knowledge in the school of love and said, “These days remind me of the delight of learning new things”.

However, he expressed his condolences over the death of a large number of Iranian pilgrims who were crushed in a stampede outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca on Thursday.

He continued that great scholars have grown up in this land and are shining like stars in the sky of culture.

“We are the heirs to great masters such as Avicenna, Rumi, Hafez, Sadi, Kamalolmolk and hundreds of academics and artists. These art schools in Tehran were once home to great masters of arts in earlier times,” he added.

“Experience, art and knowledge of the older students who are the masters of today are these schools’ assets, while the rich culture and civilization of Iran is also a great asset for the generation of today,” he explained.

Jannati also proposed establishing a museum for the schools of fine arts to be home to the historical images and documents of the art schools.

“I feel pretty hopeful about the future of these art schools and believe we shall witness a new generation of artists in the coming years,” he concluded.

Director of Tehran Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance Barzin Zarqami in his short speech said, “Preserving art schools are of great importance since great masters of today have been trained in these schools.”

Iran’s school year begins on September 23 every year. The schools of Fine Arts are affiliates of the Culture Ministry.

RM/YAW
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