• Children from across the UAE came together to exhibit their creativity and innovative artistic thoughts
• Over 400 students graduated in the largest worldwide skill development program to enhance Math, Science and Arts skills; over a million students trained globally
• 12 Emiratis among the 21 nationalities that graduated this year

November 2nd, 2019; Dubai, UAE:   Indians emerged winners in the test of originality, aesthetics and creativity as children from across the UAE converged at one of the biggest national art forums to explore the Picasso in them.The 8th UC Dino Art National Competition, held this weekend saw Indians bagging 35 awards with Pakistanis, Sri Lankans Turkish, Sudanese, Jordanian and Iranian participants sharing 9 awards among themselves. Among the 11 Champions, Indians once again ruled the roost winning 9 prizes.  

The event was organised at Sheikh Rashid Auditorium, Indian High School,where several nationalities – including Emiratis, Egyptians, Bangladeshis, Iranians, Jordanians, South Koreans, Turkish, Sudanese, Sri Lankans, Pakistanisand Indians – participated in the contest within the age group of 5 to 16, competing in 14 categories. 

Participants were assessed on the basis of their aptitude of the techniques taught in each level, neatness, creativity, imagination and perfection. The annual event has gained immense popularity over the years with an increasing number of participants belonging to various backgrounds coming together to give physical expression to their artistic endeavours.

The event was followed by the 14th UCMAS & 6th UC Dino Art Graduation Ceremony hosted by Abacus Quest Point, National Franchisee for UAE and Member of UCMAS Global Network, a Malaysia based organization. Over 400 students from 36 registered UCMAS centres comprising children from 21 nationalities, including 12 Emiratis, 13 Egyptians, 12 Pakistanis, and around 300 Indians graduated this year. The ceremony was held in the presence of Mr. Khairul Nazri Mohamad Taib, Head of Chancery at the Consulate General of Malaysia, Dubai; Mr. E.P. Johnson, President of Indian Social Centre Sharjah and Mr Anthony Joseph, Principal, Indian High School, Sharjah honouring students who had completed all the levels of both the programs. 

Congratulating the winners of the Dino Art Contest, Mrs. Soundari Raj, Managing Director, UCMAS UAE commented, “Art activates the creative part of the brain i.e. the imaginative and creative side - spatial and intuitive side of our brain. Dino Art helps the child to express their individuality, helping them to visualise a problem and creating multiple solutions by thinking outside the box. Children learn to paint, write and compose thus developing their cognitive skills. In their early education they can apply these skills to understand and face their fears”. 

The annual competition aims to stimulate young minds through systematic guidance and helps them to develop abstract thinking and creativity. The Dino Art programme is designed to hone the students’ artistic skills while channelling them to use different type of media and introducing them to a balanced early education in art and the mathematical precision of aesthetics. The programme guides children in their early years through different levels to add on background creations to the given drawing and colour, based on their imagination.

“This year we also introduced a new level, ‘Picasso’ for children in their early years to guide them in their pencil control, basic colouring strokes, merging techniques and finally to teach them to draw independently landscape & cartoon characters,” added Mrs Raj.

UCMAS is the largest worldwide skill development programme promoting the universal concept of a mental arithmetic system for children between the ages of 6 and 13. With operations in 80 countries, UCMAS has trained more than a million students worldwide and about 26,400 students across 36 centres in the UAE since its inception in 2003. Their approach promotes holistic brain development and establishes core skills that greatly enhance learning experience of the child with the aim of bringing out the best in every child.