Significant steps have been taken in Northern and Eastern Syria after the Rojava Revolution to preserve and further develop cultural and artistic activities. Among these initiatives is the establishment of the Higher School of Arts, which began its activities with departments dedicated to cinema, music, and theater. The school’s educational year started on 15 October 2024, and is designed as a three-year program.

As of 20 February 2025, a total of 60 students have completed their first semester. Seventeen dedicated teachers closely support the development of these students, focusing on nurturing their artistic skills. After a 20-day semester break, the students will continue their education in culture and the arts. The school offers a rich curriculum, including instrumental training, voice techniques, diction, body language, script writing, acting, and directing. Students who completed the first semester, along with the co-chair of the Higher School of Arts, shared their evaluations about the development and progress of the school.

The Higher School of Arts will carry Kurdish culture to the world

Ciwan Elî Îbrahîm expressed the purpose of the Higher School of Arts, saying that it was "established for young people passionate about their culture and arts, aiming to enhance and develop their skills. Previously, establishing such art schools in Rojava Kurdistan was prohibited. During the Ba'ath regime, individuals with Kurdish identity weren't even permitted to study at arts academies. However, after the 19 July Revolution, significant advancements were made in cultural and artistic movements across Rojava Kurdistan. Cultural centers were founded, and as the revolution evolved, many innovations emerged."

Îbrahîm said: "With the declaration of Autonomous Administration, existing cultural centers could no longer adequately meet the revolution’s growing demands. Therefore, there was a need to focus systematically on cultural and artistic education. It has become essential to develop our art academically, enabling individuals inclined toward our cultural values to specialize in and understand their national identity. Thus, establishing such a Higher School of Arts became a necessary and urgent step. This initiative represents a historic and crucial development, as it symbolizes hope for Kurdistan. As a beacon of hope for the Kurdish people, students must rise like stars to introduce Kurdish culture and art to the world."

More ambitious for the second semester of the first year

Îbrahîm commented on the nearly four-month journey of the Higher School of Arts. He stated: "Before the school opened, we underwent a two-month preparation period. During those two months, we handled various processes, from receiving student applications to establishing relationships with teachers. Although we initially had 75 students enrolled, war conditions forced this number down to 60. All students were placed according to their exam results. Half of these students had prior experience, but our goal is to deepen and professionalize their existing knowledge. Significant progress was achieved over this four-month period. Naturally, among the 60 students, there are a few who haven't yet reached their desired levels, but overall, their development has been positive."

Îbrahîm added: "Since the Higher School of Arts represents a new initiative, finding qualified teachers was not easy. Rojava Kurdistan witnessed severe warfare and significant brain drain. However, with our existing resources, we made great efforts to recruit professional teachers, and successfully overcame this challenge. Ultimately, we started the school year with 17 teachers specialized in cinema, music, and theater. By learning from the difficulties and experiences of the first semester, we aim to enter the second semester stronger and more ambitious."

They will keep alive the legacy of great artists

Îbrahîm emphasized the influence of the Higher School of Arts on cultural, artistic, and social life, and said: "Although dengbej singers and artists exist within our society, it's fair to say that Kurdish culture and art are not sufficiently recognized. Students graduating from the Higher School of Arts will become representatives of our culture and art, enabling these to spread widely within society. They will take on the responsibility of ensuring the accurate progression of Kurdish culture and art, contributing significantly to the preservation of our heritage.

These students will play an important role in promoting our culture, art, literature, and language. They represent the future of their country, Kurdistan. Their voices will keep alive the legacies of great artists like Mihemed Arif Cizirî, Ayşe Şan, Karapete Xaco, and Hesen Zîrek. Additionally, they will professionalize Kurdish culture and art throughout Kurdistan.”

Young people must turn towards art

Îbrahîm stressed that participation in the Higher School of Arts should come from all parts of Kurdistan, and concluded: "The importance of the Higher School of Arts must be clearly emphasized within society. Directing our children's interests towards art is essential. To develop and elevate the Kurdish language and culture, we must give art the value it truly deserves."

As responsible as a fighter

Zeynep Mihemed, a student studying theater at the Higher School of Arts, explained why she chose this institution: "Art lovers shouldn’t see art merely as a profession; they must actively strive to develop it. My love, especially for theater, is immense. My desire to dedicate this passion to advancing theater influenced my decision to join this school. Unfortunately, theater in Kurdistan, particularly in Rojava Kurdistan, has not reached an advanced level. One of the primary reasons is the obstruction of our mother tongue. How can people who are prevented from expressing themselves in their own language perform theater effectively? Consequently, theater has remained underdeveloped. In a period of cultural genocide, I realized that the role of art lovers is as crucial as that of fighters, which is why I chose to direct my path toward the Higher School of Arts."

It will serve all of Rojava Kurdistan

Mihemed said that she had previous experience in theater and wanted to improve that. She added: "In the first semester, I saw myself as a child transitioning from crawling to walking. These were our initial steps in theater, and throughout this process, we gained a deeper understanding of theater in terms of awareness, history, and practice. I believe the education we receive in the upcoming semesters will greatly serve Rojava Kurdistan."

Mihemed described the transformation she experienced during her studies, saying that "art contributes significantly to one's emotional and intellectual growth. It’s often said that artists are emotionally more developed, but during those four months, the development we experienced intellectually was equally significant. The bond between emotion and thought became stronger."

A Kurdish culture relant education system

Mihemed stressed the importance of the Higher School of Arts and said: "Reviving Kurdish culture and art is the duty of every young Kurd. Preserving and developing our culture and art is our responsibility. Rather than expecting an outsider to teach us about culture and art, we must professionalize ourselves independently. No outsider can genuinely teach us Kurdish culture and art; they can only bring their own culture and art. Therefore, we must rely on our own inherent strength."

We must pass Kurdish culture and art to new generations

Edhem Şêxmûs, who previously studied Kurdish Literature at Rojava University, explained why he decided to enroll in the Music Department at the Higher School of Arts: "If I had continued studying Kurdish Literature, I would now be in my third year. There were art academies in the past, but they weren’t as professional as that. My passion for art brought me here. We receive comprehensive education ranging from the history of Kurdish music to musical notation and instruments. As my education progressed, I realized once again the heavy responsibility placed upon us. It is now our duty to develop Kurdish culture and art and pass them on to new generations."

Şêxmûs commented on the development of students in his department, and said: "Our music teachers were very attentive to our progress. If necessary, they explained topics multiple times. In the second semester, we will move to practical training. Each of us has already selected the musical instrument in which we will specialize."

Cinema will serve society

Ehmed Sarim is a student in the Cinema Department at the Higher School of Arts. He stated that he was previously a member of the Rojava Film Commune and explained his reasons for choosing to attend the school. He said: "I participated in feature-length films, so I already had experience before coming here. My desire to transform my practical experience into an academic one brought me to this school. Another significant factor was my wish to understand the developmental process of cinema more deeply."

Sarim pointed out the limited presence of cinema and film directors in Rojava Kurdistan. He expressed his belief that the Higher School of Arts will significantly contribute to developments in this field and concluded: "In the first semester, a strong foundation was laid for understanding the history of cinema. Even at this initial stage, students are already aware of the importance of cinema.

Making cinema serve the revolution has become their primary goal. Written, oral, and visual Kurdish culture and art have not progressed as desired due to cultural genocide. However, despite these deliberate policies, Kurdish art continues to survive. With the Higher School of Arts, this development process will accelerate further. Each student trained here will play a crucial role in the development of art, serve society upon completing their education, and express all colors of their culture and art."