Giving wings to Bau Truc pottery heritage

To introduce and promote the unique features of the Cham people's pottery art, as well as Bau Truc pottery village products to a large number of people and domestic and international tourists, the establishment of a place for introduction and promotion in the Nha Trang area is necessary.

Heritage in need of urgent protection

At the end of 2022, UNESCO recognized "Cham pottery art" as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection. Cham pottery art heritage is related to the traditional craft of making Cham pottery by hand and using simple tools. The cultural subjects and practitioners are mainly Cham women. Knowledge and skills are passed down within families, clans and communities. The heritage attracts exchanges and interactions between practitioners and social activities. Cham pottery art is important in maintaining the economy , ensuring the lives of villagers; promoting social development; preserving Cham cultural identity in Vietnam.

Introduction activities about Bau Truc pottery at Bau Truc Pottery Production - Trade and Service Cooperative.

The Cham people's pottery art is famous, with the largest concentration of people practicing the heritage in Bau Truc village with 2 villages Bau Truc and village 12 (belonging to Ninh Phuoc commune). According to the review results of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH-TT-DL), currently, Bau Truc pottery village has about 400 households, 12 production and business establishments and 2 cooperatives (HTX) operating in the field of pottery production. However, in reality, the craft village is facing the risk of fading away. The team of artisans and skilled workers are getting older and their health is declining, while the younger generation in the village is not interested in pottery because of low income and hard work. Although the State has supported the opening of vocational training classes, has policies to encourage and create conditions for those who come to learn the craft, most of the learners only study for a short time and then drop out.

UNESCO listed “Cham pottery art” as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection - this can be seen as a move to develop an optimal solution to help the folk knowledge of this unique craft not disappear. The implementation of national action programs on the protection and promotion of intangible cultural values; the support and positive solutions of the Government and local authorities will help Bau Truc pottery heritage to be better protected.

There should be a place to introduce and promote.

Established in 2023, each year, Bau Truc Ceramic Production - Trade and Service Cooperative (Bau Truc village, Ninh Phuoc commune) welcomes nearly 4,000 visitors to visit, research, and shop, including many foreign delegations. In an area of ​​over ^300m2 , the Cooperative is a place to introduce unique Bau Truc ceramic products made by skilled artisans and workers. Coming here, visitors can also directly experience Bau Truc ceramic making techniques; watch dance performances, Cham folk musical instruments; enjoy traditional dishes of the Cham people... According to Mr. Van Quan Phu Doan - Director of the Cooperative, the introduction and promotion of Bau Truc ceramics is also carried out at the special national relic site of Po Klong Garai tower. Recently, he sent a document to the Provincial People's Committee requesting support for a space to promote and introduce Bau Truc ceramic products in the Nha Trang area. In recent times, the Cooperative has always made efforts to promote Bau Truc ceramic products through trade fairs, events inside and outside the province, organizing tours, working with partners to find markets for products. However, due to the distance from Nha Trang tourist center, accessing and introducing products to people and tourists is still limited. Therefore, the Cooperative hopes that the Provincial People's Committee will consider and support the arrangement of a suitable space in Nha Trang area to display, introduce and promote Bau Truc ceramics; perform art, demonstrate pottery making techniques of the Cham people.

Cham pottery art was introduced at an event in Hanoi.

Implementing the direction of the Provincial People's Committee on November 7, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Document No. 3013, reporting the results of reviewing the proposal of Bau Truc Ceramic Production - Trade and Service Cooperative. Specifically, based on the opinions of relevant agencies and units and after reviewing the proposed content of the Cooperative, the Department found that this content is consistent with the goal of promoting the value of the intangible cultural heritage "Cham ceramic art" recognized by UNESCO. However, the Cooperative has not yet clearly identified the planned location, area scale, space usage needs and operation organization plan, so there is not enough basis for departments, branches and localities to review and evaluate the suitability with relevant planning. In the immediate future, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with relevant agencies and units to continue to support, guide and create conditions for the Cooperative to participate in promotional activities, display and introduce Cham ceramic products in and outside the province. In addition, the Department directed the Provincial Cultural Heritage Conservation Center to proactively coordinate and work with the Cooperative to agree on a plan to display and introduce the Cooperative's ceramic products at the special national relic Po Nagar Tower.

In the long term, in order to create favorable conditions for Bau Truc pottery production and trading establishments and promote the strength of the community in the work of preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism recommends that the Provincial People's Committee direct the People's Committee of Ninh Phuoc commune to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments and branches to conduct research, propose plans and organize the implementation of promotional activities "Cham pottery art" at a number of suitable locations in the province to ensure consistency, fairness and effectiveness. The implementation needs to be linked with the program of developing cultural tourism and traditional craft villages of the province, aiming to build a space to introduce, demonstrate and consume Bau Truc pottery products sustainably; at the same time, strongly spread the value of Cham pottery art heritage.

FAMILY

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202511/chap-canh-cho-di-san-gom-bau-truc-34514b8/