A boost for cultural creativity

Culture is defined as a creative economic sector that generates profit, spreads values, and affirms urban identity.

Many artists and producers in Ho Chi Minh City believe that while creative ideas have always been abundant, the biggest bottlenecks remain funding and risk-sharing mechanisms.

Shift from "support" to "investment"

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has issued a document implementing the conclusions of the City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang at a meeting with the business community operating in the cultural industry. Accordingly, a Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Industry Development Fund will be established, modeled after a "venture capital" fund, to support capital for startup and innovative projects in the cultural and artistic fields; and to encourage businesses to boldly invest in developing cultural products and services with Vietnamese identity.

Meritorious Artist Kim Tiểu Long performed and interacted with students in the School Stage program in Ho Chi Minh City.

People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc believes that for the creative arts community, this is a crucial shift from a "support" mindset to an "investment" mindset. A fund operating on market principles, accepting experimentation and even failure, will pave the way for groundbreaking art projects.

According to Meritorious Artist Minh Nhi, Director of Truong Hung Minh Art Theatre, in the context of the cultural industry becoming a new growth engine, this model is expected to "awaken" the hidden potential of socialized resources. This policy is expected to help socialized theatres attract worthy investment for high-quality works. "Truong Hung Minh Art Theatre wants to stage Vietnamese historical plays to serve young audiences and create tourism products, but faces difficulties with funding. If we receive support from the Ho Chi Minh City Cultural Industry Development Fund, we will certainly have many good, high-quality works to serve the audience," Meritorious Artist Minh Nhi expressed.

Film professionals are particularly interested in the project to build a film studio complex spanning 100-150 hectares, opening up new prospects for the film industry. "A professional and integrated film production ecosystem will not only help reduce costs and improve product quality but also attract international projects – something Ho Chi Minh City has long lacked," shared People's Artist Dao Ba Son.

For the stage and performing arts, having more creative and standardized performance spaces is also a condition for raising the quality of works. "We are eager to receive support so that we can confidently rent space and invest long-term in our creative direction linked to the cultural industry," director Quoc Thao shared.

Enhance the experiential space.

Another proposal that has garnered attention is the construction of a Vietnamese Music Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, utilizing artificial intelligence and digital technology. Those involved believe this proposal goes beyond simply preserving the heritage; it is also expected to become a "living cultural experience space," where the public – especially young people – can access musical heritage through modern methods. "This is a necessary step to address the 'tradition disconnect,' as the gap between heritage and contemporary life widens," emphasized Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi My Liem, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Music Association.

Ho Chi Minh City's focus on copyright protection is also seen as a positive sign, contributing to re-establishing market order. Meritorious Artist and musician Vo Thanh Liem expressed: "When the rights of artists, authors, and businesses are protected, the creative flow can operate professionally and transparently."

The "School Stage" project continues to be emphasized as a long-term strategy. For many artists in Ho Chi Minh City, this is an important educational activity, a goal of "investing in future audiences" - a vital element for performing arts. Meritorious Artist Vu Luan believes that: "The school stage will help students better understand the functions of traditional musical instruments, the art of Southern Vietnamese folk singing and playing, traditional opera, and reformed opera..."

Ho Chi Minh City also has a policy of developing artistic lighting at iconic landmarks such as the Ho Chi Minh City Post Office and the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House. These "lighting highlights," when combined with performing arts, tourism, and services, will contribute to the formation of a night-time economy – an important component of the modern cultural industry.

People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc observed: "If these policies are implemented synchronously and effectively, Ho Chi Minh City can absolutely become the leading cultural industry center in the country, where creativity is nurtured, values ​​are honored, and Vietnamese identity is spread through modern and attractive forms."

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cu-hich-cho-sang-tao-van-hoa-196260408204117596.htm