Let gongs "tell stories"

(GLO)- The Central Highlands Gong Culture Space Exhibition Room at Pleiku Museum has just been completed and is preparing to be put into operation. This is a meaningful project in preserving and spreading heritage values.

Immediately after the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space was recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) issued an Action Program to restore, preserve and promote the value of the heritage, according to its commitment to UNESCO.

Reenactment of gong performance at Pleiku Museum. Photo: Phuong Duyen

However, Gia Lai province still lacks a worthy exhibition space to preserve and honor the values of the unique heritage that the locality possesses. Before being renovated, Pleiku Museum only arranged a small room on the 2nd floor with an area of about 100 m² to simulate the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space; along with displaying 2 other themes in the list of national intangible heritage.

Due to space limitations, the Museum can only display 4 sets of gongs in the above room and some other areas. This is regrettable as the unit is preserving more than 50 sets of precious gongs that have been painstakingly collected over decades. Therefore, visitors to the museum have little opportunity to learn deeply about the Gong Cultural Space of the Jrai and Bahnar people - 2 out of 11 ethnic groups considered to be the owners of the heritage.

Part of traditional cultural activities is recreated in the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space at Pleiku Museum. Photo: Phuong Duyen

Faced with this situation, on June 17, 2021, the People's Council of Gia Lai province (old) term XI passed Resolution No. 410/NQ-HDND on the investment policy for the project of the Central Highlands Gong Culture Space Gallery at Pleiku Museum. Then, in July 2024, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 374/NQ-HDND on adjusting the investment policy for the project of the Central Highlands Gong Culture Space Gallery at Pleiku Museum, increasing the total budget from 3.5 billion VND to 6.7 billion VND.

Specifically, the project includes renovation and conversion of unused rooms on the 3rd floor of the Pleiku Museum such as: wooden, textile, leather warehouses; the corridor and office in the main building of the Pleiku Museum into a separate space to display the Central Highlands Gong Culture Space with an estimated area of 431 m². In addition, renovating and completing a number of other functional rooms and equipment systems; adding a fire prevention and fighting system to ensure compliance with legal regulations.

The village scene is vividly simulated in the exhibition space. Photo: Phuong Duyen

In order for this space to truly be effective, creating better connections between heritage and the community and visitors, Mr. Le Thanh Tuan - Director of Pleiku Museum - said: The unit is currently making a proposal for the 2026 budget for the content of the exhibition adjustment. Specifically, adding a simulation of the gong cultural space such as: the communal house, the pole, water drops, images of festivals... combined with some previously recreated spaces such as the scene of artisans performing gongs, the night of telling the story of the village elder by the communal house fire. Thanks to that, this area will be more lively, bringing authentic emotions to visitors. While waiting for the budget approval, Pleiku Museum is designing temporary display shelves to introduce precious gong sets to those who love the culture of the Central Highlands.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang - Director of Dai Ngan Tourism and Event Services Company Limited (207 Hoang Quoc Viet, Pleiku Ward) expressed: "When the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space Exhibition at Pleiku Museum officially comes into operation, I will introduce it to visitors from all over to visit and learn more."

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/de-cong-chieng-duoc-ke-chuyen-post562660.html