Innovate thinking, elevate grassroots cultural movements

Equipped with more knowledge and professional skills, the team of cultural officers at the commune level in Hai Phong is increasingly confident and proactive in their work, becoming "creative nuclei" to bring the grassroots cultural and artistic movement to develop vigorously and sustainably.

The City Center for Culture, Cinema and Exhibition organized a course on "Professional training on skills in organizing art programs and building cultural and artistic movements at the grassroots level by 2025". Photo: DO HIEN

Concerns of grassroots cultural workers

Immediately after implementing the two-level local government, like many communes, wards and special zones in the city, Kien Thuy commune proactively organized a welcome cultural night, and coordinated with departments and branches to organize competitions and performances, initially creating an exciting atmosphere, encouraging people to actively participate in the movement.

The locality hopes to receive more attention in terms of facilities, equipment, and funding to bring grassroots cultural and artistic activities to new heights.

According to Deputy Director of Kien Thuy Commune Public Service Center Luong Thi Giang, in reality at the commune level, officials in charge of culture, arts, and sports still do not understand the new documents and circulars, while many old regulations have expired. Therefore, the locality hopes that superiors will soon issue specific instructions for grassroots public service centers, to avoid confusion in implementing activities and affecting legal regulations.

Mr. Le Van Hop, an officer of the Center for Culture, Sports and Communications of Ha Nam commune, shared that after implementing a two-level government, the workload of grassroots cultural officers has increased significantly.

“We have to take on many areas at the same time: arts, sports, propaganda, event organization… but most of us have not been properly trained in staging art programs, organizing cultural movements, arts, physical education, sports, and propaganda at the grassroots level. If there were model guidelines and a regular training program from the city, activities at the grassroots level would certainly be more professional and attractive,” Mr. Hop said.

Thien Huong Ward bustles with the "Thien Huong New Day" cultural exchange night after implementing 2-level local government

In Cat Hai special zone, Mr. Hoang Manh Quan, an officer of the Center for Culture, Information and Sports, said that after the merger, the biggest difficulty is the lack of core forces at the commune and ward levels.

“Previously, each commune had its own cultural officer, but now there are only villages, so the implementation of cultural, sports or propaganda programs is the responsibility of the center for the 58 villages. Officers must go to each location to guide and operate. To do it well, there must be people participating on the spot, and there must be a clear financial support mechanism,” Mr. Quan said.

These opinions show a multi-colored picture of grassroots culture in the transition period. Today’s grassroots cadres not only need a sense of responsibility, but also need to be equipped with skills, empowered to take initiative and have a legal “stick” to work effectively.

Improving organizational capacity

Recognizing the difficulties, the Hai Phong City Center for Culture, Cinema and Exhibition organized a course on "Professional training on skills in organizing art programs and building cultural and artistic movements at the grassroots level in 2025", with the participation of 265 trainees who are cultural officers, leaders of cultural and sports centers, media centers, and public service units of communes, wards, and special zones in the city.

The training course is organized to foster and update knowledge, improve professional skills and practical skills in organizing art programs and grassroots movement activities; at the same time, create conditions for trainees to exchange and share practical experiences, contributing to building a team of cultural workers that is increasingly professional, dynamic and creative.

“These contents are also the answer to the expectations of grassroots cultural officials - those who are shouldering both new and extensive work every day after the reorganization of the two-level local government. The training course helps them to systematize their knowledge, update new regulations, and at the same time practice skills in organizing programs, staging art, connecting different types of performances and mobilizing social resources in real conditions at the grassroots level,” said Bui Thi Anh, Deputy Director of the City Center for Culture, Cinema and Exhibition.

Volleyball tournament of Viet Hoa ward clubs after implementing 2-level local government

At the training course, lecturer Vu Pham Thanh Huong, Head of the Department of Mass Arts, Department of Grassroots Culture (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) directly conveyed many practical and updated topics on organizing cultural activities at the grassroots level in the new context.

“Cultural workers today must shift from administrative thinking to creative thinking. A grassroots cadre needs to know how to organize, stage, and tell the cultural story of their locality, turning each event into an activity that leaves an impression and has the power to spread,” Ms. Huong emphasized.

In the program, students are guided in the skills of planning and scripting art programs; methods of organizing comprehensive events; how to connect different types of performing arts; skills of managing and leading mass art movements. Lecturers also share many practical experiences in mobilizing social resources, coordinating between professional agencies and localities to organize large-scale, quality events while still saving costs...

SEA COUNTY

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/doi-moi-tu-duy-nang-tam-phong-trao-van-hoa-co-so-523221.html