Part 1: Positive changes from implementing the resolution

With the goal of synchronously building and improving the quality and efficiency of cultural and sports institutions from the province to the grassroots level, on July 14, 2017, the Provincial People's Council passed Resolution No. 13/2017/NQ-HDND on planning the system of cultural and sports institutions at the grassroots level in Thai Binh province until 2020, with a vision to 2030. Many advantages and difficulties have directly affected the implementation of the Resolution, thereby requiring greater determination and efforts from all levels of government, functional sectors as well as from each citizen in socialization work to create conditions for similar cultural enjoyment in each locality.

Traditional art performance at the Cheo ancestral temple of Khuoc village, Phong Chau commune (Dong Hung).

Cultural and sports institutions are gradually becoming an indispensable part of social life. People will not be able to fully enjoy cultural values if the institutions are outdated. Therefore, completing a synchronous and modern system of cultural and sports institutions is a practical requirement in the current period.

Synchronous direction, early completion of goals at the grassroots level

Immediately after Resolution No. 13 was issued, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism identified the implementation of the Resolution as a key and strategic task, on that basis advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue important directive documents, notably Decision No. 1997/QD-UBND, dated July 25, 2017 approving the planning of the system of grassroots cultural and sports institutions in Thai Binh province until 2020, with a vision to 2030; Decision No. 3075/QD-UBND, dated December 9, 2021 approving the project to support and improve the operational efficiency of the model of cultural houses, sports areas in villages and residential groups in Thai Binh province for the period 2021 - 2025; Plans, directives, and decisions related to developing reading culture in the community, allocating funds to purchase equipment for the activities of cultural houses, village sports areas, and residential groups in the province... Along with that, districts and cities have many programs, plans, and projects on planning institutional systems in the management area associated with socio-economic development plans and implementing the National Target Program on new rural construction.

The cultural house of Suy Hang village, Minh Lang commune (Vu Thu) is fully equipped with facilities to meet the needs of the people.

One of the objectives set out in Resolution No. 13 and completed is “Commune level: 50% have cultural and sports centers and spend at least 30% of the time organizing recreational activities for children”. Currently, in the province, 260/260 communes, wards and towns have planned and built communal cultural and sports centers; of which, 100% have cultural houses, 98.4% have sports areas. In general, the facilities of cultural houses ensure the requirements to serve meetings, conferences, performances, cultural and artistic competitions of localities with activities taking place regularly and effectively. Cultural houses of communes, wards and towns have a planning area of ^500m2 or more. Sports areas of communes, wards and towns from ^12,800m2 or more, including stadiums, sports fields, sports training and competition houses and equipped with some necessary common sports equipment.

Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Dong Hung district, said: Thanks to the exploitation and good use of the system of cultural and sports institutions at the grassroots level, up to now, the whole district has had 400 clubs and art and sports teams operating actively and effectively, attracting 36% of the population to participate in cultural and sports activities regularly. In addition to the state budget invested in culture and sports at the commune level, communes and towns have done a good job of socializing to build auxiliary works, purchase sound equipment, tables and chairs, sports training tools... at cultural houses and village sports areas; socializing to organize cultural and artistic exchanges, sports competitions to create a joyful and exciting atmosphere among the people.

Resolution No. 13 also sets out the target: “Hamlets and residential groups: 50% have cultural houses, sports areas and spend at least 50% of their time on recreational activities for children”. Currently, in the province, 100% of hamlets and residential groups have places for cultural activities, entertainment, and physical exercise; of which, 88.8% of hamlets and residential groups have independent cultural houses, the rest use communal houses or communal cultural houses. In addition, 84.8% of hamlets and residential groups in the province have independent sports areas.

Promote the effectiveness of cultural and sports institutions

The system of cultural and sports institutions in villages and residential groups has effectively promoted its functions, from which about 3,000 cultural and artistic clubs are currently being maintained in all localities in the province. If in 2017, the whole province had 31.4% of people regularly practicing sports, 21.5% of families practicing sports, by 2022, these figures will be 35.8% and 25.8% respectively. The system of cultural and sports institutions at the grassroots level in villages and residential groups has been gradually improved, creating favorable conditions for each person to actively participate in training and improving their health.

My Gia village cultural house is a newly completed cultural institution in Quynh Hung commune (Quynh Phu).

As one of the localities interested in developing the system of village and residential group cultural houses, at the end of 2020, Thai Thuy district chose Bich Du village, Thai Thuong commune to pilot the model of a model residential area cultural house, with a model steering committee and management boards of cultural and sports clubs. After coming into operation, seeing the effectiveness of the model, the district Department of Culture and Information advised the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee to issue Resolution No. 02-NQ/HU, dated November 4, 2020 on leadership and direction of the construction of model village and residential group cultural houses. In 2021, all communes and towns in the district will review and build model cultural houses. By the end of 2021, the district will complete 36 model village and residential group cultural houses in 36 communes and towns. Over the years, the Thai Thuy District People's Council has issued two resolutions on support mechanisms for building model village and residential area cultural houses. Up to now, the district has 99 villages and residential areas with model residential area cultural houses, thereby practically contributing to improving the spiritual life of the people.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Lam, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Thai Thuy district, said: The most obvious and positive aspect is the direction of the Party Committees and authorities at all levels, especially the active participation of Party Committees, Party cells, and Front Committees of the villages, which have mobilized, propagated, and mobilized social resources to contribute to the construction of model cultural houses, with an average support of 100 - 200 million VND for repair and purchase of equipment and sports equipment. From this effective activity, the model residential cultural houses, when completed, have operated more regularly, achieved higher efficiency, and attracted more people to participate in activities than before.

In general, the system of cultural and sports institutions at all levels is mostly built to meet the set criteria such as being in a central location, convenient for people's activities; having modern and sustainable architecture; the scale of construction and renovation is commensurate with socio-economic development. Most cultural and sports institutions have suitable equipment, meeting operational requirements, effectively serving political and professional tasks and the cultural and sports needs of the people. Districts and cities have basically paid attention to investing funds and mobilizing social resources to build, upgrade and perfect the system of cultural and sports institutions at all levels. From 2017 to 2022, in Dong Hung district, 75 new cultural houses were built, 96 cultural houses and 54 sports fields were repaired and upgraded. In Tien Hai district, 75 cultural houses have been newly built and 27 cultural houses have been renovated and upgraded. In Thai Binh city, 5 new cultural houses have been built, 3 new cultural houses are being built and 11 cultural houses are being renovated and upgraded...

Vu Binh commune rowing club practices performances at the commune cultural house.

The results achieved in perfecting the system of cultural and sports institutions at the grassroots level have shown the active participation of authorities at all levels, functional sectors as well as the consensus and support from each citizen, thereby gradually improving the quality of operations of institutions associated with people's needs. In the period of 2021 - 2025, it is expected that 448 villages and residential groups will be supported by the Provincial People's Committee to improve the operational efficiency of cultural houses, village sports areas, and residential groups with a total budget of about 40 billion VND. This will be the premise to create momentum in building a healthy cultural environment, gradually improving the level of cultural enjoyment and creativity among the people.