Criteria for awarding the title of "People's Artisan" and "Meritorious Artisan" in the handicraft industry

The Government has just issued Decree No. 43/2024/ND-CP dated April 19, 2024 detailing the awarding of the titles "People's Artisan" and "Meritorious Artisan" in the field of handicrafts.

Criteria for awarding the title "People's Artist"
According to the Decree, the title "People's Artisan" in the field of handicrafts is awarded to individuals who have been awarded the title "Meritorious Artisan" in the field of handicrafts and meet the following criteria:

1. Be loyal to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam; comply with the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State, regulations, rules and regulations of agencies, organizations and localities.

2. Have continuous or cumulative working time in the handicraft industry for 20 years or more.

3. Have good moral qualities, be exemplary in life; be dedicated and devoted to the profession; be admired and respected by colleagues and the people; be a typical representative of the cause of protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage in the field of handicrafts of the whole country.

4. Have outstanding knowledge and skills, specifically:

a) After being awarded the title of "Meritorious Artisan", the Artisan must directly design and manufacture 02 new products or works of high economic , technical and artistic value, meeting one of the following criteria: Winning second prize or higher in competitions related to handicraft products organized by competent authorities nationwide; being sent by the State of Vietnam to participate in activities in the field of handicrafts and achieving third prize or higher in the region or internationally; being recognized by competent state agencies as typical, being evaluated and ranked at the national level in the field of handicrafts and fine arts;

b) In case the "Meritorious Artisan" is over 70 years old and does not meet the criteria in point a above, he/she must meet one of the following criteria: Being an ethnic minority (currently working and living stably in an ethnic minority area for 05 years or more); having 02 or more products or works selected as gifts from Party and State leaders to high-ranking foreign guests according to regulations on diplomatic protocol; selected by a national museum as an exhibit; used in the restoration of national historical - cultural relics (cultural symbolic works).

5. Having great contributions to protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage in the field of handicrafts nationwide; possessing skills and secrets of the profession, teaching the profession to 150 or more individuals, except in the case of special handicrafts or 20 or more individuals currently working in the profession for over 10 years at production establishments or 1 or more individuals being awarded the title of "Excellent Artisan" by the State in the field of handicrafts.

Criteria for awarding the title "Meritorious Artist"
The Decree also stipulates: The title "Excellent Artisan" in the field of handicrafts is awarded to individuals who meet the following criteria:

1. Be loyal to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, comply with the Party's guidelines, policies and laws of the State, regulations, rules and regulations of agencies, organizations and localities.

2. Have continuous or cumulative working time in the handicraft industry for 15 years or more.

3. Have good moral qualities, be exemplary in life; be dedicated and devoted to the profession, be admired and respected by colleagues and the people, and be a typical representative of the cause of protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage in the field of local handicrafts.

4. Have outstanding knowledge and skills, specifically:

a) Directly design and manufacture at least 10 works and products of high economic, technical and artistic value;

b) Having products or works that meet one of the following criteria: Won second prize or higher in competitions related to handicraft products organized by competent authorities at the provincial level or third prize or higher nationwide; been sent by the State of Vietnam to participate in activities in the field of handicrafts and achieved third prize or higher at the regional or international level; been recognized by competent state agencies as typical, evaluated and classified at the national level in the field of handicrafts and fine arts; been selected by national and provincial museums as exhibits; been used as models for teaching in the field of handicrafts at vocationaltraining institutions and universities; been used in restoration projects of historical and cultural relics (cultural symbols) at the provincial and national levels.

5. Having great contributions in protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage in the field of local handicrafts; possessing skills and secrets, and teaching the profession to 100 or more individuals, except in the case of special handicrafts or 15 or more individuals currently working in the profession for over 10 years at production facilities.

The Council for awarding the titles "People's Artisan" and "Meritorious Artisan" is established at 3 levels.
The Decree clearly states that the Council for considering and awarding the titles of "People's Artisan" and "Meritorious Artisan" is established at each Council level (Provincial Council; Ministry-level specialized Council; State-level Council). Each time of awarding, the Councils will dissolve themselves after completing their tasks.

The Council for considering and awarding the titles of "People's Artisan" and "Meritorious Artisan" has the responsibility to organize the awarding process in accordance with regulations; publicize the list of individuals proposed for awarding and the selection results on the media; complete the awarding dossier and submit it to the competent Council; consider and resolve recommendations related to the awarding process.

The awarding council works according to the principles of democracy, publicity, and secret voting.

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