Considering awarding folk artist titles: Many gaps need to be exploited

Up to now, through 3 rounds of awarding, Quang Ninh has had 2 People's Artisans (NNND) and 36 Meritorious Artisans (NNUT) honored. That is not to mention nearly 100 Folk Artisans awarded by the Folk Arts Association. However, Quang Ninh also has many artisans in localities who are holding different intangible cultural heritages, which need to be paid more attention and honored.

High school students are San Chi people in Huc Dong commune, Binh Lieu district, learning to sing wave co with folk artists. — High school students of the San Chi ethnic group in Huc Dong commune (Binh Lieu district) learn to sing song co with folk artists.

Folk artists are silent teachers, tirelessly on the journey of passing on cultural heritage from generation to generation. In Quang Ninh, there are currently many folk artists preserving intangible cultural heritages, such as: Dum singing (Quang Yen), ancient Cheo singing (Dong Trieu), Dao folk songs (Uong Bi, Ha Long, Tien Yen, Binh Lieu), Dao Thanh Y costume sewing and embroidery, the Dao ethnic group's cap sac ritual (Binh Lieu, Ba Che, Tien Yen), Then singing and Soong Co singing (Tien Yen, Binh Lieu), Nha To singing, communal house singing and dancing (Dam Ha, Hai Ha, Van Don, Mong Cai), Sinh Ca singing of the Cao Lan people (Ba Che), ceramic craft (Dong Trieu), bamboo boat weaving, fishing gear weaving (Quang Yen, Van Don).

The efforts and dedication of the folk artists have created a positive resonance for the traditional cultural heritage to spread its vitality among the youth. Up to now, the whole province has had 76 artists awarded the title of Vietnamese Folk Artist. In addition, there are hundreds of other artists who have not been awarded any title but are still passionately practicing, preserving and teaching folk arts.

Dao Thanh Y women in Bang Ca commune, Ha Long city embroider traditional costumes.

Meanwhile, most of the province's current folk artists are 70-80 years old or older, some are close to their centenarians and are gradually disappearing due to age. Folk artists who are still healthy, even though their lives are not without hardships and difficulties, still join hands to preserve and pass on to the next generations their love of folk culture. Every day, they quietly live in each ethnic minority village to nurture their love of traditional culture.

In the fourth round of consideration in 2024, the cultural sector received 16 applications, including 3 applications for the title of People's Artist and 16 applications for the title of Meritorious Artist. Among them, 1 individual is San Diu ethnic group (Mr. Ly Van Sinh), the rest are Kinh ethnic groups from the following localities: Hai Ha (4 people), Mong Cai (9 people), Ha Long (1 person), Dong Trieu (1 person). Dr. Tran Quoc Hung, Director of the Center for Conservation and Research of San Diu Ethnic Culture in Vietnam, a member of the Council, said that the number is too small compared to other provinces and compared to the potential of Quang Ninh. People's Artist Thanh Chac and Meritorious Artist Trong Binh, members of the Council, also agreed with that view. In the areas of Dong Trieu, Quang Yen, Uong Bi, Ha Long, and Cam Pha, there are many artisans who are making efforts to practice and teach, deserving of honor.

The above list is similar to the lists of the last 3 awarding rounds in that there is an imbalance between localities and types of intangible cultural heritage. Some localities do not have an awarding dossier. Many areas with strengths such as: Then singing, dum singing, soong co singing, traditional crafts do not have a dossier. In particular, love singing on Ha Long Bay has many times had no artists to make a dossier.

Folk artists in Binh Dan commune, Van Don district practice the onion light dance. — Folk artists in Binh Dan commune, Van Don district, practice the onion light dance.

Mr. Ninh Van Thuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, frankly admitted: Some localities and coordinating management agencies are still indifferent to the implementation of screening and guiding individuals to propose the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist. Therefore, some typical intangible cultural heritages of localities such as the Tay Then Ritual (Binh Lieu district), the Dao Cap Sac Ritual, and the traditional costume making of the Dao Thanh Y and Dao Thanh Phan ethnic groups (Ha Long, Tien Yen, Ba Che, Dam Ha) have not had any individuals propose to consider the award. Some localities, when discovering that there is a program or plan for the award of the province, have already passed the time limit for receiving dossiers.

During the process of receiving the dossiers, the Department has provided specific instructions to individuals requesting additional consideration and how to fill out the dossiers. However, there are still 3 individuals from Hai Ha district who have contributed to the locality in cultural and artistic activities, but their dossiers are sketchy, similar, do not describe their knowledge, detail the skills and techniques of the heritage they are holding, do not have supporting documents attached, and their certificates are not certified...

Pham Hoc

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