The "Ca phe thu bay" (Saturday coffee) culture space in Ho Chi Minh City (Illustrative image)

Hanoi (VNA) – The number of creative spaces – which serve as venues for supporting connectivity and development of culture, creativeness and technology, has risen to 140 from 40 in the 2018-2021 period, according to the Cultural and Creative Hubs Vietnam project.

A cultural and creative hub (CCH) is 🌊a place, physical or virtual, which brings people together to present artistic ideas and creativity in a free and open environment, and in turn allows them to share a variety of artistic outputs with their communities.

In Vietnam, most CCHs are independent arts and creative spaces, often led and managed by artists and creative practitioners. These organisations are important players in the culture sector and have great potential for engaging in and supporting artistic expressions and access to the cultural life.

Creative spaces not only offer opportunities to access knowledge and skills, but also bring friendliness and openness, helping to promote change the identity of cities and create more jobs.

The British Council, in partnership with the Vietnam Institute of Culture  and Arts Studies (VICAS), launched the Cultural and Creative Hubs Vietnam project in June 2018.

The three-year project receives financial support from the European Union (EU) totalling 450,000 EUR (over 532,000 USD). It has brought many opportunities and benefits to innovators and creators in Vietnam.

It implemented a series of activities focusing on a network of local organisations actively engaged with practitioners and audiences in the field of arts, culture and creativity.

According to reports of the project, there are dozens of creative spaces were formed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These models have been developing in other localities nationwide.

Creative spacౠes in Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Hue and Da Nang often focus on contemporary art and startups support꧒ services, and information technology.

The "Jrai Dew" project (Photo:Art Labour Collective

Meanwhile, those in Hoa Binh, Gia Lai and Buon Ma Thuot concentrate on preserving local culture and developing culture-based tourism.

The Central Highlands rural development centre has existed and developed for six years. Its staff are all experts in agriculture, culture aꦅnd language of Nung, Tay and E🍰de ethnic minority groups.

It provides training programmes for farmers on how to use land and protect forests, and organizes classes to teach English and Ede language for young people, and other activities to promote music and traditional crafts.

In Da Nang, the co-working space of the Da Nang Entrepreneurship Support (DNES) was launched in 2015, aiming to support new businesses operating in creativity and innovation.

Vu Thanh Binh, founder of the Blue Bird Nest café and cultural space, has built and developed the Cua Bien (Sea Gate) cultural space both in Hanoi and Hai Phong. Thanks to her five-year experience in running the Blue Bird Nest café and and cultural space, and the support of many agencies and units, Binh organised an event to honour poet Luu Quang Vu and a series of art talks and creative culture weeks.

More policies for development of culture spaces

According to Director Phan Dang Di - founder and operator of the creative cultural space “Gap go mua thu” (Autumn Meeting), which connects film makers in Vietnam, said that the government has recognized non-public art and culture units and has initially developed legal corridors to facilitate operations of these units.

The cultural space “Gap go mua thu” (Autumn Meeting) (Photo: Facebook Autumn Meeting)

Di called VICAS's active participation as a systematic listening between a State representative agency and non-public cultural spaces.

It is necessary to maintain the manner, he said, adding that State agencies should consider creative organizations as independent entities in an equitable way with the general development of the State culture.

He expressed his hope for mutual support and coordination models between Government agencies and cultural and creative establishments towards mapping out general development policies.

Director of VICAS Dr. Bui Hoai Son (Photo: NVCC)

Meanwhile, Director of VICAS Dr. Bui Hoai Son expressed his belief that State agencies will accompany with the development of creative spaces.

He was committed to building a sustainable development index based on the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions./.