Proposing solutions to preserve and promote the value of intangible cultural heritage in Nghe An

On the morning of December 24, the Department of Culture and Sports organized a scientific workshop on "Preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage of Nghe An province".

The workshop was chaired by: Nong Quoc Thanh - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism); Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly - Vice President of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association; Tran Thi My Hanh - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An. The workshop was attended by representatives of leaders of a number of departments, agencies, localities and scientists.

Speaking at the workshop, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports Tran Thi My Hanh said: Up to now, Nghe An province has carried out an inventory of 463 heritages with all 7 types of intangible cultural heritages rich in identity, widely distributed and of historical and cultural value representing 6 ethnic groups: Kinh, Thai, Tho, Mong, Kho Mu, O Du.

Comrade Tran Thi My Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture and Sports delivered a keynote speech at the workshop. Photo: Minh Quan

Of these, 7 heritages have been included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List; in particular, the Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam Folk Songs heritage has been honored by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Currently, some typical intangible cultural heritages of ethnic groups in Nghe An province have become one of the important economic and tourism resources, contributing to the economic and social development of the people and localities such as connecting intangible cultural heritages in community tours, turning intangible cultural heritages into commodities, exporting to domestic and international markets as traditional handicraft products.

The Xang Khan ritual of the Thai ethnic group in Western Nghe An - one of seven heritages in Nghe An included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Photo: Sach Nguyen

Although there have been activities to inventory, protect and honor, many intangible cultural heritages are still at risk of being lost due to the impact of the market economy, the modernization process, the integration trend and cultural exchange and acculturation; the interest of the younger generation in the traditional cultural values ​​of the nation is gradually decreasing, and the number of people who understand and possess knowledge about intangible cultural heritage is decreasing.

The exploitation and promotion of the potential and value of intangible cultural heritage for the development of local culture, economy and society in a sustainable, synchronous and long-term strategic manner is still limited, leading to some types of intangible cultural heritage being forgotten, distorted and changing its inherent space. The intangible cultural heritage of ethnic minorities is increasingly fading, declining or disappearing forever.

Faced with the urgent situation of protecting and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage, the People's Committee of Nghe An province assigned the Department of Culture and Sports to organize a scientific workshop "Preserving and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage of Nghe An province".

At the workshop, delegates contributed many ideas to identify and correctly assess the value, potential and vitality of intangible cultural heritage as well as propose solutions to protect and promote the value of intangible cultural heritage in Nghe An province.

Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly - Vice President of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association presented a paper on "Promoting intangible cultural heritage resources in Nghe An for sustainable development". Photo: Minh Quan

Typical presentations include: "Promoting intangible cultural heritage resources in Nghe An for sustainable development" (Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly - Vice President of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association); "The story of eggplants in Nghe An: Approaching a unique intangible cultural heritage profile" (Dr. Tran Dinh Hang - Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts); "Cultural industry and issues raised in preserving and promoting the value of Nghe Tinh folk song heritage" (Master Nguyen Manh Cuong - Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts); "Diversifying cultural products from accessing traditional handicraft products of ethnic minorities in Western Nghe An" (Dr. Le Thi Hieu - Nghe An Center for Science, Society and Humanities)...

The results of the workshop will be important and necessary premises, creating a scientific and objective basis for preserving and promoting the values ​​of typical intangible cultural heritages in Nghe An province./.