Nghe An artisans wonder about criteria for selecting excellent artisans
Meritorious Artist is a title bestowed by the State to those who possess and practice heritage, for them it is a title that they must strive for their whole life, especially in the field of preserving and developing folk songs. However, there are still many concerns surrounding the issue of conferring this title.
Concerns from the grassroots
Mr. Nguyen Trong Tam of Hung Tan commune (Hung Nguyen) is recognized by the people and those who work to preserve and promote the folk heritage of Nghe An in the locality for his many contributions. Since childhood, Nguyen Trong Tam has loved Nghe An folk melodies through the lullabies and songs of his grandmother and mother, and they have followed him in his daily activities, work, production, on the village school stage, and in everyday performance spaces. He is the captain of the village and commune's art troupe. Later, when the Hung Tan Vi and Giam Folk Song Club was established, he was the leader of many training and activity programs; from staging to writing lyrics, from demonstration to taking on the main roles in the programs. However, after nearly twenty years of such dedication, Mr. Tam is still only an artist in the hearts of the people. Because according to the regulations on considering the award of excellent artist, he is a cadre of the district Fatherland Front, so he is not allowed to make a profile, although he meets all the standards.
In addition to commune-level cultural officials who are receiving civil servant salaries and are not eligible for consideration for the title of excellent artisan, the group of cultural officials who are trained in colleges of culture and arts or are currently holding the position of commune cultural officials are also not eligible to apply for the title of excellent artisan.
A typical example is Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ngan, a cultural officer of Hung Nguyen district. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ngan is quite famous in the field of preserving and promoting the values of Nghe An folk heritage; he has guided the commune-level artisans in Hung Nguyen to complete the dossier for the title of excellent artisan. "Mr. Ngan is the one who guides the commune-level artisans so that they can complete the dossier. He has imparted expertise and spread the skills of practicing and preserving heritage...", said a representative of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communications of Hung Nguyen district. According to the leader of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communications of Hung Nguyen district, cultural officers like Mr. Ngan are very rare. They are the ones who keep the intangible heritage and have a profound influence in the community.
Or like Ms. Le Thi Nguyet in Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan) - a district cultural officer, who was trained in the college of culture and arts and returned to the grassroots to work on movements in Nam Dan district, with the main task of guiding cultural and artistic movements and spreading the folk heritage of Nghe An.
For over 15 years, she has been the one who has searched for and nurtured folk song talents, and encouraged folk song movements in hamlets and villages. She has also been the one who has staged and written new lyrics for folk song programs for them to participate in provincial and inter-provincial folk song festivals. Most recently, Ms. Nguyet has held the position of Vice President of the Huong Sen Club, with the responsibility of both staging and performing. Her club has won third prize at the provincial level and second prize at the cluster level.
"If the artists in the hearts of the people who are cultural officials do not receive any achievements or titles like professional artists or meritorious artists, it will be a great disadvantage for them," said Mr. Phan Van Tinh - Director of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communication of Nam Dan district.
Should we expand the audience?
According to the provisions of Decree 93/2023/ND-CP, dated December 25, 2023, regulating the awarding of the title of artisan, an individual is a Vietnamese person who holds, practices, teaches and promotes the value of intangible cultural heritage in the following forms: Language, writing; folk literature; folk performing arts; social customs and beliefs; traditional festivals; folk knowledge; traditional crafts...
Also in Article 4 of this Decree clearly states: Do not consider awarding the title of "People's Artisan" or "Excellent Artisan" in the field of intangible cultural heritage to individuals who have been trained at universities or vocational training institutions on the type of intangible cultural heritage they are holding to acquire additional skills and secrets. The time an individual works and receives a salary from the State budget; the time an individual is away from practicing intangible cultural heritage in the community is not counted as the time of activities related to protecting and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Ngan, cultural officer of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communication of Hung Nguyen district, said: “Previously, the completion of dossiers for considering and awarding the title of Meritorious Artisan was carried out according to Decree No. 62/2014/ND-CP of the Government: Regulations on considering and awarding the titles of "People's Artisan", "Meritorious Artisan" in the field of intangible cultural heritage. This Decree does not have regulations on the limitation of subjects; therefore, in the province, many people were awarded this title after Decree 62 was issued.
Responding to concerns from grassroots levels, Ms. Phan Thi Anh - Head of Heritage Department, Department of Culture and Sports, expressed: In my opinion, the fact that a person who holds and practices heritage is recognized by the people and all levels and has received a salary means that they have done that task and have been paid by the state. Moreover, when taking on the role of practicing and transmitting heritage, they have had the environmental conditions to do their duty, which is both a passion and a responsibility.
Ms. Phan Thi Anh also added: Before Decree 93/2023/ND-CP was issued to replace Decree 62/2014/ND-CP, a number of people who held and practiced prestigious heritages and were still receiving salaries were also considered for the title of excellent artisan. But in my opinion, this still has shortcomings, that is, artisans in the community work with their own talent without any training, but with their passion and mission, many people are truly "eating at home and carrying the prison and the village". They spend their own money to teach skills to the younger generation, but do not receive any funding. Therefore, artisans in that community deserve to receive allowances from the regime of an excellent artisan.
“The State also gives opportunities to those who are holding and practicing heritage with many achievements and contributions but are receiving salaries to be considered for the title of excellent artisan, as Decree 93/2023/ND-CP has clearly stated: “The time before and after the time of receiving salary can be accumulated, if it is enough 15 years, the title of excellent artisan will be recognized.
Ms. Phan Thi Anh
Head of Heritage Department - Department of Culture and Sports
