Avoid the situation of "hanging a sheep's head but selling dog meat"

(Baonghean) -The issuance of practice cards for artists in recent times has been considered a controversial issue among artists. Some people consider this an opportunity to distinguish between “gold” and “brass”; others consider this a difficult task for both artists and managers... However, in our province, having a card for artists will be the basis for granting licenses to perform art programs...

Artists' consensus

Regarding the convenience of being granted cards, singers and managers at art troupes in our province all said: "That is a necessary and very beneficial thing for singers and artists who have received formal training". Deputy Head of the Ethnic Music and Dance Troupe Tran Quoc Trung said: "The issuance of cards for artists who are assigned to provincial art troupes depends on the list submitted by the troupe to the Department. Being a member of the troupe, of course, they have gone through training. And that is the brand for the troupe's singers when performing programs invited by event organizers". The young artists of the troupe received contracts to join the troupe because they were discovered from remote areas and were attracted to become the next generation. Some of these singers and actors have already gone through training, and some have joined the troupe before being sent for training.

According to Thế Anh, a singer who has only been in the troupe for more than 2 years and has graduated from the College of Culture and Arts, Faculty of Music Pedagogy, “The rights of singers regarding the issuance of cards in their locality seem to be very vague, because when we perform, the troupe takes care of the procedures, and we rarely sing outside so we don’t pay much attention to the issuance of cards. If we consider the performance programs in the province, the issuance of cards is also beneficial. “Professional” singers with cards will have more responsibility!”

As a beloved folk singer, Que Thuong confided that she is often invited to sing at events of the industry and agencies, and that having a professional card is considered "superfluous" because wherever she goes, the audience remembers her face and name. However, for artists, it is not advisable to level the playing field between amateur singers and professional singers, when the programs registering for performing arts still have more or less cases of singers lip-syncing and dressing indecently. And issuing a professional card is urgent.

Panorama of the new circus show of Dream Theater Company Limited.

The Center for Preservation and Promotion of Nghe An Folk Heritage has up to 60 actors, including 7 Meritorious Artists and 1 People's Artist. Issuing cards to artists seems to be a matter of course. Meritorious Artist Nguyen Ngoc At - Director of the Center, said: "For a long time, it has become a common practice for singers who have not received formal training to be introduced as singers in local performances. Now, with the card, this situation will be limited. And genuine artists will also be "more valuable"!

There needs to be a censorship regime.

In 2012, there were 57 performances by art troupes from other provinces, while there were only more than 10 performances by private units. Notably, on September 22, 2012, the variety music program of the "Dream Theater" LLC registered with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the name: "Star Party" including singing and fashion shows, comedy and some animal circus acts. However, the audience was shown a program called "New Circus", including human and animal circus acts of poor artistic quality and not ensuring safety for the audience. The program caused negative public opinion about the management and licensing of performances by the local unit. The introduction of the practice card is considered a "legal corridor" for the censorship and assessment of art programs in the locality. However, the management and sanctions for “false advertising” programs are facing many shortcomings as the censorship and licensing of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is following old and rigid procedures. If anyone violates, they will only be fined.

Circus tickets for adults and children are different.

Ms. Chu Hoang Yen, an officer of the Department of Cultural Management, said: “Issuing cards is a new sanction for the management of performing arts programs. However, if the cards are not issued properly, there will be a situation of “dodging” the card sales, and there will be singers who do not meet the standards to perform?”

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism believes that those who are granted the card must meet three conditions: good moral character, professional competence and have never had their practice certificate revoked. The Ministry plans to issue two types of cards. The first type is for artists who have been trained at art schools and have titles. The second type is for artists who have not been trained, but are talented and loved by the public.

For People's Artists, Meritorious Artists or artists who have been awarded titles by the State, being granted a practice certificate is a matter of course. They will not have to apply for a card like other artists... If any artist violates the rules in their artistic activities, their practice certificate will be suspended from six months to two years. In serious cases, they may be fined from 10 million VND to having their card revoked.

Therefore, it can be said that granting cards to artists will create favorable conditions for the artists in the province!

Thanh Nga