Launch pad for Vietnamese stage

Merging art units is an inevitable step in the process of innovation and reaching new heights.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the above policy has been implemented, with the goal of taking artists and artistic effectiveness as the center.

Shine with unique value

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest cultural center in the country, the consolidation of theaters aims to create "strong units" instead of many "small units" operating separately. This means that artists have more opportunities to create in a more professional environment, supported by flexible mechanisms and modern management methods, bringing Vietnamese performing arts closer to the region and the world .

A performance by the HCM City Opera Theatre - The theatre is promoting bringing works closer to the public (Photo: HCM CITY OPERA THEATER)

Ho Chi Minh City has merged: Phuong Nam Art Theater, Ho Chi Minh City Light Music Center, Center for Performing Arts and Cinema - rearranged into Ho Chi Minh City Art Center. Currently, the center is waiting for a specific strategy for synchronous development. Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Yen Chi commented: "Merging does not mean losing the identity of each unit, but on the contrary, if done well, it will connect strengths and complement each other. Theater, music , dance or reformed opera... can all be managed under the same roof but still shine with their own unique values".

For many years, public art units in Ho Chi Minh City have been in a state of overlapping and dispersion of resources. Many theaters and art troupes operate in the same field but lack connectivity, leading to limited efficiency. The merger is therefore not only aimed at streamlining the apparatus, but also opens up new directions of development, helping units to concentrate resources, increase competitiveness, improve the quality of works and affirm the art brand.

Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong expressed: "Artists will be given the best conditions to promote their creativity in art after the merger, believing that there will be valuable works that will conquer the public."

Maintain identity and reach international level

The biggest concern now is how to merge without losing the characteristics of each art form. With reformed opera, classical opera or opera, the precious heritages of the national stage, the connection must go hand in hand with preservation and promotion. People's Artist Dinh Bang Phi confided: "Each art troupe has its own history and soul. We need a mechanism to ensure that each art form has its own place to live, its own program, but at the same time contributes to a common strategy: bringing Vietnamese art into international integration."

Meritorious Artist Le Thien is concerned about the audience factor: "Today's audience is different from the past, they demand professionalism and modernity in staging, promotion and organization. If the merger only stops at gathering sources, without improving management methods and improving the quality of audience service, it will not be effective. We need to consider the audience as the center, along with the artists."

The reconciliation to create a "common symphony" certainly takes time. To overcome these obstacles, experts propose a number of solutions such as: Building a flexible transition roadmap with time for adaptation; creating a clear decentralization mechanism, in which each art form still has its own executive board under a common management framework, both preserving its own characteristics and increasing coordination; innovating financial methods, combining public investment sources with socialization, encouraging public-private cooperation in organizing performances, training, and promotion; focusing on training professional management staff, because only when the management team has a modern mindset and knows how to operate according to the world's model, will artists have a healthy and effective creative environment.

According to insiders, the merger will be truly meaningful in creating a better, more professional creative environment, so that Ho Chi Minh City's stage arts can both maintain their identity and reach international standards.

"People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc emphasized that when merging, we will create a launching pad for plays to step out into the world, no longer limited to the scope of a troupe or a small theater."

Source: https://nld.com.vn/be-phong-cho-san-khau-viet-19625082519530107.htm