The meeting was attended by Mr. Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam; Ms. Bach Lien Huong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports; along with representatives from districts, universities, research institutes, and foreign cultural agencies in Hanoi.
Overview of the Meeting
Hanoi – a thousand-year-old city of culture – is on a journey to affirm and strengthen its position as a Creative City within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This is not only an honor but also a great responsibility, requiring the collective effort and unity of the entire community, with creators and creative spaces playing a pivotal role.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Bach Lien Huong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, emphasized the efforts and significance of Hanoi’s creative communities and cultural spaces: “It is through the persistent activities and meaningful projects of the creative community, and the establishment of creative spaces, that Hanoi’s cultural landscape has become increasingly diverse. Creative spaces truly serve as “innovation hubs,” making a strong contribution to building the city’s distinctive creative cultural identity, developing the creative economy, and promoting the image of Hanoi as a youthful, dynamic, and modern city while remaining deeply rooted in tradition.”
Ms. Bach Lien Huong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, spoke at the meeting.
Ms. Bach Lien Huong expressed her hope that creative spaces would continue to align closely with the capital’s cultural development orientation; actively apply technology to promote and bring creative activities closer to the public, especially the younger generation; and boldly propose innovative ideas. Through this, the Department of Culture and Sports can advise the City People’s Committee and develop concrete action programs to implement valuable ideas, create practical products that address real-life challenges, and promote cultural industries to contribute to the socio-economic development of the capital.
“The network of the city’s creative cultural spaces will help connect these spaces; introduce, share, and support the incubation of talent; pilot innovative ideas in the creative field; organize forums and training sessions; and facilitate collaborative connections…” emphasized Ms. Bach Lien Huong.
Mr. Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam
At the meeting, Mr. Jonathan Baker noted that Hanoi’s call to participate in the city’s Network of Creative Cultural Spaces is “an important step to connect, recognize, and support the diverse creative actors who shape the city’s culture every day.” He also emphasized that the establishment of the Hanoi Creative Activities Coordination Center, under the direction of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports and with support from the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, will provide a solid institutional platform to support learning, collaboration, and policy dialogue with and for the creative community. Mr. Jonathan Baker called on creative cultural spaces to join Hanoi’s official network: “We encourage all creative spaces, large and small, public and independent, to participate in this growing ecosystem. Your ideas, voices, and cultural expressions are essential to shaping Hanoi’s creative future.”
Delegates Visit the Hanoi Museums
At the Meeting of Hanoi’s Creative Cultural Spaces, participants paid special attention to opportunities for collaboration as well as the rights and responsibilities of becoming members of Hanoi’s Network of Creative Cultural Spaces. Representatives from creative cultural spaces and related organizations also toured the indoor and outdoor event spaces of the Hanoi Creative Activities Coordination Center, exchanging ideas and exploring potential future collaborations, while listening to presentations on the Center’s planned activities.
Discussion among stakeholders on joining the Hanoi Creative Cultural Space Network.
At the event, the application to join the Hanoi Creative Cultural Space Network was officially submitted and subsequently announced through the Organizing Committee’s media channels as well as affiliated platforms. The official Announcement and Membership Certification Ceremony is expected to take place in Hanoi at the end of June. Once becoming official members, participants of the Hanoi Creative Cultural Space Network will be eligible to register and host activities at the Coordination Center for Creative Activities and the surrounding landscape area at the Hanoi Museum. They will also enjoy tax incentives in accordance with regulations; receive media support and promotion for their space’s activities across Hanoi’s official “Creative City” communication platforms; and be guided and assisted with procedures for event and advertising permits as regulated. Members will also take part in the activities of the Hanoi Creative Cultural Space Network, connect with other members within UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network both regionally and internationally, and benefit from networking opportunities, venue support, and assistance in organizing creative activities at pedestrian streets, cultural institutions, and suitable historical and cultural heritage sites.
Dong Hoang