Art students receive scholarships from the Le Ba Dang Creative Fund. Photo: QSTLBĐ

Continuing the legacy

Hue is honored to be the city with two spaces named after painter Le Ba Dang, with a complete collection of his creative career at the Le Ba Dang Art Center (belonging to the Hue Fine Arts Museum, 15 Le Loi, Thuan Hoa ward) and the Le Ba Dang Memorial Space on Kim Son hill, Thuy Xuan ward.

Not only donating works, the talented artist also wishes to form a fund to support artists and students pursuing their passion for art. At the end of April 2016, the Le Ba Dang Creative Fund was officially launched with initial assets of 1 billion VND contributed by organizations and individuals. At that time, the first 5 students of the University of Arts, Hue University were selected to receive the first round of scholarships, each worth 10 million VND.

Since its inception, the fund has aimed to connect and spread interdisciplinary art values ​​and practices across the country. In addition, it has created conditions for young artists and scholars with potential to develop and create works that continue the legacy of the late artist.

Not only awarded to students of fine arts schools across the country, in recent years, the fund has also targeted young artists, artisans, researchers in the field of traditional handicrafts, etc., creating a spread in the domestic and international community.

Painter Phan Hai Bang, lecturer at the University of Arts (Hue University) - founder of Truc Chi art was honored by the Le Ba Dang Creative Foundation in 2022, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the painter's birth, at the Le Ba Dang Memorial Space on Kim Son hill. Truc Chi art at that time was highly appreciated by the jury for its creativity in materials, application to visual arts, creating remarkable achievements such as an invention in materials..., opening up many possibilities for artistic creativity and uniqueness, accepted by the community. The award is an affirmation of the artistic value of Truc Chi as well as the goal that the Le Ba Dang Creative Foundation is aiming for.

Recalling the moment of receiving the award, artist Phan Hai Bang could not help but be moved and surprised. He said that he had visited the house of the famous painter Le Ba Dang in Paris, France. At that time, the graphic art and paper that painter Le Ba Dang was using inspired him. Later, he was determined to seriously pursue both graphic art and paper, but with his own development direction. "That was a milestone in the creative journey of not only me but also Truc Chi. Because now Truc Chi has become a famous brand not only for me, Hue but has left its mark on the national level", artist Phan Hai Bang shared and hoped that in the future the award will seek out and honor more artists.

Open more categories

After a decade of operation, the Le Ba Dang Creative Fund has now grown stronger. Since 2025, in addition to the Fund's Founding Council with names such as People's Artist Dang Nhat Minh, historian Duong Trung Quoc, writer To Nhuan Vy, Ms. Le Cam Te will have a young Executive Board contributing to its operation with the spirit: "The Le Ba Dang Creative Fund not only preserves the source of heritage but also lights up the creative flame hidden in each of his works". Not only does it stop at carrying out this mission through activities promoting interdisciplinary art practices and sustainable support programs, what the fund aims for is to affirm the position of Vietnamese art in the international context.

Right at the launch of new activities at the end of September, the Le Ba Dang Creative Fund also announced the upgrading of the Le Ba Dang Creative Award with many new categories. According to curator Ace Le - a member of the fund's executive board, this is a periodic award to support young artists and scholars to carry out projects that continue the artistic legacy of the late famous painter.

Specifically, in 2025, the award will consider 3 categories including research, composition and young leadership. In which, the research category will be for scholars, lecturers, graduate students, curators, or independent research individuals/groups. The composition category is for individuals practicing in the fields of fine arts, architecture, fashion , product design. And the young leadership category, for students aged 18-24, demonstrates leadership qualities and the ability to inspire.

“For each category, the award includes funding to support research and creative projects as well as the opportunity to stay at the Le Ba Dang Memorial Space, helping researchers and artists access the late artist's documents and works,” curator Ace Le shared.

NHAT MINH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/chap-canh-cho-tai-nang-nghe-thuat-158604.html