Mobilizing resources and developing cultural industries with strong Kinh Bac identity

BAC NINH - Bac Ninh has many potentials and advantages to become a bright spot in the development of cultural industries. In recent times, the province has paid much attention to implementing the strategy of developing cultural industries, prioritizing the development of advantageous cultural products and services.

Abundant space

If culture was previously viewed mainly in terms of spirituality, the cultural industry is the intersection between culture and economy , both preserving national identity and creating material value, jobs and brands for the country and region. This is an inevitable development direction in the context of globalization and the 4.0 industrial revolution when creativity is becoming a new source of competitiveness.

Performing arts is one of the areas in Bac Ninh that has great potential for development.

Located in a strategic position, the northeastern gateway of Hanoi Capital, Bac Ninh has favorable conditions to spread cultural products and services to a large market. Modern transport infrastructure connects Bac Ninh with industrial and tourist centers such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, etc., creating a solid foundation for the development of cultural industry.

More importantly, Bac Ninh is known as the "land of heritage" with the largest and most unique number of tangible and intangible cultural heritages in the country. The whole province currently has 6 intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO; 2 heritages belonging to the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son and Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex recognized by UNESCO as World Cultural Heritage; 11 special national relics, 24 artifacts, groups of artifacts recognized as national treasures; 36 intangible heritages included in the National List. Along with that, the customs, beliefs, folk games, festivals and unique culinary culture of the communities from the plains to the mountains are still preserved and promoted.

Many famous relics and landscapes have become attractive tourist destinations such as: The relic site of the mausoleum and temple of the ancestor Kinh Duong Vuong, Luy Lau ancient citadel, Dau pagoda, Do temple, Vinh Nghiem pagoda, Bo Da pagoda, But Thap pagoda, Phat Tich pagoda, Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourism area... These are valuable resources for developing spiritual and cultural tourism, films, and performing arts.

In particular, Bac Ninh Quan Ho folk songs - Representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity is the most brilliant symbol of Kinh Bac culture. With hundreds of melodies and unique performing styles, Quan Ho is not only the pride of Bac Ninh people but also a source of creative inspiration for music, cinema, fashion, cultural product design...

Along with the heritage are hundreds of famous traditional craft villages such as: Phu Khe wood carving; Dong Ky fine art wooden products; Dai Bai bronze casting; Phu Lang and Tho Ha pottery; Chu noodles; Van village wine... In particular, the craft of making Dong Ho folk paintings, a unique cultural symbol, has completed the dossier to request UNESCO to register it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of urgent protection. In the context of knowledge economy and digital economy, hundred-year-old craft village brands are gradually transforming, participating in the cultural industrial value chain through design products, souvenirs, decorations, and craft village experience tourism.

Unblocking the flow of creativity

It can be affirmed that the space for developing Bac Ninh's cultural industry is abundant, rich, and multi-disciplinary, from cultural tourism, performing arts, music, handicrafts to design, advertising, film studios, entertainment games, etc. Highly appreciating Bac Ninh's efforts in promoting the role of culture as a development resource, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, once affirmed that Bac Ninh has many potentials and advantages to become a bright spot in developing the cultural industry if there is a methodical strategy and long-term vision.

Cultural industry or "creative industry" is a specific economic sector based on the creation, production, distribution and consumption of products and services with cultural value. According to UNESCO's definition, cultural industry includes 12 fields such as: Performing arts; publishing; advertising; handicrafts; design; cinema; architecture; cultural tourism; software and entertainment games; fashion; television and radio; fine arts, photography and exhibitions.

In recent times, Bac Ninh has paid much attention to implementing the strategy for developing cultural industries, issuing a number of related documents, typically Resolution No. 71-NQ/TU dated September 28, 2022 of Bac Ninh province (old) which has determined the target of raising the investment level for culture to reach at least 4% of the total state budget expenditure. Along with that, prioritizing the development of cultural products and services with the province's advantages, striving for the revenue of cultural services in the province to contribute from 3% to 5% of GRDP by 2030.

Similarly, Resolution No. 355-NQ/TU dated August 1, 2024 of Bac Giang province also emphasized the task of propagating and raising social awareness about the role of cultural industry, promulgating mechanisms to encourage creativity, attracting high-tech enterprises operating in the fields of culture, sports and tourism; developing unique and professional cultural products, linking heritage conservation with tourism development; aiming to effectively exploit cultural and sports institutions to serve people's needs and create a sustainable economic foundation.

However, in 12 cultural industrial fields, Bac Ninh still has no breakthrough field, even performing arts or tourism are still very vague. Because if there is only one MV Bac Bling, it seems that it is a phenomenon, not the nature of development. Moreover, the work of researching and planning cultural policies still has "bottlenecks" so it has not attracted cultural investors and cultural enterprises with vision...

Hopefully in the next phase, with a long-term vision, the province will clearly position the strategic role of cultural industry development as a pillar of sustainable growth. On that basis, build strong enough policies, flexibly apply public-private partnership mechanisms to unblock the flow of creativity, mobilize intelligence, technology and social resources to participate in building attractive cultural products and services imbued with Kinh Bac - Bac Ninh identity.

Article and photos: Thanh Lam

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/huy-dong-nguon-luc-phat-trien-nganh-cong-nghiep-van-hoa-dam-ban-sac-kinh-bac-postid429424.bbg