HA NOI — The Vietnamese contemporary art scene will continue to receive support during the 2011-15 from the Danish Cultural Development and Exchange Fund (CDEF).
The US$1.2 million fund was launched this week by the Danish Embassy to benefit Viet Nam's multi-faceted contemporary art community and promote cultural exchanges between Viet Nam and Denmark.
Contemporary arts are defined as new pieces produced during the current era. The fund will prioritise support for new art works in a rapidly changing Vietnamese society, whether it is avant-garde fine art, modernisation of traditional forms of artistic expression, or creation of new trends in popular culture like rock music or break dancing, an embassy officer explained.
The fund will provide support to individual artists and groups engaged in cultural and artistic activities, and art competitions for talented young Vietnamese artists.
It also aims to enhance networking and collaboration between Danish and Vietnamese artists, and organise cultural exchange activities to promote mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.
In order to reach out to more artists, those interested in applying for funds may do so by submitting a proposal in either Vietnamese or English.
"Support for culture is an important part of our co-operation with Viet Nam. We look forward to extending the already good relations between Vietnamese and Danish artists in the future and I hope that the fund will be able to support the creativity and sense of innovation of Vietnamese artists and between Danish and Vietnamese artists," Danish Ambassador John Nielsen said at the launching event.
A new board for the fund was introduced with Vietnamese and Danish members including Ngo Phuong Lan, vice head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's International Relations Department; artist Le Quang Dinh; composer Tran Thi Kim Ngoc; Jens Kaare Rasmusen, director of Danish Centre for Cultural Development; consultant Trine Glue Doan and film director Eric Clausen.
An additional Vietnamese member will be added from the corporate sector.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Viet Nam-Denmark diplomatic relations. "We are planning quite a number of cultural activities and the fund will be used to further strengthen the cultural ties between our two countries," the ambassador said. — VNS