HÀ NỘI — As many as 391 artists who have made great contributions to the cause of building and developing the people’s culture were honoured with the highest titles of the State to the field including People’s Artist and Meritorious Artist at a solemn ceremony held at Hà Nội Opera House yesterday.
HONOURED: Artist
Trần Hạnh (left) receives the certificate of People's Artist from PM
Nguyễn Xuân Phúc at an awards ceremony held at the
Hà Nội Opera House yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo
Thống Nhấ“People’s Artist and Meritorious Artist titles are the highest honour the Party and State give to the most typical representatives of artists in the country,” PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said in his speech at the ceremony.
“These are artists who continuously practice and always make innovations in their performing careers,” he said. “They are all loved and trusted by their colleagues and fans.
“You are a trustworthy and loyal force of the Party and people. You love the country and have excellent talents, you have enthusiastically devoted to your career,” he said.
This is the 9th time awards have been handed out to State workers in the field of arts since 1984.
Eighty-four artists were honoured as People’s Artists, the highest title of this kind, including Trần Quang Hùng (traditional opera), Bùi Cường, Trần Hạnh and Công Lý (cinema actors), Trung Anh (pop music singer), and Minh Vương (renovated opera singer).
Three hundred and seven artists were awarded titles of Meritorious Artist for their active contributions to the field like Quang Khải (renovated opera singer), Đặng Châu Anh (orchestra conductor), Nguyễn Danh Dũng (film director), Trịnh Minh Trang (pianist) and Đào Mai Anh (violinist).
“I felt very happy and a little stronger when hearing the news,” said 90-something actor Trần Hạnh, who received the People’s Artist title yesterday 30 years after he received the title of Meritorious Artist. He has acted in so many roles during his career that he even cannot remember the exact number.
“Many people hope to receive the title but they cannot,” he said. “I feel lucky to be honoured by the State and people. I’m satisfied with my career now.”
The Government issued a special decision to award titles because there weren’t enough certificates and prizes.
“It’s good news that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has made such a change,” said People’s Artist Trọng Trinh, from the Việt Nam Television’s Centre for Producing Television Films. “It shows that culture management agencies have realised the drawbacks of their regulations.”
This time, more than half of the artists got high titles as they have made considerable contributions to the country, according to Phùng Huy Cẩn, an official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
“Following the regulation, it will be easier for us to give awards to artists,” he said. “But it will be more difficult for artists as not all of them can easily win a prize or medal at a national-level art festival. We have changed the regulations to praise artists who have made real contributions to the sector.”
According to an official regulation on the topic issued by the ministry, Vietnamese artists who have worked in the field for at least 15 years (10 years in the art of circus) and have at least four formal prizes (gold or silver prizes) at art festivals, national festival of radio and television, or prizes by central professional art and literature associations or international prizes, are eligible to apply for the Meritorious Artist title.
Also according to the regulation, Meritorious Artists who have at least 20 years working in the field (15 years in the art of circus), and have at least three official prizes (gold prize) at art festivals, national festival of radio and television, and prizes by central professional art and literature associations after getting the Meritorious Artist title, are eligible to apply for the People’s Artist title.
Huế praises artisans
In other news, Thừa Thiên Huế authorities on August 28 organised a solemn ceremony to honour local handicraft artisans.
Five artisans, namely Hoàng Thị Như Huy (artisan of food), Quách Cà (artisan of traditional medicine), Cu Xân (folk art performance), Nguyễn Thị Thương (folk art) and late Nguyễn Thị Mẫn (folk art) were awarded the title of People’s Artisan.
Another 12 artisans were awarded with the Meritorious Artisan title.
The artisans all have made good contributions to developing and handing down traditional cultural heritage.— VNS
OVietnam