Creative Spaces in Vietnam

Vietnam in Close- Up: Creative spaces (Segment of VTV News) Written, edited, and produced by Ella Tran Filmed by Manh Thanh (With footage provided by Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre,Goethe Institut, Area 21-Hai Phong) A Report by Ella Tran http://ellatran.com/ http://twitter.com/ellatran91 https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellatran SCRIPT INTRO Creativity is a key industry for cultural promotion and economic upgrading all over the world. Vietnam is no exception to this. In this week of Vietnam Close-Up edition, let’s take a look at the state of creative space and their potential. STORY Around the world, artists convert interesting architectural places into multi-purpose creative spaces that benefit to both the cultural and economic landscapes of a city. This trend emerged in the 1970s and 1980s in the US and Europe. Vietnam has been quick to catch up to this movement. ELLA TRAN VTV Reporter I’m sitting here - at Manzi - one of the new creative spaces in Hanoi. Here, you can work, shop, grab a cup of coffee, or simply contemplate the art exhibition. Open experimental places like this are crucial in a city as they help develop a thriving arts scene as well as foster a sense of community. Creative hubs like Manzi do not only help the audience discover emerging artists but are also starting to become interesting destinations for tourists. INT 1: LONG NGUYEN Co-owner, Manzi A conference on Creativity and the City was recently held in Hanoi to raise awareness and start an open discussion about the role of creative spaces for policy makers, artists, and the general public. INT 2: Dr. MICHAEL WAIBEL Keynote Speaker, “Creativity in the City” Conference Senior Researcher, Department of Human Geography, Hamburg University However, it has not been an easy ride for creative spaces as there are still lots of challenges such as the lack of regulatory framework or professional business management. INT 3: Dr. MICHAEL WAIBEL Keynote Speaker, Creativity in the City Conference Senior Researcher, Department of Human Geography, Hamburg University The challenges that Vietnam’s creative spaces encounter are not new. At the conference, experts from six different countries present study cases so Vietnam can learn and implement solutions. With a similar government structure to Vietnam, Malaysia’s creative spaces work with policy makers by giving back to the community, giving free art classes. INT 4: MARK BEAU Writer / Director-in-Residence Kuala Lumpur Arts Centre, Malaysia As the first non-profit art initiative in Vietnam, after 16 years of operation as the Nha San Studio, the now-named Nha San Collective has adapted to the change and demand of the arts community. INT 5: UYEN LE General Manager, Nha San Collective Both experts and artists believe that collaboration and straightforward discussions with policy makers are the way to go for Vietnam’s creative development. INT 6: Prof. Dr. BUI HOAI SON Deputy Director Baltic Creative in the UK houses more than 50 micro-business, contributing 24 million USD to Liverpool’s economy. Creative hubs in Hamburg, Germany provide 80,000 jobs, generating over 12 billion USD in annual revenue. Cultural icon Beijing 798 attracts 3 million visitors every year. Even though Vietnam’s creative industry has not yet reached its full potential, experts believe the country is showing good signs as more and more people are interested in supporting creative spaces.