Hanoi (VNA)🧸 – Human factor including artists, artisans and folk intellectuals are key resources for the development of the cultural sector, according to experts. 

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasised that culture is the spiritual foundation of society and the endogenous strength of the country. Culture must be placed on a par with economy, politics, and society. Accordingly, all levels and sectors are making enormous efforts to contribute to the development of the culture sector, and one of the focuses is to build the cultural industry, the national target programme on culture development during the period of 2025-2035. Prof. Dr. Tu Thi Loan, Chairwoman of the Science and Training Council under the Vietnam National Institute for Culture and Arts Studies said that the development and promulgation of the national target programme on culture development in the coming period show the attention of the Party, the National Assembly and the Government to the country’s cultural development. It will be a driving force for the cultural sector to transform and obtain positive achievements. According to Loan, the programme aims to create practical progress in culture and human development; fix limitations and weaknesses of the Vietnamese culture, achieve results commensurate with the level of investment and economic development of the economy while bolstering international cultural integration and soft power of the country’s culture. She stressed that factors, including artists, artisans and folk intellectuals, are key resources for the development of the cultural sector. Besides, traditional craft villages are huge resources to promote folk artisans’ creativity and skillfulness, while traditional dishes are also loved by visitors. Dr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Centre for Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) Scientific and Cultural Activities, affirmed the significance of human element in cultural development. Developing quality cultural products is responsibility and rights of units, organisations and individuals in the cultural industry, Kieu said.  Music researcher and musician Nguyen Quang Long noted that the State has introduced many material and spiritual support policies for artists and artisans, but they are inadequate. According to Long, the rewarding and honouring of artists, artisans and folk intellectuals should be done in a proper way and there should be independent committees to monitor and evaluate the process of cultural and art research and practice of artists. The committees will proactively make dossiers and propose the State give them the titles and then special remuneration. Besides, some countries have established independent funds for art activities to support the research and practice projects of artists. Linguist Dr. Do Anh Vu acknowledged that associations, committees and organisations need to evaluate the contributions of artists objectively and propose appropriate remuneration mechanisms. In addition, cultural managers need to trust artists and writers so that they can unleash their creativity without fear for whether their works will be recognised, and at the same time support artists in bringing their "brainchildren" to the public. Recently, the State has organised forums and creative camps for artists, thus encouraging creativity among young writers./.