Denmark boosts top Vietnamese art centres

Foreign and local visitors are looking at a display at ChaosdowntownCháo (Source: ChaosdowntownCháo facebook)

The recipients are Manzi Art Space and Heritage Space in Hanoi; Then cafe in central city of Hue; Chaosdowntown Chao in HCM City and DNY productions in central city of Da Nang.

"It is very fulfilling that Denmark has been able to support independent art spaces and art initiatives, celebrating their progressive creative work within the Vietnamese contemporary culture scene," said Danish ambassador Charlotte Laursen.

"Culture and art are important parts of modern societies, means to stimulate and inspire people to become creative and innovative. That our support this year goes to four different cities illustrates the diversity of contemporary art within Vietnam.”

The programme’s total budget is over 354,000 USD (800 million VND).With the support, many exhibitions, workshops, publications, performances, and art talks will be held in the next two years. Supporting contemporary art a component of Danish culture programme in Vietnam, which was started in 2006.

The programme has supported hundreds of successful projects and artists.

Manzi Art Space’s art programme for 2017-18 includes various activities of different genres and elements. The programme will present seminars, workshops, exhibitions, festivals and research to engage artists and the local and international communities. Manzi Art Space will receive 250 million VND.

Heritage Space’s Months of Arts Practice 2017 aims to create a platform for direct exchange between local and international artists. Their programme will combine study trips, meetings, exhibitions and educational workshops. Heritage Space will receive 220 million VND.

Then Cafe’s programme, entitled Dash, will support smaller projects of local artists and promote engagement of people in socio-economic debates. The projects include workshops, exhibitions, research works and publications. It will receive 33 million VND.

DNY productions has an initiative entitled Autumn Meeting 2017, which is an annual film event that will take place in Da Nang. It aims to encourage young talented Vietnamese and Asian filmmakers to improve their professional skills. There will be filmmaking workshops, introduction of new independent films, awards to young talent film makers. It will receive 200 million VND.

Chaosdowntown Chao, located at a backpacker’s hotel in the city, aims to serve as a bridge between local art movements and international audiences. Through a number of workshops and exhibitions under a project named Loopholes, the art space focuses on contemporary themes like queer theory and feminism. The art space will receive 100 million VND.

The Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam has a comprehensive culture programme with total budget more than 3million USD. The programme focuses on promoting culture and art in Vietnam and culture exchange between Vietnam and Denmark. Since 2006, hundreds of contemporary art projects and artist have been supported through the programme.