Raising the Mai Vang Award to the national level: Putting all faith in a sustainable, creative journey

30 years of Mai Vang Award of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper is an unforgettable and meaningful journey with many activities deeply engraved in the hearts of artists.

Based on the achievements, this is a solid "pedestal" for the Golden Apricot Prize and the whole country to enter the era of national growth.

Turn pride into action

The art program celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Mai Vang Award and the 30th Mai Vang Award Ceremony - 2024 on January 8 received the encouragement of a large audience, gathering many outstanding artists from across the country, which is the pride of the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper.

Mr. Nguyen Ho Hai, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. Photo: HOANG TRIEU

On the 30-year journey of forming and developing the Mai Vang Award, Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper has connected the feelings between readers, audiences, and artists in all fields. According to People's Artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, this is the basis and opportunity for Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper to raise the Mai Vang Award to the national level in 2025.

A performance in the Art Program celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Mai Vang Awards and the 30th Mai Vang Awards Ceremony on January 8. Photo: HOANG TRIEU

Initiating an award and maintaining it for 30 years is a commendable effort by the Lao Dong Newspaper. The greatest value of the Mai Vang Award is that artists are aware of their responsibility to the public and society, thereby contributing in their own way to help make life better. "The Mai Vang Award can absolutely become a cultural exchange venue every year when Tet comes and spring returns" - People's Artist Ta Minh Tam acknowledged.

Architect Nguyen Truong Luu, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations, said: "Ho Chi Minh City will become the economic and cultural center of Southeast Asia by 2030 and of Asia by 2045. With the efforts of all the artists who have won the Mai Vang Award, I believe that the award will be a cultural event of Ho Chi Minh City that will have a widespread influence after the 30-year milestone, contributing to promoting the cultural industry of the city in particular and towards connecting with the whole country in general."

Director - People's Artist Dao Ba Son, member of the Mai Vang Award Art Council - proposed: Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper needs to organize more discussions, collect opinions from readers, audiences, artists, producers, and managers in the cultural field to draw up a roadmap to raise the award to the national level.

Standardize organization

Artists and managers interested in the Mai Vang Award believe that in order for the award to have enough influence and be connected with many cultural events across the country, it needs to have its own identity and affirm its superiority through standardizing the organization.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Nhut, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, suggested: "Why not choose a day at the end of the year, so that readers, audiences, and artists on this day will remember the Mai Vang Awards and join in, spreading many noble purposes?" Meanwhile, musician Nguyen Ngoc Thien suggested: "Every year, the Mai Vang Awards should choose a main field, for example, 2025 is the year of Cinema. The Mai Vang Awards will gather all actors, directors, and film producers to join in the major events that Ho Chi Minh City is aiming for. It is also possible to choose the fields of music, theater, dance, fine arts, photography, literature, etc., so that the Mai Vang Awards become an inseparable link with major cultural events of Ho Chi Minh City".

According to insiders, more than ever, this is an important starting point for the Mai Vang Award organized by the Lao Dong Newspaper to find its own voice and affirm its position. Because over the past 30 years, the Mai Vang Award has continuously developed, in addition to the votes of readers and audiences for artists in the categories of arts and entertainment, every year there are also awards such as: "Lifetime Artist for the Community", "Artist for the Community", "Outstanding Artist for the Community".

The Editorial Board of the Lao Dong Newspaper has considered and awarded the "Lifetime Artist for the Community" award to People's Artist Kim Cuong and People's Artist Le Thuy; awarded the "Artist for the Community" award annually to MC Dai Nghia, Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh, MC Quyen Linh, rapper Den Vau... These are characters with enough stature to create the brand for the Mai Vang Award.

"It is necessary to choose a way to organize, promote and spread community values ​​more widely, both to boost the brand itself when looking for economic partners and to orient the public's aesthetics" - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi My Liem, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Music Association, noted.

Soft power from identity

Mr. Huynh Anh Tuan, IDECAF Theater, said that in the "flat world", identity not only creates difference but also creates attraction. The Mai Vang Award will create its own unique features when combined with cultural heritage, turning the sediments of the heritage imbued with legends and intangible cultural heritage into tourist destinations. "Why can't we organize programs of the Lao Dong Newspaper to do cultural tourism and Mai Vang artists as tour guides, connecting the influence of Mai Vang with live stages?"

Sharing the same perspective, director Le Quy Duong believes that Ho Chi Minh City has many heritages that are still "sleeping", so the Mai Vang Awards need to connect and awaken them to contribute to promoting the development of the cultural industry in Ho Chi Minh City. Places in Ho Chi Minh City that can be associated with the Mai Vang Awards events include organizing exchanges, performing plays, reformed opera, and promoting the works of Mai Vang artists such as: Thong Nhat Hall, Nguyen Huu Canh Temple, Cu Chi Tunnels, Nga Ba Giong Relic Site, Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History, etc.

"Cultural industry is not simply exploiting cultural values ​​for development but also the process of affirming identity, creating new identity from traditional culture, creating cultural soft power, of which the 30-year Mai Vang Award is a testament" - director Le Quy Duong shared.

Artist Van Tong, Van Tong Fine Arts Design Company, believes that when cultural soft power is consolidated, the position of Mai Vang Award will be elevated. For many years, his company has designed the flower street on Nguyen Hue walking street, Mai Vang Award can organize traditional Tet celebration topics with Mai Vang artists in this cultural space.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai said that in 2024, Ho Chi Minh City achieved many impressive achievements in all fields. In particular, the field of literature and arts is increasingly developing. During the year, Ho Chi Minh City organized more than 40 festivals and music events, attracting more than 3.6 million audiences and millions of online views on digital platforms. Literary and artistic products are increasingly diverse and rich, meeting the needs of people to enjoy spiritual culture...

Among those proud achievements, it is impossible not to mention the great contribution of the Newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong . The collective of the Newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong has devoted itself and its intelligence to opening up the cultural flow with the Mai Vang Award, thereby encouraging and honoring the artistic achievements as well as the community spirit of artists, giving wings to the sublimation of art forms, effectively serving the spiritual life of the public and being welcomed by the public. The Mai Vang Award has spread the humane lifestyle, living beautifully, sharing, tolerance, altruism..., the true spirit of Ho Chi Minh City.

"In 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations will host 300 delegates who are artists from the Hanoi and Hue literature and arts associations in the exchange plan between the three cities. The 2025 Mai Vang Award can completely be a bridge connecting the culture and arts of this event. Mai Vang artists will be the highlight in the exchange and promotion of the achievements of the Mai Vang Award" - Ms. Duong Cam Thuy, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Cinema Association, suggested.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nang-giai-mai-vang-len-tam-quoc-gia-gui-tron-niem-tin-vao-mot-hanh-trinh-ben-bi-sang-tao-196250111204537545.htm