National unity to build cultural life: From movement to practice

After more than 2 decades of implementation, the movement of the whole people uniting to build a cultural life with 5 contents and 7 movements has created a strong spread in all residential communities. The quality and effectiveness of the movement have been constantly improved over time, contributing practically to building a healthy cultural environment, improving the material and spiritual life of the people and promoting local socio-economic development.

Quynh Minh Commune (Quynh Phu) is one of the localities where the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has piloted the model of "Residential area implementing civilized lifestyle in weddings, funerals and festivals".

Focus on grassroots cultural and sports activities

One of the important contents of the movement is to build and organize grassroots cultural and sports activities. In 2023, continuing to implement Decision No. 3075/QD-UBND, dated December 9, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee approving the project to support and improve the operational efficiency of the model of cultural houses, village sports areas, and residential groups in the province for the period 2021 - 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism deployed support and installed cultural and sports equipment to serve the activities at 96 village cultural houses and residential groups implementing the project in 2022 and 183 village cultural houses and residential groups implementing the project in 2023. In addition, the management boards of all cultural houses, sports areas, core teams, groups, and cultural and artistic and sports clubs in the province have all participated in training to improve their professional skills. After 3 years of implementing the project, the Provincial People's Committee has allocated 27 billion VND for 327 cultural houses, village sports areas, and residential groups. In addition to the funding supported by the Provincial People's Committee, in the process of completing cultural houses, village sports areas, and residential groups, localities have proactively arranged funding and actively mobilized people, businesses, and philanthropists to contribute to construction, purchase equipment, organize, and maintain cultural and sports activities with a total value of tens of billions of VND. Modern and spacious facilities have become favorable conditions to mobilize a large number of people from all walks of life to actively participate in mass cultural and sports activities. According to statistics, the province currently has over 3,000 cultural and artistic clubs with over 60 different types. Localities pay attention to and promote socialization, especially for mass cultural activities, actively contributing to preserving and promoting many types of folk performances such as Cheo singing, Van singing, water puppetry, dragon dance, etc.

Mass rowing clubs play an active role in preserving and promoting the art of rowing.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Thai Thuy district, shared: The highlight in the construction of village and residential group cultural houses in Thai Thuy is the mobilization of social resources. In 3 years, the total investment cost for the construction of village and residential group cultural houses was 66 billion VND, the socialized cost was nearly 41 billion VND, thus the socialized source accounted for over 65% of the total construction cost. Along with the investment in upgrading facilities, the effectiveness of activities taking place at village and residential group cultural houses gradually met the needs of enjoying spiritual culture of local people. After 3 years, the whole Thai Thuy district has developed 156 more cultural, artistic, and sports clubs with regular activities.

Mr. Tran Xuan Nhan, Head of Tan Duong village, Thai Hung commune (Hung Ha) said: Along with the construction of cultural institutions, the cultural and artistic movement is increasingly vibrant, attracting many people from all walks of life to participate. The village has established and effectively maintained a number of clubs such as: volleyball, health care, folk dance, especially the Cheo singing club run by the village women's association. From socialized resources, the clubs are increasingly developing, with many exchange activities on traditional festivals, national solidarity days... Hopefully, all villages and hamlets will build and maintain the activities of the cultural and sports clubs, creating a healthy playground for everyone of all ages.

Building a healthy cultural environment

The quality and effectiveness of grassroots cultural and sports activities have contributed positively to enhancing the spirit of solidarity in the community, promoting the movement of building cultural villages, residential groups and neighborhoods. From here, by 2023, the whole province will have 91.8% of villages, residential groups and neighborhoods achieving the title of cultural residential area. In particular, there are residential areas that have maintained this title for many consecutive years such as Binh Minh village, Bach Thuan commune (Vu Thu); Trung Lich Dong village, Dong Cac commune (Dong Hung), Dong Thinh village, Thai Thinh commune (Thai Thuy); Loc Ninh village, Nam Hung commune (Tien Hai)... Through the implementation of criteria for building cultural residential areas, people are more aware of their responsibility to comply with the law, social evils are pushed back, contributing to maintaining local security and order.

As one of the localities in Kien Xuong district that has been awarded the title of cultural residential area for many consecutive years, Thai Hoa village, Binh Dinh commune has many good and creative ways of doing things. Mr. Nguyen Van Man, Party Cell Secretary, Head of the Village Front Work Committee said: To improve the quality and effectiveness of movements, there must be solidarity, unity, and promotion of democracy in the Party Cell, mass organizations and people. Besides, propaganda work plays a very important role. The content of the movement of the whole people uniting to build a cultural life is always promptly informed to the people through the radio system, mass organizations, residential groups... Practice in the village over the past many years has proven that the close connection between building a cultural life and socio-economic development has made cultural activities implemented synchronously and in depth. In addition, for organizations and individuals who actively contribute to the construction of cultural and sports institutions, and the establishment and maintenance of cultural and sports activities in the village, the village front work committee has requested the People's Committee of the commune to promptly commend and spread the message among the people. Thereby, not only promoting the effectiveness of cultural institutions in the commune and village, but also building trust among the people, creating resources to continue investing in additional equipment to serve the activities at cultural institutions.

Each residential area has a flexible and suitable way of doing things according to the local reality, but in general, they have mobilized the active participation of all classes of people in each collective activity. Since then, there has been a strong change in building a healthy cultural environment and implementing a civilized lifestyle; at the same time, the good traditional cultural values of the nation have been preserved and promoted... contributing to building and developing the culture and people of Thai Binh to meet the requirements of sustainable development of the province and the country.