Summary of 50 years of Gia Lai literature and art after the country's reunification

The conference was chaired by comrades: Chau Ngoc Tuan - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation; Pham Thi To Hai - Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Head of the Provincial Party Committee's Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission.

Conference scene. **Photo: Quoc Nguyen**

Attending the conference were members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Nguyen Tuan Anh - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Rah Lan Lam - Director of the Provincial Police; Thai Thanh Binh - Chairman of the Provincial Party Committee's Inspection Committee, along with representatives of specialized agencies advising and assisting the Provincial Party Committee; representatives of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; leaders of departments, branches, units, socio-political organizations, and outstanding artists and artisans who have made many contributions to the literature and arts of Gia Lai province in the 50 years after the country's reunification.

Speaking at the conference, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Chau Ngoc Tuan said: This is also an opportunity to look back on the 50-year journey of developing literature and art in the province; at the same time affirming the role and position of culture and art in preserving the origin, arousing the desire to rise up and beautify life in the new era.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Chau Ngoc Tuan speaks at the conference. **Photo: Quoc Nguyen**

The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee assessed: “The 50-year journey after the country's reunification is a meaningful period, marking the efforts, dedication and unceasing creativity of many generations of artists and artisans in the province. In difficult conditions, from remote villages to developing urban areas, you have worked tirelessly in your art, bringing your sensitive hearts and talents to portray the beauty of the people and land of Gia Lai .

Many people have devoted their lives, overcoming material limitations, quietly composing works that move people’s hearts, marking the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities. Artists have become soldiers on the cultural front, using pens, drawings, and melodies to light the flame of Central Highlands culture, connecting the past with the present, inspiring generations.”

Specifically, works in the fields of Literature, Fine Arts, Music, Dance, Photography, Theater, Folk Arts not only contribute to preserving cultural identity but also reflect the life of Gia Lai people; at the same time, spread the spirit and beauty and bring Gia Lai's name far and wide on the national map of literature and art. That is shown through the statistics that may not be complete but are very remarkable and proud results, such as: 2 State awards; 1,909 awards for international literature and art, industry and region levels; 437 awards for provincial literature and art.

Outstanding artists attending the conference. **Photo: Quoc Nguyen**

At the same time, over the past 50 years, the Gia Lai province's literary and artistic force has continuously grown in both quantity and quality, as well as in political theory. From 40 members when it was first established, up to now, the Gia Lai Literature and Arts Association has a total of 207 members in 7 majors, with 51 party members, 3 doctors, 11 masters, 71 university graduates, and 9 college graduates. The province is honored to have 2 artists awarded the title of People's Artist; 8 artists awarded the title of Meritorious Artist; more than 30 artisans awarded the title of Meritorious Artisan.

“We are proud that Gia Lai today not only preserves ancient values but also becomes a bright spot in contemporary artistic creation. It is a continuation of the bridge between past-present-future, affirming the endless vitality of literature and art in the spiritual life of the people…”- The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee emphasized.

In the context of social networks, Gia Lai literature and art are facing both great opportunities and challenges, especially with the strong development of digital technology and artificial intelligence, in the coming time, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Chau Ngoc Tuan requested that Party committees, units and localities continue to effectively implement the tasks and solutions identified in the province's plans, conclusions and resolutions of the Central Committee on building and developing literature and art in the new period; at the same time, innovate thinking and leadership and direction methods, raise awareness and responsibility of Party committees and organizations, especially leaders, for literature and art work.

The Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee also proposed to increase investment in literature and art; ensure funding for major target programs, for creative activities of the Provincial Literature and Art Association, considering this as investment for development. Continue to promote traditions, build and develop Gia Lai artists and artisans in both quantity and quality; have a mechanism to discover, train, foster, use and treat competent artists, especially young, female and ethnic minority talents. Along with that, promote the work of preserving, inheriting and strongly promoting the unique cultural identity of ethnic groups.

Under the direction of the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Party committees, units and localities need to regularly organize dialogues, listen to the thoughts, aspirations and opinions of artists on the tasks and solutions to build and develop the province in general and literature and art in particular. Encourage artists to aim to create great works with profound ideological and artistic depth, especially on the topics of revolutionary history, the renovation process, new rural construction, national border sovereignty and the image of Gia Lai people in the new era.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee awarded certificates of merit to outstanding artists and artisans. **Photo: Quoc Nguyen**

At the conference, artists and artisans shared their pride in accompanying the 50-year journey of building and maturing Gia Lai province’s literature and arts after the country’s reunification. Delegates and leaders of departments and branches also exchanged their thoughts, aspirations and some proposals so that literature and arts have the opportunity to contribute more to the overall development of the province.

On this occasion, 71 outstanding artists and artisans were honored and awarded/posthumously received certificates of merit from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for their many contributions to the literature and arts of Gia Lai province in the 50 years after the country's reunification.