Thai Binh Literature and Arts: 50 years of struggle and creativity

In 1970, when the entire Party, people and army were focusing on the resistance war against the US to save the country, the Provincial Literature and Arts Association was born. Bearing in mind the teachings of President Ho Chi Minh: "Culture and art are also a front. You are soldiers on that front", for over 50 years, regardless of the circumstances, the team of artists in the province has always promoted the spirit of solidarity, closely following the vivid reality of life, using their pens and passionate patriotic hearts as sharp weapons on the ideological and cultural front, practically serving political tasks, making important contributions to the achievements of the country and homeland.

Painter Do Nhu Diem - member of the fine arts association in Thai Binh is famous for many excellent propaganda paintings.

Creative activism

As one of the branches established at the same time as the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, the Fine Arts Association currently has nearly 50 members, including 20 members of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. Painter Hoang Quoc Viet, Head of the Fine Arts Association, shared: 50 years since the country's reunification is not a long journey but has recorded many efforts of the first and current generations of painters of the Association. In 1975, the first provincial fine arts exhibition was held with the theme "Welcoming the liberation of the South and the reunification of the country". The exhibition gathered painters in the province who enthusiastically participated with a full range of genres and materials such as oil paint, pigment, silk, propaganda paintings, etc. Many works of art at the exhibition are preserved by the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. From here, the fine arts movement in the province has grown more and more. As the country integrates, cultural needs also increase gradually, domestic and international exhibitions are held frequently, creating a generation of young artists who dare to think, dare to do, dare to dream. There are many artists who have confidently affirmed their names in the new land. In particular, in 2003, the Thai Binh Young Artists Club was established, actively nurturing the passion for art, serving as a foundation for developing quality works, at the same time, increasingly recognizing many new faces coming to the country's fine arts.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, President of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, informed: Before 1975, the Association's activities and the creations of its members such as memoirs, novels, poems, propaganda posters, music, stage plays, etc. all focused on the main theme of praising revolutionary heroism, the tradition of steadfastness and indomitability against foreign invaders, the emulation movement "Excess rice, excess troops", labor, production in localities, etc. to encourage and motivate the entire Party and people to mobilize all human and material resources for the struggle for national liberation and national reunification. The country was at peace, unified and entered a period of innovation, promoting industrialization and modernization, the team of artists and writers promoted the spirit, sense of responsibility, and civic duty of those working in literature and art, actively exploring, creating, and expanding the scope in all forms of art. In the field of literature, in parallel with the strong development in almost all genres of poetry, short stories, novellas, memoirs, novels, etc., in the fields of collection, research, translation, folk literature, researchers diligently go on field trips, painstakingly collect documents, and produce quite massive works and works on the traditional values of the province. Photographers and painters innovate their creative styles and genres, approaching world photography and painting to both meet the expectations of professionals and express their profound views and concerns of photography and fine arts of the era. Members of the association of stage, music and dance artists compose, practice day and night, bring their lyrics, singing voices and talents to transform into female actors, female actors, historical figures, artistic images, etc. to serve millions of audiences inside and outside the province. At the same time, Thai Binh artists have had many art performances to serve soldiers who are guarding and protecting the sovereignty of the border, sea and islands day and night, and also soldiers on the beloved Truong Sa archipelago of the Fatherland...

Members of the theater, music and dance associations have contributed to the success of many outstanding art programs serving the public.

Actively develop professional skills

Accompanying the activities of its members, 50 years after the country's reunification, the Provincial Literature and Arts Association has done a good job of uniting, gathering, and promoting artistic creativity. In particular, political and ideological education, information provision, and creative orientation are focused on; linking the creative activities of 307 members in 8 specialized branches with the propaganda to carry out the political tasks of the country and the province.

Regarding the training and professional development for members, Mr. Pham Tan Anh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, shared: Through professional development activities for members such as: inviting central professional associations to train branches, organizing seminars and talks on issues of interest in the field of literature and arts, organizing creative field trips, comprehensive creative camps, exhibitions, introducing works... members of each specialized branch have in-depth knowledge, regularly update creative trends and exchange and learn from experiences with members inside and outside the province and central associations. Professional training and development activities help members improve their level of awareness and artistic creativity, and at the same time send to the public many valuable works in both content and art.

Currently, out of 307 members of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, 151 are members of the central professional association in Thai Binh. At the same time, every year, hundreds of works of art by Thai Binh artists are honored at domestic and international competitions, festivals and exhibitions. This not only affirms the increasingly improved quality of literary and artistic creations but also shows that this place is always a fertile land for nurturing, cultivating and developing talents and passion for art.