Artists and writers need to be ready to enter a new era.

Recently, musician Do Hong Quan - Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front - attended the 8th Congress of the Provincial Literature and Arts Association, term 2025-2030. On the sidelines of the congress, musician Do Hong Quan took the time to share with a reporter from Khanh Hoa Newspaper some contents related to literature and arts activities in the new situation.

- In recent times, many young talents have emerged in the Vietnamese arts scene, exploring and creating works that are both culturally rich and modern, and have been positively received by audiences. Could the musician share his thoughts on this?

Composer Do Hong Quan.

- In today's cultural and artistic scene, many young people are keen on and sensitive to new information and trends both domestically and internationally, leading to innovative creations. The advantage of young people is their quick wit and constant desire to discover new things. They are also tech-savvy and familiar with the methods of producing cultural and artistic works in the digital age. Therefore, these products are easily shared among young people. Regarding themes, young artists and writers continue to prioritize content about the country and the homeland, exploring contemporary life, and expressing national pride and a forward-looking perspective.

One thing to note, for arts and culture as well as other forms of spiritual culture, is that it must retain the unique characteristics and distinctive features of its own language and style, avoiding assimilation and internationalization that would cause the loss of national identity. If national identity is lost, the public will not be able to appreciate the beauty and richness of Vietnamese arts and culture. Therefore, every artist needs to learn a great deal from folk traditions and from previous generations of artists to obtain the material for their creations. In particular, artists need to immerse themselves in life so that each work breathes life, evoking emotion and feeling, rather than simply following fleeting trends. For example, in recent times, many singers and artists have reinterpreted folk songs and traditional folk melodies with new arrangements and orchestrations, which is also a way of exploring and reconnecting with the past. This requires each singer and artist to have a thorough understanding of the origins and roots of these folk songs in order to appreciate their beauty and essence, thus avoiding mere formalism. Because if they only clothe themselves in the guise of folk music without its soul, or even distort and misrepresent it, it will be unpleasant for the listener and could lead international audiences to mistakenly believe it is Vietnamese music, which is very dangerous.

- Currently, the whole country in general and the arts community in particular are facing new opportunities. So, according to the musician, what should artists in Khanh Hoa do to avoid missing out on these opportunities?

- In the current context, cultural and artistic activities are brimming with inspiration for innovation and creativity. It can be said that everyone is brimming with enthusiasm to enter a new era for the nation. However, cultural and artistic activities also face challenges and difficulties. In the context of the explosion of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with breakthroughs in science and technology, and the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI), the national digital transformation has become an inevitable trend, profoundly and strongly impacting the cultural environment and the creative environment of arts and culture. This forces every artist to move forward, to not remain passive; each individual must innovate themselves to keep pace with the times. The cultural cause in general, and the development of arts and culture in particular, always receives special attention from Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially during this period of national renewal and increasingly deep international integration. Artists and writers nationwide, and in Khanh Hoa in particular, are always encouraged to be creative and innovative, and their freedom of creation is respected through specific mechanisms for the development of arts and culture, in line with the general trends of the socio-economic situation.

- According to the musician, what role does the Khanh Hoa Provincial Association of Literature and Arts play in supporting its members to develop their creative abilities?

- Through my research, I learned that in recent times, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Association of Literature and Arts has organized many practical professional activities for its members, enabling them to create many excellent works in terms of ideology and art. Some of these works have won high awards domestically and internationally, contributing to the overall achievements of the Vietnam Union of Associations of Literature and Arts. Currently, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Association of Literature and Arts has 369 members, including approximately 150 members of central specialized associations of literature and arts, 8 members who have received State Awards for Literature and Arts, 4 People's Artists, and 14 Meritorious Artists… This is a great honor and serves as a shining example to encourage the spirit of artistic work and creativity among its members, thus further developing literature and arts in the new context.

Although cultural and artistic activities in Khanh Hoa province still face difficulties, overall there have been many positive developments. To be ready to enter a new era – an era of strong development with many major policies on the country's economic, cultural, and social development, including policies on cultural and artistic activities – the leaders of Khanh Hoa province need to continue to pay attention to and regularly create favorable conditions, encouraging the creative freedom of artists so that each individual can develop in a way that is worthy of being a soldier on the cultural front, with many high-quality works serving the people and life. On the part of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Association of Literature and Arts, it needs to continue to thoroughly understand the Party and State's guidelines and policies on culture and arts among all members; closely follow the directives in carrying out tasks to continue to have practical and timely activities, encouraging artists to create, perform, and conduct theoretical and critical research. The Provincial Association of Literature and Arts must truly become a strong socio-political and professional organization, a common home for generations of artists; the association must be a place where each member can confidently entrust their thoughts, feelings, and contribute their talents. The leadership of the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts must also actively and sensitively identify, train, nurture, and support young talents to help them develop and firmly continue the legacy of previous generations of artists; pay more attention to field trips for creative work and the publication of high-value, exemplary works of art; and continue to maintain close ties with specialized arts associations at the central level to expand the influence of works and the standing of authors… I believe that, with their large numbers, spirit of solidarity, and serious work ethic in the arts, the artists in Khanh Hoa will continue to achieve new successes.

Thank you, musician!

GIANG DINH (Execution)

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202503/van-nghe-si-can-san-ready-to-step-into-a-new-era-d1454d9/