Create favorable conditions for private individuals to open museums
Discussing at the meeting hall, Most Venerable Thich Bao Nghiem (National Assembly Delegation of Hanoi) assessed that the Draft Law on Cultural Heritage (amended) has been scientifically and seriously researched, with many innovations that are more practical than the current Law. The Draft Law has mentioned many policies on cultural development in general and many policies on religious cultural values, historical and cultural relics in particular.
Referring to the issue of historical, cultural and religious relics, the delegate said that Article 24 of the 2013 Constitution has determined that the State respects and protects the right to freedom of religious belief. Currently, the country has many organizations belonging to 16 religions that have been recognized by the State. The Party and the State are very interested and have issued the 2016 Law on Religious Belief and many related legal documents to create conditions for religions to be equal before the law.
The Draft Law on Cultural Heritage (amended) this time also mentions regulations on management, protection and promotion of cultural heritage values in general and historical relics, artifacts, antiquities, and documentary heritage in particular. Particularly, historical and cultural religious relics contain not only tangible heritage values but also intangible values that are integrated and harmonized. Delegates hope to consider specifying the criteria for identifying mixed relics and socialization in protecting and promoting the value of relics.
Concerned about the activities of private museums, delegate Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa (National Assembly Delegation of Dong Thap Province) said that Chapter 5 of the Draft Law on Museum Activities and Policies for Private Museums is a new chapter; the contents are inherited, adjusted, and supplemented more specifically to perfect the legal corridor, creating favorable conditions for museum activities.
The delegate analyzed that currently, the policy for non-public museums in our country has received attention but still does not meet the needs and development trends, the legal corridor is available but not clear, especially issues related to conditions and criteria for ranking non-public museums. At the same time, private museums face difficulties in expertise, profession and lack of professional museum staff. In addition, the granting of operating licenses for non-public museums in Clause 2, Article 64 is still general.
From that reality, delegate Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa suggested that the Drafting Committee should continue to study more specific and clear regulations, creating favorable conditions for private individuals to open museums while creating convenience for authorities in management.
Need to pay attention to policies to support artisans
Participating in the discussion, delegate Ho Thi Kim Ngan (National Assembly Delegation of Bac Kan province) said that Clause 6, Article 7 on honoring and having preferential policies for talented artisans, artisans who hold and have merit in protecting and promoting the value of intangible cultural heritage, especially artisans from ethnic minorities living in mountainous areas, remote areas, border areas, islands, ethnic groups with special difficulties in disseminating traditional forms of life, training and teaching successors.
According to the delegate, this regulation is set out but is only a principle, not clearly showing and regulating special treatment policies for ethnic minority artisans in general and whether the treatment is different from that of other artisans or not?
Besides, the regulation that ethnic minority artisans receive special attention is not yet complete and comprehensive; it has not created motivation and encouragement for ethnic minority artisans.
To properly resolve the harmonious relationship between cultural preservation and development, delegate Ho Thi Kim Ngan suggested that there should be specific mechanisms to promptly treat, encourage and honor ethnic minority artisans. Thereby, promoting all potential contributions of the work of preserving and promoting traditional culture.
Delegate Tran Thi Van (National Assembly Delegation of Bac Ninh Province) expressed her opinion on the provisions in Article 13 of the draft Law: artisans are considered living human treasures, the thread that holds together elements of folk culture and the keeper of the fire of heritage. However, the implementation of regulations on monthly support and subsidy regimes for artisans in general and artisans (who have been awarded titles by the State) with low incomes and difficult circumstances is still limited. According to the summary report on the implementation of the Law on Cultural Heritage, since the Law was promulgated, only 20/1881 artisans who have been awarded titles have enjoyed this subsidy regime.
Delegate Tran Thi Van also proposed adding "folk artisans" to the list of beneficiaries of the policy along with People's artisans and excellent artisans in the draft Law on Cultural Heritage (amended).
All artisans who have been awarded titles by the State are entitled to support.
Speaking to explain and clarify some issues raised by delegates, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung affirmed that according to the current law, there are national museums, specialized museums, provincial museums and private museums. However, in this amendment, the approach is more open, allowing for public and non-public museums; at the same time, diversifying museum models to provide services and better serve the cultural enjoyment of the people. Regarding digital museums, the drafting agency has added regulations on exhibitions in cyberspace, when they are "ripe" enough, there will be digital museums.
Regarding the opinions of delegates regarding policies for artisans, the Minister said that artisans play a very important role in preserving and promoting the value of relics and heritage. Therefore, to overcome the shortcomings of the current law, the drafting agency proposed that the National Assembly pass specific policies for artisans, not only artisans in difficult circumstances, but all artisans when honored and recognized will enjoy the policies issued by the State, including monthly living expenses. In addition, depending on local resources, the People's Council decides on separate policies to help artisans have conditions to teach better.
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