A workshop held in Hanoi under the project Future of Tradition. — Photo courtesy of British Council

 



The two-year pilot initiative in Colombia, Kenya and Vietnam aims to explorethe use of cultural heritage for growth to benefit all levels of society.

Three recipients from the project’s Phase 3 are musicians Ngo Hong Quang andbeatboxer Trung Bao; film critic Le Hong Lam; and filmmakers Le My Cuong andThanh Nguyen.

Quang and Bao’s “See the Sound” is a multi-media project including documentary,a publication and various community events. Traditional musician Quang andunderground hip-hop beatboxer Bao will work together exploring memory andidentity through parallel creative journeys in traditional Vietnamese music andhip-hop.

Saigon Cinema 1954-1975 by Lam will research the films and filmmakers of thepre-1975 period in southern Vietnam. The project includes a book release and ascreening programme of restored cinematic works.

Cuong and Nguyen in co-operation with Vietnam Television will follow a tuong(traditional opera) troupe as they travel and perform through the Mekong RiverDelta to make a documentary.

The recipients are among 15 people in total who will receive money from FAMLAB(Film, Archive and Music Lab).

The previous recipients included the Future of Tradition; Hanoi New MusicFestival; Viet Cine Corner; Action for H’Mong Development; Art Labour; andCultural Community Discourse, among others.

The project has four rounds that will seek to create opportunities forcommunities across the country to contribute to, and benefit from, thesafeguarding and reinvigoration of their cultural heritage.

The fourth round is now open for submissions until August 15.

The FAMLAB Fund gives 100,000 pounds (about 121,000 USD) to support projectsthat engage with the music or film heritage of Vietnam through contemporarymediums and practices.

The FAMLAB Fund aims to support these projects by encouraging arts and culturalpractitioners to explore innovative ways of engaging and interacting with newaudiences via Vietnamese music and film heritage.

Activities include research, documentation, conservation, training andcapacity-building (including oral teaching techniques), experimentation andinnovation, advocacy, policy and community dialogues, and support of the re-imaginationand revitalisation of cultural heritage elements via contemporary practices.-VNS/VNA