From December 1 to 7, 2023, a series of activities took place at the Hữu Vũ House, within the Văn Miếu - Quốc Tử Giám Historical Site in Hanoi. These activities were organized by the British Council in coordination with the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam), including a conference on “The Living Cultural Heritages and Sustainable Development”; an exhibition of traditional textiles and pottery from Bàu Trúc (Ninh Thuận); and two performances showcasing traditional music exchanges of the Bahnar and Cham people, conducted by local artists on December 2-3, 2023.
The conference “The Living Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development” is part of a connecting project by the British Council in Vietnam. It serves as a forum for policymakers, experts, and practitioners in cultural heritage. Attendees included Mr. Nông Quốc Thành - Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam); Ms. Nikki Locke and Mr. Donna Mc Govan - representatives of the British Council; guests from the Goethe Institute, the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts, and the Vietnamese Institute for Musicology; officials from the Department of Cultural Heritage (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam); as well as representatives from localities who participated in the project. On the basis of a people-centered approach and the contributions of the communities to the conservation of intangible cultural heritage and its sustainable development in Vietnam, participants were exposed to numerous insights shared and presented by experts, cultural managers, artists, and local officials participating in the project, addressing issues such as: the project’s implementation, opportunities and challenges arising from the project, the promotion of cultural heritages in an equitable manner, and the project’s affect on local communities, among others.
Participation in the conference enabled the Vietnamese Institute for Musicology to learn many valuable lessons regarding the conservation and sustainable development of traditional musical heritage within the community.

NGUYEN THI HONG LAN