Individuals and representatives from groups and organisations operating in creative fields take part in Creativity Challenge Playground this year. — Photo vietnamplus.vn.

HÀ NỘI — The fourth annual Vietnam Festival of Creativity & Design will officially return in November.

Under the theme CHANGE: The Creativity Challenge, VFCD 2022 will take place from November 7 to 20, 2022.

The programme will include cultural exploration tours, talks, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, and various online activities discussing the visions, trends, cultural identity and future opportunities for creative industries in Việt Nam. Most events will not require entrance fees.

VFCD 2022 is organised by RMIT University Vietnam in collaboration with UNESCO, Việt Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies (VICAS), COLAB Việt Nam and other partners in the creative industries.

“We have seen massive global shifts created by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Professor Julia Gaimster, dean of RMIT School of Communication & Design.

“These include the ways in which people work, how they connect and communicate, and their priorities for the future.

“Our aim is to make the festival sustainable for the future, to continue to create impact and support for the creative industries in Việt Nam, and to provide opportunities for a wider audience to engage with and understand the value of creativity in all aspects of our lives,” Julia said.

In anticipation of the main programme in November, VFCD this year has opened up an unprecedented opportunity for cross-disciplinary collaboration with the Creativity Challenge Playground.

Currently underway, this challenge pairs individuals, groups, organisations or businesses operating in at least two different creative fields.

Each pair will receive funding of VNĐ50 million (approximately US$2,100) and support from the organisers to generate ideas and produce prototypes of cultural and creative products or services.

These prototypes will be showcased during the festival weeks in Hà Nội and HCM City.

“The Creative Challenge Playground is essentially a model that promotes interdisciplinary connectivity in creative practice,” said Associate Professor Dr. Nguyễn Thị Thu Phương, deputy director of the VICAS.

“It forms ideas that embody ‘change for sustainable development’ – the theme of the challenge.”

“We expect to create a playground to connect, challenge and get Vietnamese talent to go beyond their creative capacity. They can level up their knowledge and skills relating to culture, arts and creativity, while building their capacity for cross-disciplinary project execution and management.”

VFCD, initiated by RMIT University Vietnam in 2019, creates an open, timely and interactive platform for creative individuals and organisations to engage with an extended audience online and offline.

It has contributed to driving partnerships and projects among organisations and individuals in the cultural-creative sector in Việt Nam over the past three years.

The festival organisation board is calling on the creative and cultural communities in Việt Nam to submit proposals for events and activities to be featured in the festival this year.

Individuals, groups, organisations and enterprises are welcomed to propose their ideas by 15th September 2022 via the registration form.

By organising a series of creative activities that are open to all, VFCD is a catalyst to realise objectives of the National Strategy for the Development of Cultural Industries in Việt Nam.

At the same time, the festival supports the formation of a “creative belt” across the country through the eventual expansion of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Việt Nam. — VNS