The old French villa conservation project is among three nominations for the Job Prize category. Photo thanglong.chinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI - Nominations for the 15th Bùi Xuân Phái Awards have been announced by the Vietnam News Agency’s daily Thể Thao Văn Hóa (Culture & Sports).

The Bùi Xuân Phái Awards are held annually in autumn to honour organisations and individuals who have contributed to preserving and developing the capital city of Hà Nội.

From 40 entries, ten were chosen to vie for awards including the Grand Prize, Work Prize, Idea Prize and Job Prize.

There are three nominations for the Work Prize. They are photo books Hanoi Hanoi, Người Hà Nội: Chuyện Ăn Chuyện Uống Một Thời (Hanoians: Cuisine Culture Once a Time); and Tranh Dân Gian Kim Hoàng (Kim Hoàng Folk Paintings).

Compiled by Vietnamese-American Minh Phạm and Italian Paola Boncompagni, the black-and-white photos capture the authors’ impression of the people, rhythms of life and unique cultural features of Hà Nội.

The Job Prize also sees three nominations. They include the conservation project for the old French villa at 46 Hàng Bài Street in Hoàn Kiếm District, the project on preservation and development of Chùa Village Poetry Festival, and the preservation of French colonial architecture-building at the National Supreme People’s Court.

Three other nominations have been named for the Idea Prize. The first one is the Hà Nội People’s Committee with a proposal to remove the surrounding fence and create a walking area along Trần Nhân Tông Street, thereby increasing the value of the landscape in the central area of Hà Nội.

The second is a pilot project to establish 200 bike rental spots in seven inner districts. The project is carried out by non-state sectors. The spots will be erected in a way that is connected with public transport services such as buses and metro lines.

It is expected to change local people’s commuting habits and will contribute to reducing environmental pollution.

The last one in this category is the idea of Hoàn Kiếm People’s Committee to turn the island in the middle of the Red River into a park aiming to make good use of natural scenery to promote tourism.

The only nomination for and also the winner of the Grand Prize will be announced at the award ceremony as usual.

They are the most important awards granted to an individual who has devoted his or her life to the development of Hà Nội and has a career that is strongly connected to the capital city.

The six-member jury panel is headed by chairman poet Bằng Việt, former president of Việt Nam Union of Literature and Arts Association.

Launched in August 2008 on the occasion of the 88th anniversary of the birth of celebrated painter Bùi Xuân Phái (1920-88), the awards are an initiative of Sport & Culture daily and the artist's family. - VNS