The Space of Gong Culture of Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) is among 15 UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Việt Nam. VNA/VNS Photo Sỹ Huynh

HCM CITY — The Việt Nam Culture Heritage Association is calling for Vietnamese amateur and professional artists in the country and abroad to take part in a painting contest honouring national cultural heritages.

Tô Văn Động, the association’s deputy chairman, said: “the Di Sản Văn Hóa Việt Nam Qua Hội Họa (Vietnamese Cultural Heritage through Painting) competition aims to create an opportunity for artists to learn more about Vietnamese cultural heritage and inspire them to create paintings contributing to the protection, preservation and promotion of this heritage among young people.”

The entries can be paintings on canvas and silk and graphic paintings, depicting values of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and landscapes across the country.

Contestants aged 20 and over can send multiple entries to the contest via email dsvnquahoihoa@gmail.com by September 30.

A panel of judges will choose 100 qualified works for the showcase at the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum in Hà Nội, and other locations across the country.

The organisers will present an excellent prize in cash of VNĐ100 million (US$4,260), and six top prizes and 20 consolation prizes worth VNĐ495 million ($21,100).

The winners will be announced in late November to mark Việt Nam Cultural Heritage Day on November 23.

Việt Nam currently has more than 40,000 historical, artistic and architectural relics, including eight UNESCO-recognised Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites, 128 special national sites, and over 3,610 national sites.

The country also has around 70,000 intangible cultural heritage elements, including 15 UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage Elements, 25 national treasures, and 483 national intangible cultural heritage elements. – VNS