(VOVWORLD) - The British Council, in partnership with the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Art Studies (VICAS), has launched its Cultural and Creative Hubs Vietnam project in several major cities in Vietnam. The EU-funded project, which runs between 2018 and 2021, offers support to organizations and practitioners in the fields of arts, culture, and creativity.
 A Cultural and Creative Hub (CCH). (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)
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A Cultural and Creative Hub (CCH) is a place, physical or virtual, which brings people together to express artistic ideas and creativity in a free and open environment, and in turn allows them to share a variety of artistic outputs with their communities. Hanoi is now home to around 100 CCHs that are independent arts and creative spaces, often led and managed by artists and creative practitioners. These organizations are important players in the cultural sector, having great potential for engaging in and supporting artistic expressions and access to cultural life. One of them, AgoHub at No. 12 Hoa Ma street, specializes in exhibitions, workshops, libraries, education, and cuisine.
"AgoHub aims to become a useful destination for architects and engineers, especially those who are searching for more knowledge and information exchanges. AgoHub members are allowed to access a huge database related to architecture, construction, and new materials," said Nguyen Thanh Hai, a representative of AgoHub.
At the Center for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents (TPD) in Hanoi, courses on acting and other fields related to moving making are organized regularly. Meanwhile, Hanoi-based Kinergie Studio is a dance studio designed to bring contemporary dance and ballet closer to the community.
"Being not only an address for the community to learn and exchange passion for performing arts, Kinergie Studio is also a nurturing space for young artists with creative and daring projects and artistic vision. We offer regular classes on ballet and contemporary dance for both adults and children while hosting workshops and cooperative projects on performing arts," said the studio manager Bui Thi Thu Hien.
Manzi Cafe in the Old Quarter is another destination worth seeking out. A restored French villa hosts diverse painting, sculpture and photography exhibitions, and the compact courtyard garden is perfect for a cup of coffee or glass of wine. While Work Room at Hanoi’s Tay Ho district is specialized in fashion and arts, the Toong co-working space is designed for independent artists who are seeking out a place to create. Phu Sa Lab is a small community for independent artists, who work mostly in music and circus.
"Phu Sa Lab is running a performance called “The Bamboo Talk” featuring independent artists. By October, we’ll debut another new program literally called 'Shoot the breeze'. We also focus on preserving ca tru or ceremonial singing. We are doing our best to create a space for independent artists to promote their creativity," said Nguyen Thi My Linh, Phu Sa Lab's representative.
The CCH project will not only focus on big cities like Hanoi, HCM City, and Da Nang, but also connect hubs and audiences in non-urban areas. By supporting the network of CCHs across the country, it aims to further the development of the arts and culture in Vietnam.