VietNam
The program aimed to connect key individuals and organizations in the Festival sector from various countries with Scotland’s cultural and creative networks. The visit coincided with the opening of the Edinburgh Festival, the pinnacle of the city’s artistic life, when every street corner, building, and public space can be transformed into a performance stage. Hội An had the chance to explore well-organized festival management models, methods of utilizing heritage sites and abandoned spaces for community purposes, and the collaborative roles of government, businesses, and communities in developing sustainable culture and arts. Notable examples included: a handmade printing center converted from an old printworks, funded by the Scottish Government and leased for a symbolic rate of £1 for 125 years; and the Hidden Festival, staged in a 15-hectare former factory site, run by a group of young volunteers as a creative playground and workspace for international artists. From a small city with numerous historic monuments, Edinburgh has evolved into the “Festival City” of the world, attracting visitor numbers second only to the Olympic Games and the World Cup, while successfully preserving its local cultural identity.
With its heritage foundation and growing creative community, Hội An is gradually learning from and applying these sustainable values to work toward becoming a comprehensive Creative City, a place where art and heritage coexist in harmony. This working trip was a valuable opportunity for Hội An to learn from the shared values between the two localities and to expand international partnerships in festival organization and creative space development, with the goal of becoming a leading cultural and artistic destination in the region and the world. Representatives from Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh City, Huế, and Hội An - Đà Nẵng took part in this year’s event.
