The role of creative hubs in the growth of Capital cultural industry
With the emergence of more and more creative models in Hanoi and across the country, the creative space concept has become familiar, especially when Hanoi is awarded as a UNESCO City of Design in October 2019. In the era of industrialization, modernization, and international integration, Hanoi capital has identified the fostering of creative spaces as one of the key targets of the cultural industry development in Hanoi.
A creative hub is a place, either physical or virtual, which brings creative people together. It is a convenor, providing space and support for networking, business development, and community engagement within the creative, cultural, and tech sectors. Creative hubs create a combination of culture and economy to boost business development as well as draw creativity from the community.
Mr. Michael Croft, Head of UNESCO Hanoi Office in Vietnam presented a certificate recognizing the title “Hanoi- UNESCO Creative Cities for Design” to Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (Photo: Truc Lam)
In the recent years, Hanoi has paid great attention to pave the way and create opportunities for creative hubs in the city to operate successfully with guidelines in all aspects: promoting communication to improve public awareness; centering on networking in activities and development of creative hubs; building policies to support creativity in organizations and individuals; etc. Additionally, Hanoi has implemented many solutions, considered the practical conditions of industries and fields in the capital. Particularly, building startup program to support organizations and individuals with proper ideas and creativity; expanding cultural hubs with the roadmap to the end of 2020: 25 new parks and more walking streets will be opened, more cultural and artistic activities will be held to improve spiritual life and promote, as well as inspire, creativity within the community; Moreover, there is the contribution of projects on developing craft villages, cultural tourism, and organizing periodic concerts, flower festivals, Hanoi Book Street, etc.
Hanoi Book Street – one of the creative cultural spaces, right from its inception, has received a great deal of response from the resident as well as tourists. (photo: Truc Lam)
Furthermore, Hanoi organized large-scale seminars with the participation of many domestic and international experts to draw lessons from the experience of organizations and individuals in expanding creative hubs; simultaneously, connected and built a healthy sustainability network of interaction in the development of the creative hubs; and actively contributed to Hanoi development.
By 2023, Hanoi will have to submit the first report about the implementation of the solutions set out on dossier for UNESCO recognition as a creative city. It is known that Hanoi is currently focusing on implementing initiatives and proposals such as establishing Hanoi Creative Design Center; building and consolidating creative hubs in Hanoi; carrying out Hanoi creative talent television series; organizing Hanoi Creative Design Festival and Hanoi Creative Design Week. These projects are all high feasibility. If they can be carried out, they will awaken the creative power in each organization and individual. Also, they will contribute to promoting the potential strengths, to make Hanoi become not only one of the three major industrial and cultural centers of Vietnam but also a creative city towards an important position in the region and Asia.
Map of pedestrian street ảound Ho Guom – a creative space has become familiar to the residents and visitors every weekend. Graphics: Tien Thanh – Ba Do
In the 21st century, the cultural industry is considered a pillar industry, enhancing the position and the influence of each nation. With thousand-year cultural sediments including nearly 6,000 historical relics ad hundreds of traditional craft villages, Hanoi is at the convergence of the elites from all the corners of the earth; therefore, it holds many potentials and advantages for the development of the cultural industry. In the development of cultural industries, infrastructure and production technology, creative hubs, which holds potentials, hidden strengths, will certainly be one of the solid foundations for the cultural industry development of the Capital.
By Mạnh Hà