The Creative Design Festival 2024, themed “Creative Crossroads,” will take place from November 9 to 17 in cultural heritage spaces and traditional craft villages across various districts of Hanoi.
This festival marks Hanoi's participation in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for 2024-2025, as outlined in Plan No. 266/KH-UBND, recently signed by Vice Chairman Vu Thu Ha. The initiative aims to leverage the capital's strengths in creative design while implementing commitments made upon joining the UNESCO network, ultimately establishing a vibrant creative design festival, it noted.
The Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023 drew 200,000 visitors at the Gia Lam Locomotive Factory (Long Bien District, Hanoi). Photo: tckt.vn
The festival will feature 100 creative activities, including iconic installations, creative space models, exhibitions, artistic performances, and both international and domestic seminars focused on innovation.
The main venue will be the August Revolution Square, strategically located at the intersection of the North-South axis (Ly Thai To Street - Le Thanh Tong Street) and the East-West axis (Bac Co Slope - Trang Tien Street). Key architectural landmarks such as the Hanoi Children’s Palace and the National History Museum will be highlighted.
The festival experience will offer residents a chance to engage with significant architectural works tied to Hanoi's history. In a first for the event, the Government Guest House, the Hanoi Opera House, and the Vietnam National University - Hanoi will open their doors for public tours. This initiative stands out as one of the key highlights of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024.
The event’s organizing committee will introduce several creative design contests aimed at engaging young people in shaping the city's future.
Establishing the “Creative City” brand
Hanoi is recognized as the political and administrative center of Vietnam and serves as a cultural hub for the nation, as stated in Resolution No. 15-NQ/TW.
With a focus on developing the cultural industry as a key economic sector under Resolution No. 09-NQ/TU, the city has encouraged various initiatives to promote this sector. Among these is the Hanoi Creative Design Festival, which has become an annual highlight for the capital.
In its fourth year, the festival is being held as Hanoi actively implements initiatives from its participation in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Since officially joining in 2019, Hanoi has been the first city in Vietnam to become a member of this prestigious network.
As a leading “conductor” of creativity, Hanoi’s influence is expanding, with other cities like Hoi An and Dalat also joining the network.
The upcoming festival is set to play a crucial role in solidifying Hanoi's identity as a Creative City. Each year, the themes and scale of the event expand, transforming it into a vibrant celebration for creatives and culture enthusiasts in the capital, according to the plan.
The event has been instrumental in developing a network of young creative designers, supporting innovative spaces, and plans to launch a Creative Activity Coordination Center.
In honor of the 70th anniversary of Hanoi's liberation, the festival activities are rich with the city's historical memories.
The Creative Design Festival, held annually, seeks to fulfill Hanoi’s commitment to UNESCO following its inclusion in the Creative Cities Network. This initiative aims to enhance awareness among businesses and the community regarding the role of creativity in advancing cultural industries.
Hanoi government expects to establish the “Hanoi Creative Design Festival” as an annual event of international and regional significance, attracting a diverse audience of creators, local residents, and both domestic and international visitors.
This initiative will help enhance the cultural and historical value of architecture across various districts, contributing to urban revitalization and promoting creative spaces that support the capital's cultural industries.
As part of the plan, Hanoi will engage in various activities within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The city will invite organizations and individuals in the creative design sector to participate, collaborate, and promote innovative initiatives, while also fostering connections with other cities in the network.
In its role as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Hanoi will establish an advisory council of experts to implement activities that highlight its status as a Creative City.
The plan highlighted that the city will also promote international collaboration with other member cities, encourage other Vietnamese cities to join the network, and participate in global and regional forums and conferences organized by UNESCO.
DO HUONG
VNQD