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Contesting the title: Artists from Ha Noi's Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre perform on stage. Performing artists throughout the country are complaining about stiffer criteria recently set for the prestigious titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist. — VNA/VNS Photo Phuong Hoa |
People's Artist is the most prestigious title for performing artists in Viet Nam, given since 1984. Up until the last award in 2008, 191 artists have received the title. Pianist Dang Thai Son was the youngest artist to receive the honour, being named a People's Artist in 1984 at the age of 26.
Meritorious Artist is a lower level title, deemed a stepping stone to the higher honour.
Although the period for considering new nominations has been reduced from once every five years to once every two years, some artists are claiming the new criteria are too demanding.
For the title of Meritorious Artist, eligible nominees must have worked in their particular field for at least 15 years (10 years for circus artists) and needed to have won at least two gold medals at national or international festivals.
"This condition is too challenging," said Dao Quang, head of the Nam Dinh Drama Troupe. "It tends to judge an artist's contribution according to medals he or she has won rather than by his or her actual contribution to the community.
"It is quite difficult for an artist to win at least two gold medals as the national theatrical festival is only held every five years," Quang added. "And it's not sure that a second medal can be won at such rare festivals."
Quang claimed that, in fact, some enormously talented artists do not win any medals at all.
Cai luong (reformed opera) artist Quoc Hung from Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre agreed, saying that some young artists might be eligible for the nomination list before other, more experienced artists.
"Young artists always have more chances to get leading roles, which lead to more chances to earn medals," Hung said.
Hung also argued that the requirement was not fair to artists who worked closely with the troupes that travelled to remote areas to serve rural audiences, a time of performance few medal holders were keen on.
The Nam Dinh Drama Troupe has nominated two artists for the People's Artist title and four for the Meritorious Artist title this year. The Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, instead sent a list of artists who did not meet the criteria on the number of medals but were talented and experienced enough for the prestigious titles.
"The list includes artists Thoai Mieu, Truong Hong Long and Kim Phuong, who have worked in the theatre since national liberation in 1975 and worked hard with their colleagues to overcome difficult times and preserve the art of cai luong," Hung said. "They have also been ready to step aside and let younger artists try their hands at lead roles."
The Ha Noi Cai Luong Theatre has also submitted a list of six artists for the Meritorious Artist title, four of whom were proposed under special privileges.
"Some artists do not have enough gold medals," said theatre director Quang Hung. "But they have four silver medals. They deserve the Meritorious Artist title."
Hung proposed the culture ministry consider two silver medals as equivalent to one gold medal, along with considering nominees' enthusiasm for their work.
Even eligible nominees are now required to receive at least three-fourths of the votes from the jury, another obstacle for some talented and enthusiastic artists to receive the titles. — VNS
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