With the combination between the natural landscape and the French colonial architecture, Le Loi street is appropriate to develop into a space for culture and art as a spotlight of the heritage city. This is, no doubt, a timely policy.
Music performance at Nha Ken (‘Open Orchestra House’)
A harmonious linkage
Le Loi was among the earliest streets in Hue, established in the early 19th century. Prior to 1943, it was named Jules Ferry, which the ordinary people called ‘Thuy Su’ street. Along this street, there were buildings of the French colony.
Dr. Tran Dinh Hang, Director of VICAS, Hue, remarked that the deliberate planning on the south bank of the Huong river has added more beauty to the river and reconciled with the nature and the ancient architecture of Hue.
For this, we have a Westernized space on the Huong bank that harmoniously combines architecture and landscape. This is a special feature to contribute to turning the buildings and garden along the river into a cultural and tourist space.
For its importance, a section of Le Loi street, between Phu Xuan Bridge and Truong Tien Bridge, was developed into the “Hue space of Culture and Arts” in accordance with the decision of the provincial people’s committee.
In addition to establishing the center of arts, museum and galleries to make artistic spotlight, the province has planned to renovate the functions of the cultural buildings along the river bank, along with exploiting the public spaces surrounding these.
For building up the series of open artistic centers, the fences around houses and business establishments have been dismantled.
The extension of museum and art center system closely tied to statue gardens and art galleries is appropriate to the development of a culture city. There are also landscape embellishment and infrastructure renovation as part of the city spotlight.
Doan Van Toan, a local citizen, said: “I like taking a walk along this street every day to behold the historically valuable buildings of arts and architecture and the beautiful landscape along the river bank. The establishment of a space of culture and arts will give Hue a new public image and attract more tourists. It is a good idea to put galleries, museums and parks into a network of open space as it allows public accessibility.
Another attraction is the ironwood bridge. Since its launch, the bridge has attracted thousands of arrivals for promenading, photo taking, and exercising. It becomes an ideal spot for leisure by the river.
Making a lively space
For a lively space of culture and arts, it is important to organize culture and art activities. The Department of Culture and Sports have had plans for attractive leisure and entertainment spots and art performing stages. These are both the places for artists to show their creativities and for the public and tourists to entertain.
It is expected that the system of walking streets and the space of culture and arts will be the night hub of Hue by night with various forms of arts from traditional to contemporary music.
Groups from guitar clubs, hip-hop and dance sports will contribute to the contemporary music performance, while groups of Hue Singing and Royal Theatrical Music, royal dance and royal opera and Hue classical opera (Tuong Hue) will perform to introduce the heritage values of Hue. Other forms of arts such as unicorn dance, calligraphy, puppetry, juggle and live statue will be present.
The chairman of Theater Association, Nguyen Van Thanh, said: “The Theater Association can contribute to the street performance every week with comedies and extracts from Hue classical operas. Our artists are very excited about this undertaking because they will have the opportunity to perform for the public and promote the traditional arts.”
There are currently 30 clubs, groups and businesses performing for the public. In addition, orchestras from Hue Academy of Music and the Hue Singing Club perform at the Hue Museum of Culture every week. These are resources for organizing art activities for the community.
Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of Department of Culture and Sports, said that activities of culture and arts such as Hue Singing show at the walking bridge, music performance at Nha Ken (‘Open Orchestra House’), will be proposed to make the space lively and create a spotlight for the city, thereby introducing Hue cultural values.
Museums and galleries can have their collections displayed both indoors and in the open-air space; they can organize contests for photograph of cultural heritage and galleries for artists, as well as artisans to introduce new forms of arts.
For the community performance program, part of the budget is supported by the State and part will be socialized. The government also has the policy for investment as well as sponsorship appeal, making it favorable for the artists to perform. Organizing agencies, on the other hand, need to be proactive to find the sources of socialization and sponsorship from the businesses and communities.