Hoi An City has organized a workshop on "Creative Roadmap Together" and officially launched the "Hoi An Creative Space Design" contest. This is a key activity under the project "Promoting innovation for young people and communities for sustainable urban development" implemented by UN-Habitat, with funding from fondation Botnar (Switland).
The workshop has the participation of young people, artists, experts, businessmen and artisans in Hoi An to complete the exam questions and rules before launching the contest in July 2025.
The contest is expected to turn Central Park into the "innovative heart" of Hoi An - where the community can connect, learn, experience and develop creativity.
Mr. Nguyen Phuong Dong - Deputy Director of the Center for Culture, Sports - Radio and Television of Hoi An City said that the city wishes to convert the Friendship Building function at the Center Park into a multi-functional creative space serving the community.
"We hope that this space will create conditions for students and young people to express their talents and imagination through design competitions, innovation events, and idea exhibition.
In particular, this space can become a place of global connection through exhibition areas and art exhibitions of international organizations and foreign artists to spread the spirit of integration connecting Hoi An with the world", said Mr. Dong.
At the workshop, many artists and experts contributed ideas to build a symbolic, flexible space, closely linked to culture and capable of spreading.
Artist Nguyen Quoc Dan - Founder of the Reproduction Art Workshop in Hoi An City, raised key issues about the nature of creative space.
"Hoi An creative space cannot be a short-term exam, after taking the exam, the fee is waived. This is a land of the land of the lost world, recognized by UNESCO, where the whole world is observing. So the creative space here must be global, not just for 'beautiful boxes'. A truly creative design needs to be associated with three pillars: tradition, present and future.
This place must have a symbol so that visitors can recognize that in addition to the old town, this is a place that represents the creativity of Hoi An. Architects must be proactive, must know how to breathe, know how to transform according to festivals, communities, and even the sun. Only when they dare to dream big and dare to do it for real can Hoi An enter a creative map of the region and the world," Mr. Dan emphasized.
