Many prestigious cultural experts, researchers and managers from across the country recently gathered in Da Nang to discuss upgrading the city’s Museum of Cham Sculpture.  The discussion was organised by the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Deputy Director of the Centre for Research, Support and Development of Vietnamese Cultural Values, Assoc Prof Nguyen Van Huy, said that the museum had become one of Da Nang’s key symbols.  He therefore stressed the need to retain the museum’s special architectural characteristics during any upgrade.

A local cultural researcher, Nguyen Dinh An, emphasised the need for our city to preserve the nearly 100-year-old museum, which features classic French-style architecture, because it is one of the city’s main attractions and home to so many cultural and historical relics.

Visitors at the Museum of Cham Sculpture

Prof Hoang Dao Kinh remarked that top priority should be given to ensuring consistency between the museum’s architectural characteristics and its surrounding space during any upgrade.

One of the issues discussed was the launching of an international design contest entitled “Upgrading the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture”.  The contest is expected to take place from 1 September to 31 December this year.

Prof Kinh said that there should not be a contest because it would be very difficult to apply new designs to the existing museum.  He added that refurbishing the museum could lose the museum’s own heritage values.

In contrast, Assoc Prof Huy said he thought that the entry submission period for the competition was too short.  He remarked that the focus should be on ensuring the quality of the upgrade rather than trying to complete the work on schedule to mark the 100^th foundation anniversary of the museum in July 2015.