Enjoying high-quality arts, painting on shoes, participating in simulation games or taking check-in photos are activities that local residents and tourists can experience when coming to the creative cultural festival “Colours of Da Nang” and a festival for foreign ex-pats.

The creative cultural festival features diverse and colorful activities, drawing much attention from both locals and tourists, especially children. Photo: X.D

Co-organised by the local cultural sector, relevant units and businesses, the two events are taking place at the APEC Sculpture Garden from December 14 - 17.

They feature more than 10 cultural and art activities combining traditional and contemporary characteristics between local and international artists, promising various interesting experiences for residents and visitors to Da Nang during the year-end festive season.

Some outstanding events include two art programmes on the evening of December 15 and 16 with the participation of foreign artists, and a show of “ao dai” (traditional dress of Viet Nam).

Within the framework of the creative culture festival, the art exhibition entitled "Da Nang Tui" brings the public a very new perspective on modern art with a display of nearly 100 art works created by various materials and techniques, including watercolours, pixels, holography and virtual reality technology.

Additionally, exhibition-goers can see foreign artists painting a large-scale painting themed "Colourful Da Nang" in a street art style with their own eyes.

At the same time, they can visit the installation art space with a series of creative works by international artists living and working in Da Nang.

One of the highlights of the festival is the exhibition entitled "Oil Slicks" being held on the 2^nd floor of the APEC Sculpture Garden. On display at the event are 20 paintings created by 6 local artists, including Nguyen Trung Ky, Ho Dinh Nam Kha, and Tran Huu Can.

Having four art works displayed at the exhibition, artist Ho Dinh Nam Kha, Head of the Viet Nam Fine Arts Association in Da Nang, said that the works are conceptualised and drawn by 6 artists in nearly 2 months. Each painting has a different artistic style, but all convey a common message of marine environment protection - a "brand" that the city has been trying to create over the years.

“Unlike academic exhibitions held in museums, the exhibition is brought out into public space, which is the way to make community art that Da Nang artists are trying to do in order to bring visual art closer to the public" artist Nam Kha shared.

Allowing the public to experience and unleash their creativity in the cultural and artistic space is the criterion of these two festivals. Therefore, most of the activities during the festivals are highly interactive, with people and tourists being the creative subjects.

Visitors to the festivals can experience painting on sneakers/canvas, rocks and faces, and drawing digital paintings on tablets. They also have the opportunity to participate in fishing simulation games and experiential activities for children such as watching movies, decorating wooden animals, and making bracelets.

Besides, there are booths displaying and introducing handmade products, handicrafts, and souvenirs bearing the spirit of Christmas and New Year, as well as colourful check-in points, thereby helping tourists and residents have cute, joyful and artistic moments.

Mrs. Tran Thi Nga from Bac Ninh Province said that "We are very lucky to come to Da Nang at this time. Held in the beautiful space of the APEC Sculpture Garden, the activities are very attractive and fun. My family take many beautiful photos here".

According to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Ha Vy, the creative cultural festival, the first of its kind in the city, is a colourful cultural and creative space for the public and tourists in the last days of 2023.

Exhibitions, fine arts, musical programmes and workshops are venues for artists to freely show their talents; and connect traditional and modern arts with many creative and experiential spaces.

The two festivals mark a step in the journey of developing cultural industry in the city. At the same time, they show that a dynamic and youthful Da Nang is in the process of positioning its brand and promoting its image in all aspects of cultural creativity, towards building a profile to join UNESCO's network of creative cities.

“We also hope that these events will strengthen creative cultural connections, contribute to the city's development, and improve people's quality of life. From there, traditional and modern values can mix together, creating a unique, sustainable creative space, in which elements of identity and culture always go hand in hand with creativity and innovation" , Mr. Vy emphasised.

Reporting by XUAN DUNG - Translating by M.DUNG