“It’s not just Vietnamese students who have benefited from this first-time project. It’s also been a good chance for Western countries to learn about Vietnamese culture,” Tam said.
The four-year project, which will be wrapped up in 2009, is under the sponsorship of the Sweden International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA). It also receives support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Swedish Embassy in Ha Noi. The project aims to boost cultural understanding, skills and ultimately diplomatic relations.
Under the plan, the Umea Fine Arts Academy in Sweden and the Ha Noi Fine Arts College swap countries for two terms per year. Each exchange is wrapped up with a series and conferences and exhibitions.
The Swedish academy sends students and lecturers in subjects lacking expertise in Viet Nam, such as communication art and theory. For their part, the Ha Noi-based school sends lecturers who are well – experienced in traditional skills such as wood-engraving and lacquer.
Included in the line up so far is associate professor doctor Anna Radstrom, who arrived in the capital earlier this month. Radstrom presented a talk on women artists, an issue she has researched for many years.
“I was really impressed with Viet Nam’s fine arts museums, especially works by women artists,” she said. — VNS
