The British Council has launched the UK/Vietnam Season 2023 program, a series of cultural and educational events to be taken place between now and December to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties between Vietnam and the UK.

One of the projects funded by the program is Our Place in Space, a model of the solar system designed by artist Oliver Jeffers and scientist Professor Stephen Smartt. It focuses on the question: How does your perspective change when you look at the Earth from space?

An illustration of Our Place in Space project. Photo: British Council

Our Place in Space will build an interactive three-dimensional (3D) art sculpture trail in parks and lakes in central Hanoi for two weeks in November.

The project will be implemented by a creative team from the UK and Vietnam, led by Nerve Center (UK) and Think Playgrounds (Vietnam).

Another highlight is The Field of Heritage, a multidisciplinary project that combines music and visual arts to gain a deeper insight into ethnic minority groups.

According to the project's representative, musician Quoc Trung, The Field of Heritage is inspired by the unique landscape, traditional instruments, costumes, colors, and sounds of the Northwest. The project will be launched at the Monsoon Music Festival 2023.

An illustration of musician Quoc Trung's project. Photo: British Council

"I am very excited as the project will be sponsored by UK/Vietnam Season 2023. Together, artists will showcase the beauty of the country and people of the Northwest, finding a balance between urban and rural areas, innovation and preservation of traditions, technology development, and environmental protection," said musician Quoc Trung.

The British Council will also support the ecological photography project Roots and Worlds and Cities in Sync, a music development project between Hanoi and Sheffield.

Tackling climate change is a central theme of the UK/Vietnam Season and a shared priority for citizens and governments in the UK and Vietnam.

Another key theme of the UK/Vietnam Season is shared heritage, where participants will share, reflect and explore the ties between the UK and Vietnam through cultural heritage in all its forms. The Season will feature diverse programs highlighting the richness of the special relationship between the two countries, including unique performances at major music festivals that promise a sonic journey into the hearts of residents from Hue City to Manchester City.

The MOU signing between the British Council and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Photo: British Council

As part of the UK/Vietnam Season, further collaboration between the British Council in Vietnam and the Government was also encouraged by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the British Council and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST). 

Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, hoped that the UK/Viet Nam Season would deepen the UK's relationship with Vietnam and provide an opportunity for people from both countries to strengthen existing links and forge new creative partnerships in English, education, arts, and culture - areas that have the power to unite people around the world.

PhD Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Director General of MCST's Department of International Cooperation, said that the British Council and the ministry have been working closely for years to strengthen UK-Vietnam relations and develop the capabilities in arts and culture.

"Our cultural heritage is an important source of creativity and innovation, and we are committed to promoting new initiatives and works inspired by our shared heritage. By creating dialogues and stimulating new narratives, we can draw inspiration from our shared history and forge a stronger bond between our countries," she said.