Circular No. 06/2010/TT-BVHTTDL detailing standards, procedures, and dossier requirements for awarding the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist

CIRCULAR

Regulations on criteria, procedures, and file formalities for awarding the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist

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Based on the Law on Encouragement of Competitiveness and Reward, dated November 26, 2003, and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competitiveness and Reward, dated June 14, 2005;

Based on Decree No. 42/2010/NĐ-CP dated April 15, 2010, issued by the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competitiveness and Reward and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competitiveness and Reward;

Article 1. Other types of artistic performances

After reaching consensus with the Ministry of Home Affairs (Central Board for Encouragement and Reward), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall detail the criteria, procedures, and file formalities for awarding the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Recipients of the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist

1. Artists working at state-owned and non-state-owned professional art units, freelance artists, traditional performing arts performers including:

Actors: Tuong; Cheo; Cai Luong; Folk Drama; Spoken Drama; Mime; Musical; Circus; Puppetry; Singing; Dancing; Recitation; Cinema and Television; Musicians;

Directors: Tuong; Cheo; Cai Luong; Folk Drama; Spoken Drama; Mime; Musical Ballet; Circus; Puppetry; Comprehensive Art Programs;

c) Feature films, television series; Radio and television stage; Music directors, sound directors in cinema, television, stage, and radio;

d) Choreographers; Artistic directors; Orchestra conductors; Choral and symphony orchestra conductors;

đ) Cinematographers: Feature films, documentary films, scientific films, animated films, television series;

e) Puppet designers; Animation film action designers; Stage, cinema, comprehensive art program set designers; Makeup and costume designers; Lighting designers for stage, cinema, television, and comprehensive art programs;

g) Radio and television announcers working in the cultural and artistic field;

h) Traditional folk performing arts performers.

2. The subjects mentioned in Clause 1 of this Article, if assigned to work in teaching, research, or management in the field of arts due to requirements and tasks, and meeting the conditions and criteria as prescribed, may be considered for the award of the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist.

3. The recipients of the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist must meet the criteria stipulated in Chapter II of this Circular and not be under disciplinary action.

4. Individuals who have been conferred the titles of National Teacher, Meritorious Teacher, National Artisan, or Meritorious Artisan cannot use their artistic achievements that led to these titles to apply for the titles of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist.

Article 2. Benefits of individuals conferred the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist

Individuals conferred the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist shall receive Medals and Certificates awarded by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, along with monetary awards of 12.5 times the national minimum wage for the title of People's Artist and 9.0 times the national minimum wage for the title of Meritorious Artist, as well as other benefits as provided by law.

Article 3. Time for Awarding Titles

1. The titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist shall be reviewed and announced every two years on National Day, September 2.

2. The organization of the awarding of the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist shall be carried out according to this Circular, guidelines from the State-level Council for Conferment of the Titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist, and guidelines from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Chapter II

CRITERIA FOR PEOPLE'S ARTIST AND MERITORIOUS ARTIST

Article 4. Criteria for People's Artist

Candidates proposed for the title of People's Artist must meet the following criteria:

1. Loyalty to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

2. Good moral character, outstanding artistic talent, exemplary in their profession, dedicated and devoted to their craft, making significant contributions to the arts and the revolutionary cause of Vietnam, widely admired by colleagues and the public;

3. At least 20 years of artistic activity, with a minimum of 15 years for circus performers; having been conferred the title of Meritorious Artist for at least five years;

4. Numerous artistic awards, including at least two Gold or Silver national or international awards since being conferred the title of Meritorious Artist;

A national Gold award includes the Golden Lotus Award and the National Gold Medal (due to the different characteristics of various art forms and the varying scales and criteria of competitions and festivals, for cinema and television, the Golden Lotus Award of the National Film Festival is the standard, for performance arts, the National Gold Medal of the National Professional Arts Festival is the standard);

 Other domestic or international awards can be converted based on artistic criteria, scale, and level, equivalent to the National Film Festival or the National Professional Arts Festival. Conversion is within the authority of the respective councils. The specialized council is responsible for reviewing and ensuring consistency and appropriateness in each case.

5. Adherence to Party policies and state laws. For artists not affiliated with state-owned art units, confirmation from the local government where they reside is required.

Article 5. Criteria for Meritorious Artist

Candidates proposed for the title of Meritorious Artist must meet the following criteria:

1. Loyalty to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

2. Good moral character, outstanding artistic talent, reputable in their profession, exemplary and dedicated to their craft, serving the people with spirit, widely admired by colleagues and the public;

3. At least 15 years of artistic activity, with a minimum of 10 years for circus performers;

4. Numerous artistic awards, including at least two national or international Gold awards.

The National Golden Award includes the Golden Lotus Award and the National Gold Medal (due to the characteristics of various art forms and the different scales and criteria of art competitions and festivals, for Cinema Art, the Golden Lotus Award of the National Film Festival is taken as the standard, for Performing Arts, the National Gold Medal of the National Professional Art Festival is taken as the standard).

 Other domestic and international awards are converted based on artistic criteria, according to the scale and level of the National Film Festival or the National Professional Art Festival. The conversion process falls under the authority of the respective Council levels. The Specialized Council is responsible for reviewing the uniformity and appropriateness of the conversion for each case.

5. Adherence to Party policies and state laws. For artists not affiliated with state-owned art units, confirmation from the local government where they reside is required.

Article 6. Applying artistic achievements of works to individual achievements

1. In cases where a work (including theatrical plays, films, music, dance, opera, circus, puppetry, variety arts programs) wins a Golden Award, individuals participating as key components of that winning work can have their achievements counted based on the award of the work. The application process is subject to the approval of the respective Council levels. The Specialized Council is responsible for reviewing the uniformity and appropriateness of the conversion for each case.

2. Musicians who hold important performance positions in orchestras are also eligible to have their achievements counted as per Clause 1 of this Article.

Article 7. Exceptional conferment of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles

Artists with extraordinary talent and who have won high awards at major international professional art contests or festivals, or those with outstanding artistic achievements and numerous national-level awards, may be exceptionally considered for the conferment of the People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles.

Chapter III

PROCEDURES, FORMALITIES AND DOCUMENTATION

Article 8. Examination process

The conferment of the People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles is carried out through three levels of Councils for Conferment of Titles: the grassroots Council, the Ministry/Department/Provincial Council, and the State Council.

1. Grassroots Council: This Council is established at the grassroots artistic activity units, including performing arts organizations, film studios, art training schools, institutes, departments, ministries, and sectors with functions of researching and managing arts, Radio and Television stations, specialized literature and art associations, collectively referred to as grassroots units.

 Grassroots units are responsible for introducing, honoring, and recommending the Grassroots Council to examine and submit to the competent authority for the conferment of the People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles for artists currently working or actively engaged in their field within their unit or association; guiding artists in preparing application documents, declaring achievements, and following procedures as prescribed.

Grassroots units shall not recommend retired individuals who previously participated in the title examination but were unsuccessful and did not engage in notable and outstanding artistic activities during their retirement period, as stipulated in the standards for People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles.

Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism are responsible for coordinating with local literary and artistic associations to introduce, honor, and guide free-lance artists residing in their locality in preparing application documents.

2. Ministry/Department/Provincial Council: This Council is established by the Minister, Head of an equivalent agency, or the Chairman of the People's Committee of a centrally-administered city.

The Ministry/Department/Provincial Council is responsible for receiving and examining the results submitted by the Grassroots Council, organizing the selection of artists meeting the conditions and standards, and submitting them to the State Council.

3. State Council: This Council is established by the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism serves as the permanent body of the State Council in the examination and conferment of the People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles. The permanent body is responsible for receiving application documents from the Ministry/Department/Provincial Councils, establishing specialized councils to provide professional advice to the State Council on various fields of art: Music, Dance, Theater (including Puppetry and Circus), Cinema, Broadcasting, and Television; forming a secretariat to assist the State Council.

Article 9. Principles of operation of the Council

1. The Councils for Conferment of the People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles at all levels are established for each examination round and dissolved after completing their tasks.

2. A Council meeting for the conferment of the People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles must have at least 3/4 of the total number of Council members present, including the Chairman or Deputy Chairman authorized to represent the Chairman.

3. The Council operates on the principles of democracy, transparency, majority decision-making, and secret ballot. An artist proposed for the conferment of the People's Artist or Meritorious Artist title must receive at least 3/4 of the votes in favor (M7a or M7b) from the total number of Council members to be listed for submission to the higher-level Council.

In exceptional cases, unanimous agreement from all Council members is required to list the candidate for submission to the higher-level Council.

4. Cases involving false declarations or invalid documentation will not be examined.

5. Higher-level Councils only consider cases recommended by lower-level Councils.

6. Individuals currently being considered for the People's Artist or Meritorious Artist titles cannot participate in any Council levels.

7. All Council levels are responsible for publicly announcing the examination results within their respective agencies, units, and individuals within ten working days, and informing in writing those who do not meet the conditions and standards (with specific reasons); concluding and resolving any complaints before submitting the applications of those who meet the conditions and standards for the conferment of the People's Artist and Meritorious Artist titles to the higher-level Council.

Article 10. Composition of the Council

1. The Grassroots Council, established by the head of the grassroots unit, consists of 5 to 7 members, including:

The head of the grassroots artistic unit: Chairman of the Council

Deputy Chairman of the Council shall be responsible for art of the unit.

In case the Head of the Unit is an object being proposed for consideration to confer the title of People's Artist or Outstanding Artist, then the Deputy responsible for art shall be the Chairman of the Council.

In case both the Head of the Unit and the person responsible for art of the unit are included in the list of proposals to confer the title of People's Artist or Outstanding Artist, the unit must report in writing to its direct superior authority to appoint a replacement for the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Council.

Members include: artists with reputation in their specialized field of art; person in charge of organizational work and cadres; person in charge of trade union; one or several People's Artists or Outstanding Artists representing the profession.

The Chairman of the grassroots-level Council decides on the establishment of the Secretariat to assist the Council.

2. The Council at the Ministry, Sector, and Provincial level consists of 11 to 15 members.

a) For the Council at the Ministry and Sector level

Minister or Deputy Minister in charge of art: Chairman of the Council.

Members of the Council: Heads of units engaged in artistic activities under the Ministry and Sector; persons in charge of art of units under the Ministry and Sector; some artists with reputation in their specialized field of art; representatives of the Central Association of Literature and Art; one or several People's Artists or Outstanding Artists representing the profession.

Specifically, for the Council at the Ministry level of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism delegates and assigns tasks to the Director of the Department of Performing Arts and the Director of the Department of Cinema to cooperate with the Director of the Department of Propaganda and Rewards to assist the Minister in establishing the Council at the Ministry level and selecting objects under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Chairman of the Council at the Ministry and Sector level decides on the establishment of the Secretariat to assist the Council.

b) For the Council at the provincial level

Deputy Chairman of the People's Committee of the province or centrally governed city: Chairman of the Council.

Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or Deputy Director in charge of art: Vice-Chairman in charge.

Members include: Directors of Radio and Television Stations of the province or centrally governed city; Directors (or Leaders) of artistic units of the province or centrally governed city; some artists with reputation in their specialized field of art; one or several People's Artists or Outstanding Artists representing the profession; representatives of the Provincial Propaganda Department; representatives of the Provincial Department of Propaganda and Rewards.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is the permanent body of the Council at the provincial level, responsible for establishing the Secretariat to assist the Council at the provincial level in examining and presenting the titles of People's Artist and Outstanding Artist. The Council at the provincial level may use the seal of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. The National Council falls within the purview of the Prime Minister.

Article 11. Personal files of individuals proposed for consideration

Individuals proposed for consideration to confer the title of People's Artist or Outstanding Artist are responsible for preparing personal files and declaring their achievements. The file is prepared in four copies, each copy including:

1. A declaration of personal achievements (Form M1a or M1b) with a 4x6 photo attached, stamped over the photo and confirmed by the base unit;

2. Confirmation from the People's Committee of the commune or ward where the individual resides regarding the implementation of policies and laws concerning freelance artists and retired artists;

3. Certified copies of Decisions on rewards including:

a) Awards as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 4 or Clause 4, Article 5 of this Circular;

b) Commendation titles, including: Advanced Worker, Model Worker at the Base Level, Model Worker at the Sector Level, National Model Worker (if applicable);

c) Forms of reward: Orders, Medals, Certificates of Merit issued by competent authorities (if applicable).

4. For joint awards of works that contribute to individual achievements as specified in Article 6 of this Circular, confirmation of participation is required.

Article 12. Regulations on files and procedures for submitting files by Councils at various levels

1. Files of Councils at various levels submitted to higher-level Councils

a) File proposing to confer the title of People's Artist

- Proposal to confer the title of People's Artist (Form M2a);

- List proposing to confer the title of People's Artist (Form M3a), accompanied by personal files as prescribed in Article 11 of this Circular;

- Minutes of the meeting of the Council to confer the title of People's Artist (Form M4a);

- Minutes of the voting record for People's Artist (Form M5a);

- Report on the proposal to confer the title of People's Artist (Form M6a);

- Decision on the establishment of the Council to confer the title.

b) File proposing to confer the title of Outstanding Artist

- Proposal to confer the title of Outstanding Artist (Form M2b);

- List proposing to confer the title of Outstanding Artist (Form M3b), accompanied by personal files as prescribed in Article 11 of this Circular;

- Minutes of the meeting of the Council to confer the title of Outstanding Artist (Form M4b);

- Minutes of the voting record for Outstanding Artist (Form M5b);

- Report on the proposal to confer the title of Outstanding Artist (Form M6b);

- Decision on the establishment of the Council to confer the title.

2. Number of files of Councils at various levels

a) Grassroots-level Councils submit to Councils at the Ministry, Sector, and Provincial level: Four sets of files as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article;

b) Councils at the Ministry, Sector, and Provincial level submit to the National Council (through the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism): Three sets of files as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals

1. The Head of the grassroots-level artistic unit, Chairmen of Councils proposing to confer the title of People's Artist or Outstanding Artist are responsible for the accuracy of the proposed files.

2. Individuals proposed for consideration to confer the title of People's Artist or Outstanding Artist are responsible for the accuracy of their declarations and reports on their achievements.

3. Individuals who provide false assessments, evaluations, confirmations, or forge files and papers to propose for consideration to confer the title of People's Artist or Outstanding Artist will be subject to disciplinary action, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

Article 14. Complaints and resolution of complaints

1. Organizations and individuals have the right to complain about the results of the examination and violations of regulations, procedures, and formalities for examination.

a) Complaint letters from organizations must clearly state the name of the complaining organization, reasons for complaint, and be signed and stamped by the authorized authority.

b) The complaint of an individual must clearly state their full name, position, address, reason for complaint, and be signed directly on the complaint (no photocopied signatures).

c) Complaint letters should be sent to the Chairman of the Council for Bestowing the Title of People's Artist, Meritorious Artist where the organization or individual believes there has been a violation.

2. The Council for Bestowing the Title of People's Artist, Meritorious Artist at any level that receives a complaint letter shall have the responsibility to review and respond to such complaint letters; no consideration will be given to anonymous or unaddressed complaint letters.

Article 15. Effectiveness

1. This Circular takes effect from August 30, 2010, and replaces Circular No. 24/2007/TT-BVHTT dated July 27, 2007, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism guiding the bestowal of the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist.

2. Heads of relevant agencies and units are responsible for widely publicizing and organizing guidance and full, accurate, and transparent implementation of the provisions of this Circular.

During implementation, if any issues arise or difficulties occur, it is recommended that agencies, organizations, and individuals report them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for timely review and resolution./.