Circular No. 24/2007/TT-BVHTT guiding the awarding of the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for awarding the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist

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

Pursuant to Decree No. 121/2005/NĐ-CP dated September 30, 2005 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward.

After reaching consensus with the Central Steering Committee for Encouragement of Competition and Reward, the Ministry of Culture - The guidelines for the awarding of the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist are as follows:

I. General Provisions

1. Scope of Application:

a) These guidelines provide guidance on the awarding of the titles of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist to the following subjects: Vietnamese citizens engaged in professional artistic performances in Vietnam.

b) The title of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist shall only be conferred once upon an individual.

2. Recipients of the Title of Artist:

a) Professional performers:

- Actors, including those who perform traditional drama, spoken drama, musical drama, mime, film, television, circus, puppetry, singing, dancing, instrumental music, recitation, and direct performance before the public or through radio or television broadcasts.

- Directors, including those who direct traditional drama, spoken drama, musical drama, mime, circus, puppetry, song and dance, film, television, and radio and television stages, sound in film, television, stage, and broadcast music.

- Choreographers and direct artistic directors for traditional drama, spoken drama, musical drama, mime, and comprehensive song and dance programs, circus, variety shows.

- Film cameramen for various types: feature films, documentary films, scientific films, animated films, television series.

- Artists, including set designers and costume designers for stage, film, television, and circus, variety shows, puppetry, song and dance, and figure puppets, animation movements.

- Composers who conduct orchestras, choruses, and symphonies.

- Radio and Television announcers working in the field of literature and art.

b) Other recipients:

- Artisans engaged in professional traditional arts and other forms of artistic performance.

- Artists belonging to the category mentioned in point a, Clause 3 of this Circular, if they are assigned to teach or manage within their respective fields of art and meet the required conditions and standards, may be considered for the awarding of the titles of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist.

3. Benefits for Individuals Awarded the Title of Artist:

a) They will receive the Certificate and Medal of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist from the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

b) They will be awarded monetary rewards as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 71 of Decree No. 121/2005/NĐ-CP dated September 30, 2005 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Encouragement of Competition and Reward, specifically as follows:

- For People's Artist, the amount is VND 4,000,000 (Four million dong) or a commemorative item of equivalent value.

- For Meritorious Artist, the amount is VND 3,000,000 (Three million dong) or a commemorative item of equivalent value.

II. Conditions for Awarding the Title of Artist

Artists proposed for the awarding of the titles of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist must meet the following conditions:

1. Ensuring compliance with the criteria for People's Artist and Meritorious Artist as specified in this Circular.

2. Not eligible for consideration if the person has been disciplined with a warning or higher (from the Party, mass organizations, government, or social organizations) or has violated the Performance Regulations and state regulations on artistic performance activities, and has been criminally prosecuted within the five years immediately preceding the year of the awarding of the title of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist.

- In cases where a person has been sentenced to imprisonment, after completing the sentence and continuing to engage in professional artistic performance and meeting the required conditions and standards, they may be considered for the awarding of the title of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist, and the period of eligibility will be calculated from the date they resume professional artistic performance.

3. Each individual can only be considered for one of the four honorary titles of the State: the title of Artist, the title of Teacher, the title of Medical Practitioner, or the title of Artisan.

III. Criteria for Awarding

1. Criteria for People's Artist:

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

a) Loyalty to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

b) Possess good moral character, outstanding artistic talent, significant contributions to the revolutionary cause of Vietnam, dedication to their profession, exemplary behavior admired by colleagues and the public. Achieving the following forms of recognition:

- For artists in professional artistic units, continuously achieving the title of Advanced Worker for five consecutive years leading up to the year of the artist title award.

- For artists and artisans not in professional artistic units, they must implement the policies and laws of the Party and the State well (confirmed by the local authorities where they reside).

- Receiving at least three major awards (gold level or higher), including one award from two consecutive years leading up to the year of the artist title award at national art festivals, artistic performances, national radio and television festivals, regional international awards, and central specialized literary and artistic associations, starting from after being awarded the title of Meritorious Artist.

c) Having at least 20 years of artistic activity (15 years for circus arts), having been awarded the title of Meritorious Artist for at least five years.

2. Criteria for Meritorious Artist:

a) Loyalty to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

b) Possess good moral character, artistic talent, dedication to their profession, exemplary behavior, a spirit of serving the people, admired by colleagues and the public. Achieving the following forms of recognition:

- For artists in professional artistic units, continuously achieving the title of Advanced Worker for five consecutive years leading up to the year of the artist title award.

- For artists and artisans not belonging to professional artistic units, they must implement well the policies and guidelines of the Party and state laws (with confirmation from the local authority where they reside).

- They must have received at least four official awards (gold or silver categories or higher), including one award from two consecutive years immediately preceding the year of application for the title of Artist at national-level art festivals, art performances, national radio and television festivals, regional international awards, and central specialized literary and artistic associations.

c) They must have had at least fifteen years of artistic activity (ten years for circus arts).

3. Cases to be considered for artistic achievements of individuals:

a) In cases where awards are given for works or groups, individual participants will be credited with the achievement if there is no individual award, provided they are key components of the performance, artistic program, or film that won the award, and their achievements must include at least five official awards.

b) For musicians, individual achievements will be credited if there is no individual award, based on the group award for the performance, artistic program, provided they occupy important solo positions within the orchestra and their achievements must include at least five official awards or significant contributions to large annual performance programs of the unit.

IV. Procedures and formalities for granting titles.

1. Granting procedures:

a) Artists belonging to professional artistic units apply for the grant of the artist title at the artistic unit where they are employed.

- In cases where professional performing artists do not belong to professional artistic units or retired artists from professional artistic units, they should register with the Department of Culture and Information at their place of residence.

- In cases where professional performing artists do not belong to professional artistic units but are members of central specialized artistic associations, they should register with the central specialized artistic association.

b) Review steps:

The granting of the artist title is reviewed through the following five steps:

- Review and propose the granting of the artist title at the unit-level council where the artist is employed.

- Review and propose the granting of the artist title at the provincial Department of Culture and Information or specialized agency council (Film, Performing Arts), provincial Radio and Television Station.

- Review and propose the granting of the artist title at the provincial and municipal councils and relevant ministries, sectors, Voice of Vietnam Radio, Vietnam Television.

- Review and propose the granting of the artist title at the specialized council.

- Review and propose the granting of the artist title at the national council.

2. Principles of review:

a) Meetings of the council at all levels for granting the artist title must have at least three-quarters of the council members present, including the Chairman or Vice-Chairman authorized to represent the Chairman.

b) The council operates on the principle of democratic discussion, transparency, and secret ballot. An artist proposed for the artist title must receive at least three-quarters of the votes from the total number of council members to be listed for transfer to the higher-level council for further review.

c) Councils at all levels only consider artists who submit complete applications as required and are directly recommended by the lower-level council.

d) Applications that are not filled out correctly, lack complete documentation as required, or are submitted late will not be reviewed.

e) Artists who are currently being considered for the artist title shall not participate in the councils at any level.

g) Councils at all levels are responsible for publicly announcing the results of the artist title granting within their agencies, units, and areas of management (within ten working days) and notifying in writing those who do not meet the criteria (specifying reasons); resolving any objections or complaints (if any) before submitting the applications of those who meet the criteria for the artist title to the higher-level council.

3. Composition of the Council for Granting the Artist Title at All Levels:

The Council for Granting the Artist Title at all levels includes representatives from experts in each field of art, respected managers knowledgeable about the field of art under consideration, and some artists who have been conferred the title of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist.

a) Unit-level Council:consisting of five to seven members, including:

- Head of the unit: Chairman

- Representative of the unit's Trade Union Executive Board.

- Responsible for personnel affairs in the unit.

- Responsible for artistic affairs in the unit.

- Representative of outstanding artists.

b) Provincial Department of Culture and Information and Radio and Television Station Council: consisting of seven to nine members, including:

- Head of the unit: Chairman

- Head of the Art Department of the Department or Radio and Television Station.

- Some leaders of artistic troupes under the Department.

- Responsible for commendation and reward affairs of the Department or Radio and Television Station.

- Some reputable artists or artists who have been awarded the title of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist.

c) Council of the Department of Performing Arts and Cinema under the Ministry of Culture and Information: Information consisting of nine to eleven members, including:

- Director: Chairman

- Some leaders of artistic units.

- Responsible for artistic affairs of the Department.

- Responsible for commendation and reward affairs of the Department.

- Some artists who have been awarded the title of People's Artist or Meritorious Artist.

d) Provincial and Municipal Councils consist of eleven to thirteen members, including:

- Deputy Chairman of the People's Committee in charge of culture and society: Chairman

- Director of the Department of Culture and Information and Radio and Television Station.

- Representative of the Provincial Party Propaganda Department.

- Representative of the Provincial Leadership of Commendation and Reward Affairs.

- Responsible for managing artistic affairs in the province or city.

- Representative of the Provincial Literary and Art Association.

- Some artists have been conferred the title of NSND, NSUT.

e) The Council at the Ministry or Sector level with artistic units shall consist of nine to eleven members, including:

- Representative of the leadership of the Ministry or Sector: Chairperson

- In charge of the work of Encouragement and Reward of the Ministry or Sector.

- Some Heads of artistic units.

- In charge of managing artistic work of the Ministry or Sector.

- Some artists who have been conferred the title of NSND, NSUT.

4. Competence to establish the Council for conferring artistic titles.

a) The Heads of competent levels at point a,b,c,d,e Clause 3, Section IV of this Circular, decide to establish the Council for conferring artistic titles at their own management level.

b) The Professional Council comprising fields such as Music, Theater, Dance, Cinema, Radio, Television shall be established by the Minister of Culture and Information.

- The Professional Council shall consist of eleven to thirteen members including: members of the National Council for conferring artistic titles with expertise in the same field as the Professional Council, some artists who have been conferred the title of People's Artist, Meritorious Artist in the relevant field, and some reputable managers knowledgeable about the specific field.

The Professional Council appoints a Secretary.

c. The establishment of the Council for conferring artistic titles at various levels within the armed forces (Army, Police) shall seek opinions from the immediate superior authority and follow regulations regarding the composition of the Council at each level.

d) Agencies and units without the function of professional artistic activities do not need to establish a Council for conferring artistic titles at their unit; if there are individuals meeting the criteria as stipulated, they shall prepare the dossier according to the regulations (with a request letter from the unit) and submit it to the Council at the Department of Culture and Information where the unit is located for consideration and recommendation to the higher-level Council.

e) The National Council shall be established by the Prime Minister upon the proposal of the Minister of Culture and Information.

g) The permanent agency assisting the National Council shall be established by the Minister of Culture and Information, responsible for:

- Checking the validity of the dossier for conferring artistic titles submitted by lower-level Councils and not accepting dossiers that do not comply with the prescribed procedures or are submitted beyond the deadline.

- Compiling the dossier for conferring the title of Artist to be presented to the National Council for examination.

5. Dossier for conferring the title of Artist:

a) Individual dossier: to be sent to the grassroots Council: 5 copies, including: (Form 1)

- Summary of individual achievements (with attached photo) and confirmation as follows:

+ For artists belonging to professional artistic units, confirmation of artistic activity achievements and work performance by the Head of the unit.

+ For artists and artisans not belonging to professional artistic units, confirmation by the local government where they reside on compliance with Party policies and state laws.

- Copies of certificates of commendation: Advanced Worker, Model Soldier, Commendation Certificate, domestic and international awards. If the award is a team award, a certificate confirming the individual's role as a key member of the award-winning team must be provided.

b) Grassroots Council (artistic unit, Department of Culture and Information, Radio and Television Station, specialized Bureau): 4 copies, including:

- Official letter requesting the conferral of the title of Artist at the grassroots level.

- Individual dossier for the conferral of the title of Artist.

- Voting form for the conferral of the title of NSND, NSUT: (Form 2a and 2b)

- Minutes of the Council meeting for the conferral of the title of NSND, NSUT: (Form 3a)

- Minutes of the ballot counting: (Form 3b)

- Report recommending the conferral of the title of Artist: (Form 4)

- List recommending the conferral of the title of People's Artist: (Form 5a)

- List recommending the conferral of the title of Meritorious Artist: (Form 5b)

- Decision establishing the grassroots Council.

c) Council at the Ministry or Sector and provincial level: 3 copies, including:

- Official letter requesting the conferral of the title of Artist at the Ministry or provincial level.

- Individual dossier for the conferral of the title of Artist.

- Voting form for the conferral of the title of NSND, NSUT: (Form 2b)

- Minutes of the Council meeting for the conferral of the title of NSND, NSUT: (Form 3a)

- Minutes of the ballot counting: (Form 3b)

- Report recommending the conferral of the title of Artist: (Form 4)

- List recommending the conferral of the title of People's Artist: (Form 5a)

- List recommending the conferral of the title of Meritorious Artist: (Form 5b)

- Decision establishing the Council at the Ministry or provincial level.

d) Professional Council: 2 copies, including:

- Official letter requesting the conferral of the title of Artist at the grassroots, Ministry, or provincial level.

- Individual dossier meeting the conditions and criteria.

- Voting form for the conferral of the title of NSND, NSUT: (Form A1)

- Minutes of the Council meeting for the conferral of the title of Artist: (Form 3a)

- Minutes of the ballot counting: (Form 3b)

- Report recommending the conferral of the title of Artist: (Form 4)

- List recommending the conferral of the title of People's Artist: (Form 5a)

- List recommending the conferral of the title of Meritorious Artist: (Form 5b)

- Decision establishing the Professional Council.

e) National Council, consisting of: (as specified in the model)

- Official letter requesting the conferral of the title of Artist at the grassroots, Ministry, or provincial level.

- Report recommending the conferral of the title of Artist by the Council at the Ministry or provincial level.

- Dossier of the Professional Council:

g) The National Council submits to the Prime Minister (through the Central Board for Encouragement and Reward):

- Report of the National Council (attached with list).

- Summary of individual achievements with confirmation by the National Council.

- Minutes and results of secret ballots of the Professional Council and the National Council.

6. Procedure for submitting dossiers:

a) For localities:

- The Council at the artistic unit level shall submit the dossier to the Council at the Department of Culture and Information and Radio and Television Station. In cases where the artist or artisan does not belong to any professional artistic unit, or is a retired artist from a professional artistic unit, or a member of the Central Professional Art Association, they shall directly prepare the dossier and application letter and submit it to the Council at the Department of Culture and Information where they reside or to the Central Professional Art Association.

- The Council of the Department of Culture and Information, Radio Station, Television sends the dossier to the provincial council.

- The provincial council sends the dossier to the specialized council.

b) For Ministries and Sectors:

- The council of artistic units sends the dossier to the Ministry-level council.

- The council of artistic units (theater, music academy, art school, film studio) under the Ministry of Culture and Information and central literary and artistic associations with artists meeting the conditions and criteria for awarding titles send the dossier to the Performing Arts Administration Council and Film Administration Council.

- The provincial Radio and Television Council (with a written request from the Provincial People's Committee) and the councils of units under the Voice of Vietnam Radio and Vietnam Television send the dossier to the Voice of Vietnam Radio and Vietnam Television Council.

- The Ministry-level council sends the dossier to the specialized council.

- The Performing Arts Administration Council and Film Administration Council send the dossier to the specialized council.

c) For the specialized council:

- Accepts dossiers from Ministries, Sectors, provinces, centrally governed cities, and specialized administrations under the Ministry of Culture and Information.

- Sends the dossier of the specialized council to the state-level council for consideration of awarding artist titles.

7. Awarding at the State-level Council.

Based on the selection results of the specialized council and in comparison with the conditions and criteria for the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist, the state-level council will review, evaluate, conduct voting, prepare lists, and submit the dossier of artists meeting the conditions and criteria for awarding the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist to the Prime Minister (through the Central Steering Committee for Encouragement and Reward) for consideration and decision.

8. Time for awarding artist titles

a) The title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist is reviewed and announced every two years on National Day, September 2.

b) The organization of awarding the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist in each round is carried out according to the guidance document of the Ministry of Culture and Information and the state-level council.

9. Handling complaints

a) Organizations and individuals have the right to complain about the results of awarding artist titles and violations of regulations, procedures, and formalities for awarding artist titles.

The complaint must clearly state the full name and address (individuals must sign directly on the complaint, not print their signature), and be sent to the head of the agency that established the council for awarding artist titles at the corresponding level.

b) The head of the agency receiving the complaint has the responsibility to examine and respond to the complaint and does not consider complaints without clear names and addresses or those made under false pretenses.

10. Responsibility provisions

a) The heads of agencies, units, and organizations are responsible for the accuracy of the dossiers and reports of achievements submitted for the awarding of the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist for individuals from their own agencies, organizations, and units.

b) Individuals proposed for the awarding of the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist are responsible for the accuracy of their declarations and reports of achievements submitted for the awarding of the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist at various levels.

c) Individuals who falsely declare or forge documents for others to propose for the awarding of artist titles shall be subject to disciplinary action, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

11. Revocation of the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist

a) Individuals awarded the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist who violate the law and are sentenced to imprisonment by the court shall have their title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist revoked.

b) Those who deceive in declaring achievements to be considered for the awarding of artist titles shall have their decision to confer the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist annulled and the awards and bonuses received shall be recalled; depending on the nature and severity of the violation, they may also face disciplinary action, administrative penalties, or criminal prosecution.

c) Based on the individual's fraudulent declaration of achievements and the court's sentencing decision, central ministries, sectors, mass organizations; centrally governed provinces and cities shall report to the Ministry of Culture and Information with accompanying documentation for the Ministry of Culture and Information to handle the procedures to request the Prime Minister to propose the President to issue a Decision revoking the title of People's Artist and Meritorious Artist.

V. Implementation

1. This Circular takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette, all previous regulations contrary to this Circular are abolished.

2. Heads of relevant agencies and units are responsible for organizing the dissemination, implementation, and ensuring that the relevant parties are aware of and comply with this Circular. During the implementation process, if there are issues arising or difficulties encountered, organizations and individuals should reflect these to the Ministry of Culture and Information for timely examination, amendment, and supplementation to ensure compliance. /