Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Five emerging artists or groups will have thechance to engage with traditional disciplines of Vietnamese performing arts andmusic via a residency programme which will start on March 1.

Young artists who focus on new and transdisciplinary forms of music areeligible to apply.

The artists can also collaborate with one or more artists from otherdisciplines such as theatre, poetry, literature, visual arts, performing artsand new media to create collaborative and cross-genre works.

The artworks should be relevant to artistic materials of the five traditionalmusic genres, namely chau van (spiritiual singing), ca tru (ceremonialsinging), quan ho (love duets), tuong (classical drama) and cheo (traditionaloperetta).

The selected artists will have access to an in-depth database of thesetraditional musical and performing arts and have a chance to meet experts andartists of these genres.

The programme Shape of Music has been initiated by the independentinterdisciplinary centre DomDom, with support from the British Council’s FAMLABFund.

During the first edition of the project, Connecting Heritage, which will runfrom April to October, the chosen artists will receive professional mentoringfrom senior artists to create and implement their new works.

“The project aims at nurturing new authors and contributing new works to thelandscape of experimental and contemporary music in Vietnam,” said Tran Thi KimNgọc, director of DomDom.

These new productions will be showcased at the end of the residency. They willhave a chance to perform at the Hanoi HàNội New Music Festival 2021.

Each artist/group of artists will be awarded a grant of 20 million VND (900 USD)as a production fund for new artworks, travel costs, monthly allowances andaccommodation.

The judges include musician Ngoc, musician Nguyen Xuan Son (SonX), DuoSiedl/Cao (multidisciplinary musicians Cao Thanh Lan and Gregor Siedl) andelectronic musician and producer Alec Schachner.

The launch ceremony will take place at Manzi Art Space, 2 Hang Bun Lane, Hanoi withperformances combining traditional art and contemporary music. Artists,including Tran Kim Ngoc with Ho Nguyet Co Hoa Cao (Ho Nguyet Co Turns into aFox); Cao/Siedl Duo with two musical works Osmosis and The Fifth Cardinal Direction;and SonX with the electronic music and video entitled One Face No 4, will allbe on show.

Based on a tuong plot, Ngoc reproduced a story with music performed by HanoiNew Music Ensemble, video art by Nguyen Trinh Thi, and photographer JamieMaxtone Graham. The work also stars famous tuong actresses Man Thi Thu and NguyenThi Loc Huyen.

Founded by Ngoc in 2012, DomDom is fully dedicated to the operation andadvancement of Vietnamese experimental music and its interdisciplinarycollaborations with other art forms. Applications should be sent todomdomhanoi.residency@gmail.com no later than March 22.

The centre promotes all forms of contemporary music and art practices, providesmusic training for young musicians to empower them in the Vietnamese experimentaland contemporary scene. Through the projects, the centre also widens knowledgeand experience of audiences that develops music appreciation and enhancea theparticipation of the public.

The FAMLAB Fund aims to support projects that engage with the music and filmheritage of Vietnam through contemporary practice, while encouraging arts andcultural practitioners./.