Establishment of the State Council to consider and award the title of People’s Artist and Meritorious Artist

According to Decision No. 1998/QD-TTg signed by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra on October 16, 2026, the State Council for awarding the title “People’s Artisan” and “Artisan of Merit” in the field of intangible cultural heritage for the fourth time was officially established. The Council has the function of advising and supporting the Prime Minister in the process of reviewing and appraising documents and selecting qualified individuals to submit to the President for decision on awarding the title.

Meritorious Artist Nguyen Tan Phat (Son Tay Ward, Hanoi City) with the lacquer work he created (Illustration)

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh holds the position of Chairwoman of the Council. The two Vice Chairmen of the Council include Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong, who is also Chairman of the Ministry-level Specialized Council, and Head of the Central Emulation and Commendation Committee Pham Huy Giang. This component is assigned to directly manage the selection process, ensuring that applications are evaluated in accordance with current standards and regulations. The Council also has 12 members who are representatives of management agencies, professional organizations and experts in the field of culture and heritage. Members include Ms. Bui Thanh Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Arts, Central Propaganda Department; Mr. Le Duc Tho, Deputy Director of General Department, Office of the President; Colonel Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Internal Political Security, Ministry of Public Security; Mr. Le Duc Trung, Director of the Department of Personnel Organization, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ms. Le Thi Thu Hien, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Mr. Le Hong Ly, Chairman of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association. Other members include Mr. Dang Van Bai, former Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council; Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism; Ms. Vu Thi Phuong Hau, Director of the Institute of Culture and Development, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; Mr. Nguyen Duy Thieu, former Deputy Director of Vietnam Museum of Ethnology; Mr. Nguyen The Hung, Vice President, General Secretary of the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association and Mr. Le Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Khanh Hoa province. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is assigned to be the standing agency of the Council, responsible for ensuring conditions for the award consideration process. To support professional work, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism will establish a Secretariat to assist. During its operation, the Council can use the seal of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to handle related tasks, while all members of the Council and the Secretariat work on a part-time basis. Specific operating principles and regulations of the Council will be issued by the Chairman of the Council. The organization of donation consideration is carried out on the basis of Decree No. 93/2023/ND-CP dated December 25, 2023 of the Government. Funding for the Council’s activities and the process of organizing the award consideration is allocated from the state budget allocated to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, implemented in accordance with Circular No. 143/2025/TT-BTC dated December 31, 2025 of the Ministry of Finance. The decision to establish the Council takes effect from the date of signing, i.e. October 16, 2026. After completing all tasks related to the fourth round of consideration for awarding the title “People’s Artisan” and “Elite Artisan” in the field of intangible cultural heritage, the Council will dissolve according to regulations.