A seminar to deploy the government’s decree No. 79/2012/ NĐ-CP regulating the organizing of art shows and beauty pageants, as well as to collect opinions on a draft circular on how to implement the decree, was held in Hanoi on November 27.

The draft circular has received mixed reactions from cultural managing agencies. Many expressed their disagreement with an article regulating that functional agencies have only two days to evaluate and approve an art show.

Nguyen Van Truc, Head of the Department of Art Management under the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, said this is impossible. “A dossier for a show needs to be read by many functional authorities. It cannot be finished in two days since the department receives around 10 dossiers a day,” he informed.

At the meeting attendants, including functional agencies and artists, also expressed their opinion on increasing the fine for artists flouting decency laws.

“The penalty is not an advertisement which helps to increase the violator’s reputation and payment. For example, in the case of singer Dam Vinh Hung, who kissed two monks during a recent auction in Ho Chi Minh City, no fine is big enough since the incident has seriously worsened the image of local artists,” Outstanding Artist Le Chuc stated.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien added that besides a fine, artists violating regulations will also be banned for a specified time period from the stage, as well as appearing in public media. However, he confirmed that it’s hard to determine what is considered offensive and how much of their body artists are allowed to reveal on stage or in public.

Pham Dinh Thang (vice director of Department NTBD) said all the opinions will be incorporated and then added to the draft circular. Another seminar will take place in HCMC on December 6.