All Industry is Creative Industry: New Creativity and Innovation Practices in Vietnam

Recent economic development in Vietnam has seen a proliferation of manufacturing. At the same time, Vietnam has embraced creative innovation as part of its move towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Throughout the country, new creativity and innovation practices are emerging. These practices provide a creative outlet, but also connect to bigger themes around industry, wellbeing, productivity, and climate change. Joining Dr Natali Pearson on SSEAC Stories, Associate Professor Jane Gavan untangles some of these threads, explaining the relationship between creativity and manufacturing, and reflecting on sustainable, innovative ways of raising productivity and valuing creativity in Vietnam. About Jane Gavan: Associate Professor Jane Gavan is an artist-researcher who curates in-country collaborations between creative practitioners and organisations. Jane’s research seeks to offer opportunities for sustainable, innovative ways of raising productivity and valuing creativity in Vietnam. Her recent major exhibition, Manufacturing Creativity at the Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, was supported by UNESCO and the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts Studies. Through this work, Jane develops new access to materials, processes, and audiences for creative practitioners, and builds sustainable socially responsible innovation in firms. Jane is based at the Sydney College of the Arts, in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney, teaching across all levels. Jane also leads workshops for the FASS capstone Interdisciplinary Impact and advises on the School of Business Master of Commerce Creativity and Data unit. Jane is on the Executive of the Sydney Vietnam Initiative. Interview References: Jane mentioned the Vietnam Labor research work of Do Quynh Chi - Director - Research Centre for Employment in Hanoi, all other artists and organizations can be found on the Manufacturing Creativity website. For more information or to browse additional resources, visit the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre’s website: www.sydney.edu.au/sseac.