The Performing Arts Department of the Ministry is responsible on behalf of the Minister for guiding the development of the performing arts throughout the country according to Communist Party guidelines and the policies and laws of the State. Its activities include drafting laws, ordinances and regulations relating to the performing arts, drawing up short-term, long-term and annual plans for professional and amateur performing arts activities of all kinds nationwide, providing guidance to performers and performing groups regarding the subject matter of performance works and the bringing into play of traditional ethnic arts with a view to creating pieces and plays to serve audiences both at home and abroad, providing guidance to performers and performing groups regarding the assimilation of certain overseas art forms, providing guidance to researchers in the performing arts, banning the performance of musical works, songs, plays and play extracts whose content runs counter to Communist Party guidelines and the policies and laws of the State, guiding and participating in the organisation of competitions and festivals of performing arts at national and regional level and making proposals to the Minister regarding which groups and artists should take part and which pieces should be performed, initiating international exchange programmes in the performing arts, drawing up plans for scientific research, specialist training and skills development for administrative staff and performers in each area, managing the staff, property and accounts of the Department according to the law of the State and the regulations of the Ministry, and undertaking routine inspection to ensure the proper implementation of the law and regulations relating to the performing arts throughout the country. NB in June 2002 the requirement for mandatory licencing of singers, musicians, actors and other stage performers – introduced by the Ministry in 1999 with a view to managing performances more closely, improving their quality and restoring order in an increasingly market-oriented music industry - was abolished by the government. In addition to the Director’s Office and Deputy Directors’ Office, a General Administration Office and a Planning and Finance Office, the Department includes an Arts Office (Phòng Nghệ thuật) and manages three ‘Work Units’ - the Việt Nam Performing Arts Agency (Ban Tổ chức Biểu diễn Việt Nam), the Hồng Hà Theatre Management Board (Ban Quản lý Nhà hát Hồng Hà) and the Hà Nội Opera House Management Board (Ban Quản lý Nhà hát Lớn Hà Nội). It oversees the following: