On 7 18, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance and Modern Creativity Co-Existence Plan was officially launched in Suzhou. The cultural authorities, in collaboration with design institutions, brand enterprises, and heritage protection agencies, released the implementation plan. The first batch of 30 intangible cultural heritage projects paired with 40 emerging design teams, marking a new phase of systematic progress in the creative transformation of intangible cultural heritage. Centered on the core philosophy of "Reviving Ancient Rhymes through Creative Co-Existence," the plan establishes three priority directions: decoding craftsmanship, empowering through design, and market conversion, charting a clear path for the living growth of traditional heritage in contemporary life.
This initiative balances depth of heritage with creative breadth, featuring three core tracks: reimagining traditional crafts, immersive digital experiences for intangible cultural heritage (ICH), and ICH-themed spatial design. Spanning over a dozen craft disciplines—including weaving and dyeing, ceramics, woodworking, lacquerware, and metalwork—the program embodies the philosophy of "honoring tradition without stagnation, innovating while staying rooted." It promotes the synergy of "awakening heritage through creativity, and nourishing innovation through tradition," symbolizing a shared commitment between inheritors and designers to co-create a new ecosystem for the contemporary transformation of ICH.
Since the plan was conceived in 2025, a full year of research and preparation has been steadily underway. From 3 to 6 2026, the project team visited intangible cultural heritage (ICH) inheritors and creative enterprises across 12 provinces and cities nationwide. Multiple pre-event workshops addressed diverse topics, including translating craft techniques into language, innovative material applications, and consumer market insights. At the launch ceremony, the Planning Committee confirmed that the initiative will adopt a partnership-driven co-creation model centered on three pillars: decoding craftsmanship, empowering design, and enabling market conversion. Key deliverables include an ICH creative design workshop, an exhibition of new ICH creations, and an ICH brand incubation accelerator. These efforts will align with national programs for revitalizing traditional crafts and advancing the cultural and creative industries, transforming ICH from "heritage behind glass" into "everyday creativity."
Advancing the symbiotic initiative at this node carries dual significance for both the era and the industry. Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) embodies the nation's aesthetic DNA and artisanal wisdom, while modern creativity offers the ability to engage younger consumer segments. Combining these two unlocks the practical benefits of transforming cultural resources into cultural productivity, providing a viable path for the sustainable inheritance of ICH. Currently, all paired teams are fully advancing skills research, conceptual design, and prototyping, building a multi-level collaboration platform for inheritors, designers, and brands to welcome the creative sparks ignited by the collision of tradition and modernity.
Current intangible cultural heritage (ICH) inheritance faces challenges such as aging craftsmanship, a disconnect between products and the market, and alienation of younger audiences. Modern creativity serves as a critical bridge connecting tradition with the present, making deep integration vital for mutual growth. This initiative will establish a collaborative platform involving inheritors, designers, enterprises, and consumers to foster consensus and collective action. We will focus on key areas including design talent development, intellectual property protection, and sales channel expansion. By leveraging creativity to revitalize contemporary expressions of ICH, we aim to build an ecosystem where heritage is rooted in tradition, innovation has a clear source, and market pathways are open—injecting sustained creative energy into the enduring vitality of China's excellent traditional culture and high-quality development of the cultural industry.