Third ICH digital forum successfully held in Hangzhou

The Third Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Digital Forum was held on Friday in Gongshu district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. With the theme "ICH Innovation in the Digital Era: Cross-Field Integration and Sustainable Development," the event attracted nearly 100 experts and representatives from the ICH digitizing field. Distinguished guests, including Wang Xiaofeng, president of the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association, delivered keynote speeches, sharing innovative approaches to leveraging digitizing for ICH preservation, transmission, and development.

In her opening remarks, Dai Liumei, secretary of the Party Committee of the China Digital Culture Group, emphasized that cultural digitizing has become a national strategy. She highlighted the forum's aim to explore ICH preservation, communication, and development within digital contexts. During his keynote speech, Wang Xiaofeng, referencing the Blue Book on the Communication of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage 2024, analyzed the challenges and opportunities of digitizing for ICH, stressing its vital role in promoting ICH and revitalizing rural areas.

As the host province, Zhejiang showcased its achievements in digitizing ICH preservation, including innovative practices such as "Smart Empowerment of Historic and Classic Industries". The forum's thematic speeches featured experts from the Central University of Finance and Economics, Renmin University of China, and the China Digital Culture Group, who shared insights on policy support, cross-field integration, and technological applications in ICH digitizing.

Concurrent events, including the "ICH Bazaar" and "ICH Night", provided the public with immersive experiences of ICH artistry, promoting its unique charm and fostering integration with local cultural tourism. As a vital platform for dialogue in the ICH digitizing field, the forum aims to explore innovative models for the dynamic transmission of ICH.

The forum was hosted by the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Association and co-organized by relevant Zhejiang provincial institutions.