Carrying the torch of craft

To date, Wan's works have received multiple awards, including a gold medal at a provincial tourism product and creative culture design competition and second prize at the Guizhou industrial design competition for jewelry designers, both in 2023.

Wan is among more than 400 art students, ICH inheritors and artisans who have benefited from the national ICH initiative at Guizhou Minzu University over the past nine years.

The School of Fine Arts, as the primary organizer, has successfully delivered 13 high-quality training sessions on traditional crafts such as dyeing, paper-cutting, embroidery, and ethnic costume making, says Chen Mei, who oversees the program's operations at Guizhou Minzu University.

"They are injecting vitality into the local economies and cultural preservation efforts," she notes.

In addition to its own faculty members specializing in relevant arts and crafts, the school has invited national-level ICH inheritors and arts and crafts masters as hands-on instructors.

"Their superb craftsmanship and rich practical insights offer invaluable guidance to trainees," Chen says.

Marketing specialists and cultural innovation designers are also brought in to help trainees gain a deeper understanding of market demands, modern design concepts, and strategies for integrating traditional crafts into contemporary life, she adds.

Before each training session, the university conducts in-depth research, including field visits, surveys, and interviews, to assess the current state of craft inheritance, skill enhancement needs, and industry trends.

"These insights provide a solid foundation for designing training plans," Chen says.

During implementation, classroom lectures blend theory with vivid case studies. Live demonstrations allow trainees to observe techniques firsthand, and field visits immerse participants at heritage sites and industrial bases to experience the connection between ICH, daily life, and contemporary industries.

"The curriculum encourages creative integration across materials, techniques, forms, and functions, cultivating critical thinking and aesthetic sensitivity among trainees," she emphasizes.