Liu Bing, curator at the Weihai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, Beijing, China, has emphasized the need for adequate investment in the preservation of traditional arts to promote cultural values.
Traditional arts are learned from person to person, passed down from generation to generation and influenced by culture, family, ethnicity and era.
Liu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a journalists’ tour under the auspices of the China Africa Press Center (CAPC) 2022 Program in Shandong.
Liu said: “Cultural heritage is created by people and meant for humanity; the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage plays a major role in China’s rejuvenation.
“It helps build a common spiritual home for the Chinese people, develop China’s excellent traditional culture, and carry on the ancient Chinese civilization.
“Currently, among all the intangible cultural heritage items in Weihai, there are two items on the national list, 28 on the provincial list, 114 on the municipal list, and 204 on the district list.
“They have witnessed the diligence of the Weihai people and the history of Weihai City; the current generation has the duty to pass on the intangible cultural heritage to future generations through careful protection, inheritance and practice.
“This is a historic mission that holds respect for the past and prospects for the future.”
The curator said that although the artwork could only be shown to the public, it was not exported.
Liu further explained that the artwork was produced by the artist’s studio, saying that there were no special requirements for mass production.
“Weihai intangible exhibition hall covers an area of 800 square meters, and the general exhibition is divided into three chapters; symbiosis of origin, gratitude and adoration for the sea and humanistic craftsmanship.
“These successively introduce the intangible cultural heritage of Weihai from three aspects; local production and life, folk customs and characteristic humanities.
“No less than 20 items on the national, provincial and municipal intangible cultural heritage list are on display, which is an important window for the city to publicize heritage protection knowledge to the public.
“To show the achievements of the city’s intangible cultural heritage and protection and to showcase the excellent intangible cultural heritage,” the curator added.
At least 90 journalists from 67 countries from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the Asia Pacific are participating in the program, which began in June.
The programme, which is being held by the China Public Diplomacy Association, is expected to end in November 2022. (NAN
