Xiangtan University Students’ Project Selected as UNESCO Excellent Innovation Case

Edited byLi Wenwen

Translated by Li Wenqiang, Huang Can

Source: News Center&ArtCollege

On April 22, UNESCO releasedtheBamboo for Carbon Neutrality in Rural Areas: Collection of Selected Case Studies,with a total of 15 cases selected.TheprojectSojourn in Xiangxi: Your one-stop Xiangxi bamboo weaving experience center,created by Liu Mengyun, He Junlin, and Song Xin from theSchool ofArt of Xiangtan University under thesupervision ofZuo Yingying, received the “Recognition of Innovation” award.

From August to October 2022, UNESCO and the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) jointly launched thecall forcasestudies on “Bamboo for Carbon Neutrality in Rural Areas: Innovation and Practices in Carbon Reduction and Low-Carbon Development in and around World Heritage Sites”. The initiative attracted broad public participation. Submitted cases included narratives of proposals and implemented projects, visual designs, mobile applications, creative product designs, photography, video productions and drawings related to four themes:fostering of low-carbon and sustainable environment at World Heritage site; development of low-carbon cultural tourism products and concepts; education programmes for youth on sustainable management and low-carbon development of World Heritage site; communication of the culture and its values of the World Heritage site.

Under the guidance of the UNESCO Beijing Office and INBAR, a review panel composed of experts from various fields evaluated the cases based on their innovativeness, practicality, demonstration value, feasibility, and market potential. In the end, 15 cases were selected, including 4 “Recognition of Tested Practice”, 6 “Recognition of Innovation”, 1 “Recognition of Youth Engagement”, and 4 “Recognition of Action in World Heritage sites”. These selected cases demonstrate the broad potential of bamboo in the sustainable development of China’s World Heritage sites and bamboo-producing areas, providing nature-based innovative solutions and practical experience worthy of further exploration for advancing low-carbon development.

Making full use of its disciplinary strengths in art and design,the School ofArt of Xiangtan University has long served local economic and social development. It has injected modern elements and vitality into arange of itemsof intangible cultural heritage(ICH)items,includingbamboo weavinginBi’er Town, Baojing County, Xiangxi, Hunan Province, generating significant economic and social value.

The student team behindSojourn in Xiangxi: Your one-stop Xiangxi bamboo weaving experience centerreceived systematic professional training while engaging in practical innovation through the college’s studio and the ICH Branding Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base. During the project,ateam of graduate and undergraduate students from the college made multiple field trips to bamboo weaving heritage villages across Xiangxi, conducting surveys and interviews with various representative and community inheritors. Based on their findings, they proposed targeted and feasible solutions and took concrete action to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of intangible cultural heritage projects.

“Bamboo inXiangxi” is a mobile application integrating content such as Xiangxi bamboo-weaving artifacts and oral histories. It features online AR bamboo-weaving tutorials and interactive bamboo-weaving game modules, enabling users to gain a more comprehensive and intuitive understanding of the cultural lineage of bamboo weaving and to create virtual bamboo-woven products. In the process, the application’s backend uses big data to analyze the characteristics of users’ personalized creations and connects them with workshops and cooperatives run by inheritors. Virtual works can then be transformed into physical products and purchased through the app’s online marketplace, effectively enhancing the role of intangible cultural heritage in rural revitalization and the development of the cultural tourism industry.

“Xiangxi bamboo weaving is a school of Chinese bamboo weaving. This creation was based on the research outcomes of our studio supervisor’s projectOral History Recording, Sorting, and Research of Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritors of Xiangxi Bamboo Weaving.We hope to use the brand design methods we have learned tosupportthe innovative communication of intangible cultural heritage brands.” said team leader Liu Mengyun.

“A brandrepresentsaculture. Xiangxi bamboo weaving is a provincial-level ICH project that embodies the life journeys, exquisite skills, and current aspirations for industrial development of the bamboo weaving masters. Through modern design, we can help ICH projects enhance cultural visibility, build outstanding cultural and commercial brands, and boost local employment. At the same time, as a university creative team, it allows students to play the role of a vital force in rural revitalization, enhancing their sense of engagement and responsibility in the innovation process.” said instructor Zuo Yingying.