2026 International ICH Protection Forum successfully held
On June 11, the 2026 (14th) International (Shanghai) Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Forum was successfully held in Shanghai as a major cultural event celebrating China’s Cultural and Natural Heritage Day.
The Forum was jointly organized by the Shanghai Art Collection Museum, Shanghai Art & Design Academy, Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, and Shanghai Arts Research Center. It received strong support from the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, the People’s Government of Changning District, the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), as well as numerous domestic and international institutions.
The forum was held under the theme Arts and Digital Intelligence in Dialogue: Technological Empowerment and Localized Pathways for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. It featured three thematic sessions: ICH Safeguarding Systems and Museum Practices from a Global Perspective, Digital Technologies and the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and “Local Experiences and Communication Pathways in ICH Safeguarding as well as a panel discussion.
Cultural institution leaders, scholars, and intangible cultural heritage practitioners from more than ten countries, including China, Croatia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Morocco, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Iraq, and Japan, were invited to share insights and engage in in-depth discussions on technological applications, local experiences, and innovative approaches to ICH safeguarding. Together, they explored sustainable pathways for the future development of global intangible cultural heritage preservation.
During the forum, the accompanying exhibition, Arts and Digital Intelligence in Dialogue: The 16th International Exhibition of Traditional Fine Arts was also presented. (For details, please refer to the exhibition report.)
Now in its 14th session, the International (Shanghai) Forum on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, together with its accompanying International Exhibition of Traditional Fine Arts, has become a flagship cultural program under Shanghai's Shanghai Culture branding initiative and the Shanghai Traditional Crafts Revitalization Plan. The forum has also been recognized by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism as a model case for implementing the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and has received the Silver Dove Award from the Shanghai Municipal Publicity Department.Over the years, the forum has garnered broad support from government agencies, professional organizations, artists, and ICH practitioners from more than 70 countries worldwide.
National Exhibition & Convention Center (Shanghai)
The keynote forum was held at the NECC (Shanghai).
Wu Penghong
Director of the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center, co-hosting institution of the Forum
Hosted the Keynote Forum
Section I
ICH Safeguarding Systems and Museum Practices from a Global Perspective
This session brought together museum leaders and experts from China, Croatia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and other countries. Drawing on national policies and institutional practices, speakers shared experiences in ICH safeguarding, museum innovation, public education, and community engagement. The discussions highlighted diverse international approaches to heritage preservation and explored the evolving role of museums in cultural transmission, public outreach, and international exchange.
Goranka Horjan
Treasurer of the International Council of Museums (ICOM); Director of Trakoscan Castle Museum, Croatia
Topic：
Museum Practices at Historic Site: The Experience of the Museum Castle Trakoscan
Gao Shu
Editor-in-Chief of China Intangible Cultural Heritage; Research Fellow of Chinese National Academy of Arts
Topic:
Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection from a National Perspective: National Frameworks and Localized Practices
Muhammad Rosyid Ridlo
Director of National Museum of Indonesia
Topic:
Empowering Community in Preserving Culture through Museum Public Program-Creative Community, Responsive Museum
Zhumabekova Gulayim
Director of the Abylkhan Kasteyev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Topic:
At the Intersection of Tradition and Technology:The Representation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Kazakh Visual Art
Shanghai Art & Design Academy
The thematic forum was held at the Shanghai Art & Design Academy
Zhu Jingbo
Deputy Director of the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center,co-hosting institution of the forum
Hosted the Thematic Forum
Hu Muqing
President of Shanghai Art Collection Museum, Hosting institution of the Forum
Introduced the Forum Background
Wang Jing
Chairperson of Shanghai Art & Design Academy, co-hosting institution of the forum
Welcome Address
Section II
Digital Technologies and the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage
This section brought together museum leaders, scholars, and cultural practitioners from China, Uzbekistan, Armenia, the Republic of Korea, and Indonesia to explore the impact of digital transformation on intangible cultural heritage (ICH) safeguarding. Discussions focused on emerging topics such as artificial intelligence, digital archiving, innovative heritage communication, and new approaches to cultural preservation. Drawing on diverse national and institutional experiences, speakers shared how digital technologies are being applied in the documentation, research, presentation, and dissemination of ICH, while also examining the balance between technological innovation, cultural authenticity, and the preservation of traditional values.
Bakhtiyor Khasanov
Chairperson of the Society of Historians of Uzbekistan; Director of State Museum in Memory of Victims of Repression under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Topic:
Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in the era of digital transformation: the experience of Uzbekistan and the State Museum
Suren Safaryan
President of Artists Union of Armenia
Topic:
Art and Digital Intelligence in Dialogue
Zhao Qianqian
Deputy Director of Shanghai Arts Research Center, co-hosting insitution of the Forum
Topic：
Shanghai’s Experience in the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Traditional Chinese Opera in the Digital Era
Cleo Kim
President of Korean AI Artists Association
Topic:
Eternal Tide: A Fluid Conservation and Future Dissemination Model for Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage Based on AI—A Paradigm Shift From Fixation to Tidal Flow
Tjokorda Gde Raka Sukawati
Chairman of Ratna Wartha Foundation, Managing Director of the Pita Maha Group in Bali, Indonesia
Topic:
Between Myth and Modernity: The Symbiotic Evolution of Balinese Painting from Epic Narratives to Everyday Life
Lian Zhen
Chief Engineer & Director of the Engineering Research Institute at Shanghai Building Decoration Engineering Group Co., Ltd.（Speech by Jiang Yini, Director of Architecture Protection Center at the Group ）
Topic:
Integrating Intangible Cultural Heritage Crafts into Architectural Heritage Conservation: Applications Enabled by Digital and Intelligent Technologie
Section III
Local Experiences and Communication Pathways in ICH Safeguarding
The third session brought together experts and scholars from South Korea, Morocco, Armenia, China, and Croatia to discuss local approaches to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage within diverse cultural ecosystems. Drawing on case studies in heritage conservation and museum management, the living transmission of traditional crafts, digital innovation, cultural tourism integration, and international arts exchange platforms, speakers shared practical experiences and successful models from different countries and regions. These examples highlighted the dynamic potential of local cultural resources and their innovative vitality in contemporary society.
Seo Hae-sug
Director of Institute of Jeollanam-do Studies, South Korea
Topic:
The Value of Jeollanam-do's Intangible Cultural Heritage and China-Korea Cultural Exchanges
Asmaa Rochdi
President of Moroccan Art and Voyage Association
Topic:
Innovation in Service of Heritage Technology, Art, and Tourism for Moroccan Cultural Heritage
Cao Kun
AIGC Principal of Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture & Technology Co., Ltd
Topic:
AIGC Empowering Cultural Heritage Presentation: New Paths for the Dissemination of Intangible Cultural Heritage through Immersive Experiences
Sargis Hovhannisyan
Co-Founder & Artistic Director of Gyumri International Art Week, Armenia
Topic:
International Gyumri Art Week: The Global Dimension of Contemporary Art in the Traditional Armenian Museum
Pang Dawei
National-level Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts
Topic:
Contemporary Transformation of Northern-China Nomadic Cultural Heritage: The Inheritance and Innovation of Ordos Bronzes in Modern Saddle Design
Valentina Mestric
Art Restorer of Trakošćan Castle Museum, Croatia
Topic:
Contemporary Transformation of Northern-China Nomadic Cultural Heritage: The Inheritance and Innovation of Ordos Bronzes in Modern Saddle Design
Panel Discussion
The forum concluded with a panel discussion featuring experts, scholars, and intangible cultural heritage practitioners from China, South Korea, and Morocco. Participants engaged in in-depth dialogue on the forum’s central themes and agreed that while digital technologies offer new tools and channels for safeguarding ICH, their application must remain grounded in the cultural essence of heritage and the needs of local communities.
The speakers also emphasized the importance of strengthening international cooperation, encouraging youth participation, and fostering cross-sector collaboration to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of intangible cultural heritage in the digital age.
Tang Tingqiang
Dean of the School of Handicraft Arts, Shanghai Art & Design Academy, co-hosting institution of the Forum
Moderated the Panel
Kim Kyu-suk
National-level Master of Crafts, Republic of Korea
Topic:
Patterns and Symbolism in Traditional Korean Rice Cake Molds (Tteoksal)
Zhou Tian
Associate Research Fellow at Shanghai Arts Research Center; Expert on the History of Shanghai-Style Fashion
Topic:
Shanghai-Style Qipao as Living Intangible Cultural Heritage:Shanghai’s Practice in Revitalizing Traditional Chinese Dress Culture
Keltoum Leghdaich
President of Morocco-China Bridge Association
Topic:
The Moroccan Experience in Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Study of the Legal and Institutional Framework
Tu Fang
Director of Yexie Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience Center, Songjiang District, Shanghai
Topic:
Empowering Intangible Cultural Heritage through Educational Approaches: The Grassroots Practice and Exploration of Shanghai Yexie Intangible Cultural Heritage in Serving Local Communities
Additional experts and scholars from countries including South Korea, Iraq, and Japan also contributed to the forum through video presentations and written papers, sharing their research findings and practical experiences in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Although unable to attend in person, their insights brought diverse perspectives to the discussions and further enriched the breadth and depth of international exchange on ICH preservation.
Aseel Al Ameri
Art Advisor to the Prime Minister of Iraq; Chairperson of Iraq International Biennale
Topic:
From Mesopotamia to the Digital Age: Challenges and Innovative Approaches in Safeguarding Iraq's Intangible Cultural Heritage
*Video Presentation
Toshio Ohi Chozaemon XI
Member of The Japan Art Academy; President of Kanazawa Crafts Association
Topic:
Challenges and Solutions for the Inheritance of Traditional Culture in the Digital Age: A Case Study of Ōhi Ware and the Transmission of Traditional Culture
*Article
Ven. Won-myoung
Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee of South Korea; Abbot of Bongeunsa Temple,
Seoul
Topic:
The Transmission and Revitalization of Buddhist Intangible Cultural Heritage Amidst Urbanization: A Case Study of Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul
*Video Presentation
Bariq Raad Allawi
Director of Iraq National Library and Archive
Topic:
Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage:Digital Transformation and Cultural Heritage Preservation in Iraq
*Article
Makimasa Imai
Vice Chairman of Kyoto Crafts Artists Association; Chairman of the General Foundation Kyoto Ceramic Association
Topic:
On the Social Role of the Kyoto Arts and Crafts Artists Association
*Video Presentation
Svetlana Kobzhanova
Deputy Director for Research at the Abylkhan Kasteyev National Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Topic:
Semiotics of the Saukele in Contemporary Visual Art of Kazakhstan: From Ethnographic Artifact to Metaphysical Image
*Article
The year 2026 marks the launch of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period and a pivotal stage in advancing the nation’s cultural development strategy and strengthening the systematic safeguarding of cultural heritage. Under this background, the convening of the 2026 (14th) International (Shanghai) Forum on the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage during China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day carries particular significance.
As a renowned historic and cultural city and an international metropolis, Shanghai has long attached great importance to the preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). The city continues to improve its safeguarding system while promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional culture. To date, Shanghai is home to 63 national-level, 273 municipal-level, and more than 900 district-level representative ICH items, forming a comprehensive safeguarding and transmission network. These cultural treasures continue to thrive through the dedication and innovation of generations of inheritors.
The accompanying exhibition, Art and Digital Intelligence in Dialogue– The 16th International Exhibition of Traditional Fine Arts, will remain open to the public at the Shanghai Art Collection Museum through July 12.
The event also received special sponsorship from Shanghai Ma Xue Yuan Catering Management Co., Ltd. and the Shanghai operator of Pinpinxiang White Tea.
Exhibition Info
Exhibition Dates
Jun 12- July 12， 2026
Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-17:00
（Admission closes after 16:30）
Exhibition Locaiton
Shanghai Art Collection Museum
（1731 West Yan'an Road, Inside Tianshan Park）