Sustaining Ethno-Cultural Significance of Products through Urban Ecologies of Creative Practice

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By drawing on experiences from the traditions and cultural heritage of China and the UK, and through knowledgeexchange, this project examines the challenges and opportunities for sustaining designs and products of ethno-culturalsignificance through the creation of urban ecologies of creative practice in major Chinese cities. It will result in a jointauthored report that includes: Urban Ecologies of Creative Practice: A framework for understanding the current conditionand future potential, socially and economically, of culturally significant designs, products and practices in Chinese cities.This will be of interest to those in government and business sectors related primarily to The Creative Industries, with strongassociated links to the themes of Humanities Contributing to Development and Urban Transformations. The project willdevelop a common understanding that recognises:a. different qualities and stages of sustainment of culturally significant designs, products and practices in China and the UK;b. related rural-urban contexts, between the two countries andc. from the above, investigate commonalities, differences and opportunities for mutual learning and research developmentin relation to culturally significant designs, products and practices - leading to a framework defining key characteristics,strengths, weaknesses, benefits and obstacles, and future potential and opportunities for culturally significant designs andproducts within Urban Ecologies of Creative Practice in Chinese cities.While there are more and more re-examinations of the quality of Chinese cities after their rapid expansions in recent years,this urban development can lead to a transition from hard power (politics, law) to soft power (culture, economy). The richethnic cultures in China, especially those migrating from rural areas into cities, are set to reshape the soft power, which hasthe potential to promote the sustainable development of cities and ethnic cultures. This research aims at how to understandand carry forward ethnic cultures in the transformation of Chinese cities through studying creative designs, products andservices.This research will be conducted in China and the UK. The project includes 6 visits - 3 by China researchers to the UK inAutumn 2016, 2017, 2018 and 3 by UK researchers to China in Spring 2016, 2017 and 2018. Each will include sitevisits and workshops. The latter two (one in UK, one in China) include extended workshops to develop the framework andthe final workshop includes Creative Industries representatives from the private sector and government.These visits will each result in a Summary Report and contribution to a joint website Gallery and Blog Series. In addition,joint summary reports will be produced documenting the emergent understandings of the relevance and role of the internetand digital space in the future directions of culturally significant designs, products and practices. Emerging understandings,insights and conclusions will inform the creation and successive refinements of the Framework. A summary report andGallery contributions will document the outcomes and insights drawn from the International Studios with students.The final project report will provide an overview of the project, the finalised framework, as well as project outcomes,conclusions, and identification for future joint research themes and opportunities.ODA Compliance: Ethno-Cultural products and practices have a strong relationship to the notions of 'good work' andemployment thus to economic development and growth. This research will contribute to education and knowledgedevelopment, among researchers, the students, and private sector and government participants. Wider dissemination offindings through various publications will inform future research directions related to the creative industries, humanitiescontributing to development and urban transformations.