EVENT DESCRIPTION
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and co-organised by Lingnan University and Hong Kong Art School (a division of Hong Kong Arts Centre), the annual cultural flagship event of the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme — ICH+ Festival 2025/26 runs from 27 June until 12 July 2026 at the Jao Tsung-I Academy and is open to the public for free. Upholding the core mission of ‘Innovative Heritage,’ this year’s event brings together over 300 artworks spanning 7 local ICH techniques. Through a contemporary curatorial perspective, the exhibition connects tradition and modernity, leading the public to rediscover the close connection between local intangible cultural heritage and modern life.
Deep Cultivation Across Two Core Streams in Communities and Schools: Systematic Curricula Reframe the ICH Ecosystem
Since its inception, the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme has undertaken the important mission of nurturing future ICH professionals. The programme operates through two core streams: the Pass it On @ Tertiary Course, which meticulously recruits and selects only five students per technique each year for a one-year professional training programme, targeting craft enthusiasts and contemporary art practitioners with a focus on cultivating future educators and teaching them how to transform traditional crafts into accessible instructional language; and the Pass it On @ Secondary Course, where these graduated adult instructors enter schools to teach firsthand. Utilising systematic learning materials specifically designed for secondary and primary school students, the curriculum combines history, culture, and creative hands-on crafts, and has successfully developed comprehensive educational curricula for 13 ICH techniques to date. After eight years of hard work, this complete educational model has yielded fruitful results. Many students have successfully developed ICH techniques into professional skills, opening up new career directions, such as founding personal craft studios or being invited by the government to participate in local ICH promotion, injecting continuous modern vitality into the transmission of ICH craftsmanship.
From Large-scale Flower Board, Light and Shadow Experience, and Miniature Stage to Craft Workshops: Fully Experiencing the Power of ICH Transmission Across 7 Traditional Crafts
The ICH+ Festival 2025/26 officially commenced following the opening ceremony. Upon entering the venue, visitors were immediately captivated by an eight-metre traditional flower board installed at the entrance. Specially created by programme instructor Master Choi Wing-kei, the masterpiece integrated modern LED lighting effects into its traditional structure, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship in spatial arrangement and paper crafting with a grand presence, leading the audience to experience the contemporary charm of ‘inheritance and innovation’ in traditional crafts and kicking off the exhibition.
Inside the exhibition, a dynamic projection installation themed Illuminated Heritage: A Journey of Flower Buttons and Guangcai served as the main highlight. The installation transformed the classic motifs of the featured techniques of this year—flower button making and Guangcai making—into dynamic light and shadow, taking visitors on a sensory journey that bridges tradition and modernity, fully immersing the audience in the flowing light and shadow interwoven between tradition and modernity. In addition, another key highlight of the exhibition was a miniature stage installation, crafted by paper crafting master Hui Ka-hung, who represents another featured technique of this year. Commonly seen in traditional Da Chiu activities, the installation featured a theatrical staging that presented classic scenes from ‘Journey to the West’ through a mechanical device inside the box, drawing large crowds of visitors who marvelled at the subtlety of traditional craftsmanship.
The exhibition also showcased over 300 artworks witnessing the results of eight years of dedicated work. In the Advanced Paper Crafting Technique Exhibition Zone, contemporary creations of traditional auspicious creatures—the Dragon Head and the Phoenix—were featured. While preserving the spiritual essence of the auspicious creatures and the traditional bamboo split frames, these works boldly broke through conventional boundaries to bring novel visual effects to traditional forms, opening the eyes of the audience and showcasing how traditional craftsmanship integrates into modern life. Meanwhile, the Flower Button Making Technique Exhibition Zone presented the artistic transformation of this delicate craft. Students skilfully integrated the fluid lines and structural dimensions of hand-made flower buttons into classical ancient paintings, blending traditional craft with modern art to bring unique visual surprises and inspiring the audience to explore the endless possibilities of cultural heritage in modern life.
The event also invited programme instructors Master Hui Ka-hung and Ms Royce Chau to lead sharing sessions. Centred on historical roots and modern innovation, they shared the stories behind their crafts and their insights on contemporary transformation, deeply inspiring the audience. Furthermore, a series of traditional technique workshops enabled the public to gain hands-on experience in various traditional crafts, including Guangcai making, paper cutting, dough figurine crafting, blown sugar technique, galvanised iron products making, steamer making, and seal carving, with many participants expressing that they truly experienced the meticulous nature of each craft. Families and visitors also enjoyed the ICH-themed art fair filled with delicate handmade products, alongside interactive themed booth games that integrated traditional techniques, which successfully brought traditional culture closer to the public through joyful appreciation and play, leaving a lasting impression.
For more details about the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme, please visit: https://ichplus.org.hk/en.
