2025–2026 New Year Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Market | Central Pier 8 – Event Recap
Bringing Culture into Everyday Life – ICH Within Reach
2025–2026 New Year Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Market | Central Pier 8 – Event Recap
Hosted by Central Pier 8, the 2025–2026 New Year ICH Market was successfully held at the turn of the year, centered on the theme "Bringing Culture into Everyday Life." The market brought together intangible cultural heritage crafts, traditional techniques, and cultural creations from various regions. Through exhibitions, market stalls, and interactive experiences, the public was invited to discover and understand ICH up close — and to rediscover its value and warmth in contemporary life.
More Than a Market – A Cultural Experience
Unlike conventional fairs or sales events, this ICH Market emphasized immersive participation. Several themed zones were set up on-site, including:
ICH Craft Exhibition Zone: Showcasing traditional techniques from different regions — such as paper-cutting, embroidery, and ceramics — each piece carrying the cultural memory of its place of origin.
Artisan Market Zone: Featuring ICH practitioners and cultural creators who presented and sold works that blend traditional heritage with contemporary aesthetics — bringing ICH into everyday living.
A New Year Gathering – Where Culture and Community Meet
Held during the New Year season, the event carried special meaning. Amid the atmosphere of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, the ICH Market became more than a cultural showcase — it became a emotional anchor connecting generations and communities. Many families came with both elderly and young members. Grandparents shared childhood memories of traditional crafts, while younger participants rediscovered the value of heritage through hands-on experience.
Artisans from different regions also gave live demonstrations, allowing visitors not only to see finished works but to witness the process of creation itself — a crystallization of time, dedication, and传承.
The Contemporary Meaning of ICH: From Being Seen to Being Used
The market aimed to convey a core message: ICH should not exist only in museums or textbooks — it should be used, participated in, and carried forward. When a child completes their first paper-cutting, or when a visitor takes home a handcrafted ceramic cup and uses it in daily life, culture is no longer a distant concept — it becomes a real, lived practice.
Looking Ahead
The 2025–2026 New Year ICH Market has come to a successful close, but the dialogue and connections it sparked will continue to grow. Moving forward, Central Pier 8 will continue to embrace the philosophy of "Bringing Culture into Everyday Life," planning more public-facing ICH and cultural events — ensuring that tradition finds new vitality in the present day.
