Museums use creativity to promote culture

Cultural and creative products inspired by cultural relics preserved at China’s museums have brought ancient culture closer to the people.

Though the cultural relics on display to the public remain preserved in their glass cases, cultural and creative products of various kinds developed by museums are allowing people to carry a little piece of the cultural exhibitions back home.

In Central China’s Hunan province, the Hunan Museum has developed a series of products to improve health, such as fragrance pouches, aromatherapy products, tea and pillows, based on the discoveries at the Mawangdui tombs of the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), according to a report in China Youth Daily.

In the northwestern province of Shaanxi, public transportation cards featuring cultural relics in the Shaanxi History Museum, especially figurines of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), are among the best-selling creative products developed by the museum.

Zhang Huiguo, deputy curator of the Shanxi Museum, was quoted as saying that greater efforts are being made by museums to meet demand for better cultural and creative products, which have evolved from replicas to products with deeper cultural connotations.

Wu Ming, the chief of creative product development at Beijing’s Capital Museum, says cultural and creative products being developed by museums include not only products but also exhibition and education programs.

“The idea of cultural creativity is constantly expanding, and now every museum is seeking ways to reach younger audiences,” says Wu.