Integrating Industry and Education to Empower District‑county Intangible Cultural Heritage: An Analysis of Dynamic‑inheritance Practices of Sichuan Opera in Xinjin, Chengdu

Abstract

 This study examines the documented inheritance practices of Sichuan Opera in Xinjin District, Chengdu, from the perspective of industry–education integration. Adopting a qualitative single-case study approach, the research conducts documentary analysis of policy documents, institutional records, media reports, and academic literature to explore how local actors organize cultural transmission, educational participation, and institutional collaboration. Drawing on the concept of dynamic inheritance, the study develops an analytical perspective that views ICH continuity as a process involving cultural communication, educational reproduction, and multi-stakeholder coordination. The findings identify three interconnected mechanisms in Xinjin’s documented Sichuan Opera inheritance practices. First, cultural transmission has expanded beyond conventional theatre spaces into communities, public cultural environments, historical venues, and cultural-tourism contexts, creating diversified channels for heritage communication. Second, educational practices have established connections among basic education, cultural learning, and professional talent cultivation, reflecting an attempt to construct long-term pathways for heritage reproduction. Third, industry–education integration functions as an institutional coordination mechanism linking governments, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and cultural-related industries. However, the analysis also reveals limitations, including insufficient evidence regarding audience development, uncertain pathways for talent retention, and the need for more sustainable operational mechanisms for heritage spaces. This study contributes to ICH research by extending the concept of dynamic inheritance from the preservation of cultural forms toward an ecosystem-based understanding that emphasizes institutional relationships and social reproduction. The Xinjin case demonstrates how industry–education integration may provide a potential framework for connecting local heritage resources with education and cultural development, while highlighting that inheritance mechanisms remain context-dependent and require further empirical evaluation.