Huai Opera as Intangible Cultural Heritage: Community Strategies for Sustainable Development

บทคัดย่อ

This study examines Huai Opera, a traditional performing art of Jiangsu Province, as an intangible cultural heritage facing both historical resilience and contemporary challenges. The objective is to examine community-based strategies for the sustainable preservation and development of Huai Opera as an intangible cultural heritage. The research was conducted in Yancheng and Huai’an, two key cultural hubs where Huai Opera maintains strong roots. Three key informants, senior performers, a young actor, and a museum researcher, were selected to represent intergenerational and institutional perspectives. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and archival analysis and were analyzed thematically across three domains: historical development, community practices, and contemporary strategies. The results identify four historical stages: embryonic, formation, reform, and institutionalization, while highlighting the coexistence of state-owned troupes with limited resources and private troupes with uneven quality. Audience analysis reveals an aging demographic with limited youth engagement; however, schools, festivals, and community clubs are emerging as key bridges for revitalization. Policies such as the Yancheng Huai Opera Protection Regulations and innovations like digital archives, VR museums, and social media fan communities demonstrate practical tools for sustaining interest. The study recommends strengthening educational integration, enhancing financial and policy support, and promoting cultural tourism to ensure intergenerational transmission and community participation. These findings contribute to broader discussions on balancing authenticity and innovation in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.