Cultural production and transmission in museums: A social practice perspective

Integrating craft heritage with tourism activities is one way to perpetuate craft culture. The museums alongside Hangzhou's Grand Canal innovatively address craft heritage perpetuation by fostering interactions between visitors and craft-makers. Combining social practice theory with interaction ritual theory, this study explores the viability of this initiative through interviews with artisans who work in museums and interact with visitors. Craft-makers' work routines consist of three practices: cultural production, transmission, and operation. These practices demonstrate both collaborative and competitive relationships. The nature of relationships depends on whether or not ritual ingredients are congruent. The craft-makers develop different levels of agency to cope with tensions. This study enhances understanding of heritage perpetuation and visitor engagement. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.