Translating Cultural Heritage into Collaborative Futures: A Workshop at Tainan Confucius Temple

Co-Designing the “Cultural Crossroads” at Minglun Hall, Tainan Confucius Temple—Taiwan’s First Confucian Academy.

On February 11, 2026, the Institute of Creative Industries Design (ICID), National Cheng Kung University, organized the “Cultural Crossroads” Design Workshop at Minglun Hall (明倫堂; Hall of Ethics) within the Tainan Confucius Temple, Taiwan’s first Confucian academy founded in 1665. Convened by the Tainan Confucius Temple Cultural Foundation, the workshop was structured around six nodes × six thematic issues, including Confucius Temple 360 and the night-time economy; Tainan Art Museum and the City Biennial; the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and literary outreach; the Taiwan Fu City God Temple and place-based governance; homestay operators and cultural brand value; and NCKU’s Institute of Gerontology in relation to third-act (later-life) design.

Group discussions addressed topics such as the planning of night-time cultural programming, multi-sensory spatial experiences, senior participation, and the integration of cultural narratives into hospitality branding. Participants included representatives from cultural institutions, local government, industry practitioners, and academic researchers, forming a cross-sector platform for dialogue.

Building on the established identities and agendas of these cultural institutions, ICID facilitated interdisciplinary dialogue through a design thinking framework and group-based co-creation. The workshop was led by ICID Chairperson Yang Chia-Han, with graduate students trained in workshop design serving as facilitators. Their academic backgrounds—ranging from aging studies and place-based development to Taiwanese literature—supported cross-sector exchange and reflected the institute’s integrative approach to cultural collaboration.