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2025-03-13
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mengtian Lu, Wahiza Binti Abdul Wahid, Amer Shakir Zainol, Li Aimin

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How to Cite
tural identity and sustainable engagement: A social psychological analysis of eco-cultural souvenir design in northwest China
Mengtian Lu
College of Creative Arts, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia; Ningxia University, Yin Chuan,Ning Xia, 750021,China. Email: lmt.menty1021@gmail.com
Wahiza Binti Abdul Wahid
Visual Culture Studies, College of Creative Art, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 42300, Malaysia. Email: wahiz433@uitm.edu.my
Amer Shakir Zainol
College of Creative Art, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 42300,Malaysia Email: amers781@uitm.edu.my.
Li Aimin
College of Creative Arts, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, 40450, Malaysia; Department of Arts, Tangshan Normal University, Tangshan, Hebei, 063000, China. Email: 2021333593@student.uitm.edu.my
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i3.3439
Keywords: cultural identity; sustainable engagement; museum cultural and creative industries (mccis); eco-cultural souvenir design; social identity theory; pro-environmental behaviors
Abstract
The development of museum cultural and creative industries (MCCIs), defined as economic activities integrating cultural heritage with creative product design, has become integral to museum progress under the Chinese government's advocacy and public attention. This study integrates social identity theory[1] and value-belief-norm theory[2] to investigate how museum souvenirs in Northwest China mediate cultural identity and pro-environmental behaviors. Through comparative analysis, focusing on the Ningxia Museum, this research explores the cultural and innovative development of provincial museums in China's Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia provinces. Using grounded theory and expert interviews, supplemented by visitor surveys measuring cultural identity levels (α = 0.82), the study reveals that while facing challenges like high costs and insufficient competitiveness, the key to MCCIs’ growth lies in better reflecting museums' social service functions and enhancing visitors’ emotional connections to regional heritage. The study proposes the CCPEN development strategy (Cultural Connection, Policy Support, Product Innovation, Education, and Narrative Integration), which prioritizes embedding sustainability narratives into product design to align with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). These findings offer actionable insights for museums globally, particularly in underdeveloped regions, to leverage cultural assets for fostering sustainability and identity.
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