Cyprus – Ms. Thekla Papantoniou, Officer Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO

1. May 2013
Sofia
IMPLEMENTING THE UNESCO
CONVENTION FOR THE
SAFEGUARDING OF ICH
IN CYPRUS

2. • Ratification : 2006
• Submission of national Report: December
2012
• Stakeholders involved in the
implementation:
Ministry of Education and Culture: funding
programmes, education & capacity
building, monitoring
Cyprus Research Center: Inventorying
Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO:
Coordination, Reporting & external
relations
Academic Experts (University of Cyprus):
advise, proposals for measures,
nomination files, committee meetings
STATUS OF THE CONVENTION

3. Elements of the ICH of Cyprus
•Published in 2012
•Based on Oral Tradition Archive
(interviews, recordings etc)
•Cyprus Research Center
Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO
•Funded by the A.G.Leventis Foundation
NATIONAL INVENTORY

4. Contents
• Oral Traditions
• Performing Arts
• Social Customs &
Ceremonies
• Knowledge & practices
concerning nature &
the universe
• Handicrafts

5. Lefkara laces
• Inscribed on the List in 2009
• Annual Festival at Lefkara
• Lace making classes by expert
local embroiders
• Museum of Folk Art at Lefkara:
archival material about the
history, manufacture and trade
of Lefkara laces -> digitization
in progress
• Documentary film:
“Lefkara Lace: Before memories
fade” (2012, 56 min)

6. by students of the Lefkara Primary
School
HANDMADE DOLLS

7. ‘Tsiattista’
poetic duelling
• Inscribed in 2011
• Annual festival in June
• Information & awarenesss
raising event for the
inscription of the element
(May 2012, organised by the
Municipality of Larnaka &
the National Commission
for UNESCO)

8. (a) Cyprus Handicraft Center:
Lessons
(b) Lifelong Learning Programmes
e.g. Lefkaritika
(c) Training of teachers of
traditional dance
-lectures by academics (history,
ethnography, cultural anthropology,
ethnomusicology, education, etc)
-parallel educational activities related
to traditional culture
EDUCATION

9. Training in
Contemporary Applications of Traditional Crafts
• Grampus Organisation (UK)
• funded by the EU Leonardo da
Vinci scheme
• placements in Bulgaria, Cyprus,
Slovakia, Ireland and Romania
• Transmission of skills:
Basket making
Wood carving
Pottery
Mosaic making
Visits to handicraft centres and
museums
Traditional sweets and food
preparation
Folklore museum items restoration
Design of cultural trail signs

10. Contemporary Applications of Traditional Crafts
AIMS
•identify and propose
modifications to the craft
products
•Combine contemporary
application & traditional
character
•increase the market value of
products
-> make them more saleable
in modern market
-> give incentives to younger
people to learn
-> ensure conservation of the
crafts in the long term
-> Duration: 4 weeks
20 May – 16 June 2013

11. Lefkaritika into fashion
May 2012
50 costumes created over the last 3 years

12. Cultural itineraries
in Cyprus
ICH AND TOURISM

13. • Cyprus Tourism Organisation
• Thematic visits to communities with a
traditional character
e.g.
Wine Routes
• theme of vineyards and wine
• visits to traditional settlements
museums of folk art, wine presses etc.
• Organisation of annual wine festivals
Transportation free of charge
• Traditional products made of grape
juice
More info: www.visitcyprus.com
(A) CULTURAL ROUTES

14. • Weekend packages for locals
- accommodation (incl.traditional
agrotourist settlements)
- guided tour in the area (incl.places
associated with ICH)
- restauration (choise of traditional
restaurants)
-> contact with practitioners
-> awareness raising
-> bolstering local economies
-> improvement of infrastructures
-> investment in ICH
Link: www.cyprusshortescapes.com
(B) SHORT ESCAPES

15. Agrotourism settlements
Lefkara
More in: www.agrotourism.com.cy
Wine Villages of Limassol

16. Gastronomic Tourism
Cross-border Cooperation
Programme “Greece – Cyprus
2007 – 2013” – EU + national
funding
•Centres of Local Gastronomy
Establishment of “Centre of
wine & gastronomy” (at Vouni
- Wine villages of Limassol,
March 2013)
•Improvement of the Wine
Routes in the Troodos and
Paphos district
•Mapping of culinary traditions
per region
•Exhibitions and information
weeks for professionals in the
tourist industry and local
enterprises

17. ‘Handicraftour’
Cross-border Cooperation
Programme “Greece – Cyprus
2007 – 2013” – EU + national
funding
•Joint project:
Lefkara and Chios (Greece)
-> promotion of cultural
heritage and tourism in their
communities
•encourage the craftsmen to
improve the quality of their
products
•Exhibitions & training
workshops for the
transmission of craftsmaking
•Enhance visibility: online and
print material
•exchange of good practices

18. -> transformation & adaptation
ICH = LIVING
HERITAGE

19. Thekla Papantoniou
Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO
tpapantoniou@culture.moec.gov.cy
THANK YOU!