37510-EN.ppt

Key concepts in the
Convention
Unit 3 PowerPoint presentation
UNESCO
Intangible Cultural Heritage Section

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Word cloud of the
Convention
© All Rights Reserved: UNESCO

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In this presentation …
More about the Convention:
• A flexible instrument
• ‘Anchoring the Convention’
Terms to be discussed:
• Intangible heritage; elements
• Communities, groups, individuals
• Safeguarding

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The Convention – a flexible
instrument
• Few obligations
• Few definitions
• Open definitions
• Non-exhaustive classifications (domains of ICH,
safeguarding measures)
• No official glossary

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‘Anchoring the Convention’
at the country level
The term ‘ICH’ translated:
Di sản văn hóa phi vật thể (Vietnamese for ‘heritage – cultural, not [phi]
tangible’)
Mukei (Japanese for ‘not having form’)
(Russian)
(Tajik)
(Uzbek)
(Bulgarian for ‘non-material cultural heritage’)
dědictví (Czech), dedičstvo (Slovak), baština (Croatian)

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INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

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The Convention’s definition of
intangible cultural heritage (1)
Article 2.1:
the ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ means the practices, representations,
expressions, knowledge, skills
– as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated
therewith –
that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of
their cultural heritage.

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Article 2.1 continues:
This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is
constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their
environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them
with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural
diversity and human creativity.

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Article 2.1 further:
For the purposes of this Convention, consideration will be given solely to such
intangible cultural heritage as is compatible with existing international human
rights instruments, as well as with the requirements of mutual respect among
communities, groups and individuals, and of sustainable development.

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Intangible heritage domains
Article 2.2
(a) oral traditions and expressions, including
language as a vehicle of the intangible cultural
heritage;
(b) performing arts;
(c) social practices, rituals and festive events;
(d) knowledge and practices concerning
nature and the universe;
(e) traditional craftsmanship.
Cultural space of Boysun District, Uzbekistan
© Uzteleradio Company of Uzbekistan

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Domains on a national level:
food in Tajik national inventory
Article 2.2: The ‘intangible cultural heritage‘ (...) is manifested (...) inter alia
in the following domains’ (...)

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Cultural space of Boysun District
(Uzbekistan)
• Numerous traditional rituals are still
alive in the Boysun District: on the eve
of the spring festival of Navruz, for
instance, a sowing ritual is held with
offerings of food. Family rites also
persist: 40 days after a birth, the evil
spirits are chased away with fire and
ashes; the circumcision of boys is
accompanied by goat fights and various
games, such as wrestling and horse
races. Ancient practices are still often
used to conduct wedding ceremonies,
funeral rites and shamanistic rituals to
cure the sick. Among other popular
traditions are ritual chants linked to
annual festivals, epic legends and
dances. ...

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Aitysh/Aitys, art of improvisation
(Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan)
• Aitysh/Aitys is a contest centred on
improvised oral poetry spoken or sung
to the accompaniment of traditional
musical instruments – the Kazakh
dombra or Kyrgyz komuz. Two
performers (akyns) compete with one
other to improvise verses on topical
themes in a battle of wits that alternates
between humorous ripostes and
penetrating philosophical reflections.
• The element is practised on a variety
of occasions, ranging from local
festivities to nationwide events, where
practitioners often use the contest to
raise important social issues.
© Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic

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COMMUNITIES,
GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS

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Defining the community
concerned
Under the Convention, ‘communities, groups
and individuals concerned’ means those who
participate in the practice or transmission of
the ICH element, and consider it to be part of
their cultural heritage.
Kuresi in Kazakhstan
© Ministry of Cultue and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan

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Relationship between an
element and the community
concerned
Communities, groups and
individuals concerned
ICH
Creation, practice and
transmission;
stewardship
Sense of identity and
continuity, enjoyment,
self-respect,
sustainability, income
generation

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Relationship between an
element and the community
concerned (scope)
Communities, groups and
individuals concerned
ICH
Cultural space of Boysun District, Uzbekistan
Aitysh/Aitys, art of improvisation, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
© Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic Spring procession of ljelje/kraljice (queens) from Gorjani, Croatia
© Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia

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SAFEGUARDING

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Safeguarding concepts
• Safeguarding means ensuring the viability
of ICH (Article 2.3)
• Threats to viability are current problems
hampering the enactment and transmission
of the element
• Risks are anticipated problems
Kyrgyz epic trilogy: Manas, Semetey, Seytek
© Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic

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safeguarding
Article 2.3:
‘Safeguarding’ means measures aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible
cultural heritage,
including the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection,
promotion, enhancement, transmission, particularly through formal and non-
formal education,
as well as the revitalization of the various aspects of such heritage.

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Key safeguarding measures
Inventorying
Presenting information on
ICH elements in a
systematic way
Revitalization
Strengthening of
endangered ICH
practices
Awareness-raising
Encouraging people to
understand and
appreciate ICH
Transmission
as a part of definition
of ICH and as a
specific safeguarding
measure

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More safeguarding measures
• Documentation, research
• Identification, definition
• Preservation, protection
• Promotion, enhancement
• Transmission, e.g. through education

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Role of communities in
safeguarding
Transmission
Enactment of ICH
Identification
Inventorying
Documentation
Research
Revitalization
Ensuring access to places and
materials
Transmission through education
Awareness-raising
Note: community
participation is
needed in all these
activities

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In conclusion
Intangible cultural heritage is living heritage
Always changing
Defined, recognized, practised and transmitted by the people
(‘communities, groups and individuals’) who are the stewards
of that heritage
Safeguarding involves assisting communities to continue
practising, managing and transmitting their ICH
‘Communities, groups and individuals’ not defined under the
Convention
States Parties need to involve communities, groups and
individuals in safeguarding their ICH

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