The website www.immaterieelerfgoed.be was created as a platform to safeguard and raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage in Flanders, Belgium. It provides information on over 90 organizations, 44 cultural heritage elements, and 300 safeguarding measures. Since its launch in 2012, the site has had over 20,000 visits and nearly 15,000 unique visitors. The platform facilitates the sharing of expertise and experiences between heritage communities and helps transmit intangible cultural heritage. It is maintained by heritage experts who aim to further expand its network and visibility of intangible cultural practices.

1. www.immaterieelerfgoed.be
A platform for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Flanders (Belgium)
Ellen Janssens (tapis plein vzw) & Bram Wiercx (FARO)

2. From an inventory on ICH to
a broad digital platform on safeguarding
ICH
•
2006: Belgium ratifies the UNESCO-Convention 2003
•
2008: Inventory for Intangible Cultural Heritage in Flanders
•
2010: Vision statement - A policy for ICH in Flanders’
Safeguarding through facilitating
 Facilitating framework: provide assistance, guidance and support to groups
and communities in their efforts to safeguard ICH
 A platform on ICH in Flanders: website and database

3. From an inventory on ICH to
a broad digital platform on safeguarding
ICH
•
Focus on safeguarding: sharing of
actions, best practices, experiences
•
Exchange of expertise: network of
heritage communities, scolars,
professional heritage organizations
•
Dynamic and evolving nature of ICH
•
Visibility & awareness-raising
Facilitating transmission of ICH

4. Technical story

14. A website for ...?

15. What
’

16. Who

17. How
’

18. Submitting information?

19. A platform in constant growth and progress
Figures
(14/09/2012-14/09/2013)
•
20224 total visits: 64% search traffic, 21% direct traffic and 14,9 referral traffic
•
14549 unique visitors: 72 % new and 28% returning
•
The average number of pages viewed during a visit: 2,51
•
The database: information on more than 92 organizations/persons, 44 ICHelements and over 300 described safeguarding measures. Most of them are
visible on the website, some of them are still in progress.

20. A platform in constant growth and progress
•
Challenges: homepage, usability (hands-on workshops), translations ...
•
Added value to ICH in Flanders:
 awareness raising on ICH
 visibility of ICH
 source of information
 Exchange of experience
 expanding network
…

21. Contact
•
Ellen Janssens - tapis plein vzw (centre of expertise on heritage
participation)
Moderator www.immaterieelerfgoed.be
info@immaterieelerfgoed.be
•
Bram Wiercx - FARO. Flemish interface centre for cultural heritage
Information manager
bram.wiercx@faronet.be / www.faronet.be
•
Hans van der Linden - Agency for art and heritage
Stafmember Heritage department
hans.vanderlinden@cjsm.vlaanderen.be / www.kunstenenerfgoed.be
…