01851-EN.pdf

What is Intangible Cultural Heritage?

Intangible Cultural Heritage

We share cultural expressions that have been passed from onegeneration to another, have evolved in response to theirenvironments and contribute to giving us a sense of identityand continuity...

What is Intangible

UNESCO and cultural heritageThere are things that we regard as important to preserve for futuregenerations. They may be significant due to their present or possibleeconomic value, but also because they create a certain emotion withinus, or because they make us feel as though we belong to something a country, a tradition, a way of life. They might be objects that can be heldand buildings that can be explored, or songs that can be sung and storiesthat can be told. Whatever shape they take, these things form part of aheritage, and this heritage requires active effort on our part in order tosafeguard it.

The term cultural heritage has changed content considerably in recentdecades, partially owing to the instruments developed by UNESCO.Cultural heritage does not end at monuments and collections of objects.It also includes traditions or living expressions inherited from ourancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions,performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge andpractices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skillsto produce traditional crafts.

UNESCO, which is the only specialized agency within the United Nationssystem with a specific mandate in culture, assists its Member States in theelaboration and implementation of measures for an effectivesafeguarding of their cultural heritage. Among those measures, theadoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the IntangibleCultural Heritage was a major step for developing new policies in the fieldof cultural heritage.

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LLL The Carnival ofBinche, Belgium

LL The Duduk and itsMusic, Armenia

L Oral and graphicexpressions of the Wajapi,Brazil

J Mosaic floor in Meknes,Morocco

4 . INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Intangible Cultural HeritageWhile fragile, intangible cultural heritage is animportant factor in maintaining cultural diversityin the face of growing globalization. An under -standing of the intangible cultural heritage ofdifferent communities helps with interculturaldialogue, and encourages mutual respect forother ways of life.

The importance of intangible cultural heritage isnot the cultural manifestation itself but ratherthe wealth of knowledge and skills that istransmitted through it from one generation tothe next. The social and economic value of thistransmission of knowledge is relevant forminority groups and for mainstream socialgroups within a State, and is as important fordeveloping States as for developed ones.

Intangible cultural heritage is:

Traditional, contemporary and living at thesame time: intangible cultural heritage doesnot only represent inherited traditions fromthe past but also contemporary rural andurban practices in which diverse culturalgroups take part;

Inclusive: we may share expressions ofintangible cultural heritage that are similar tothose practised by others. Whether they arefrom the neighbouring village, from a city onthe opposite side of the world, or have beenadapted by peoples who have migrated andsettled in a different region, they all areintangible cultural heritage: they have beenpassed from one generation to another, have

LL The Carnival ofBarranquilla, Colombia

L The Oral Heritage of Gelede,Benin, Nigeria and Togo

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Intangible cultural heritage dependson those whose knowledge oftraditions, skills and customs arepassed on to the rest of thecommunity, from generation togeneration, or to other communities...

GIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE . 5

knowledge of traditions, skills and customs arepassed on to the rest of the community, fromgeneration to generation, or to othercommunities;

Community-based: intangible culturalheritage can only be heritage when it isrecognized as such by the communities,groups or individuals that create, maintainand transmit it without their recognition,nobody else can decide for them that a givenexpression or practice is their heritage.

evolved in response to their environmentsand they contribute to giving us a sense ofidentity and continuity, providing a link fromour past, through the present, and into ourfuture. Intangible cultural heritage does notgive rise to questions of whether or notcertain practices are specific to a culture. Itcontributes to social cohesion, encouraging asense of identity and responsibility whichhelps individuals to feel part of one ordifferent communities and to feel part ofsociety at large.

Representative: intangible cultural heritage isnot merely valued as a cultural good, on acomparative basis, for its exclusivity or itsexceptional value. It thrives on its basis incommunities and depends on those whose

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K The Ahellil of Gouara,Algeria

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In Cambodia a Khmer shadow theatre featuringleather work puppets, the Sbek Thom, takes placethree or four times a year on specific occasionsand has evolved from being a ritualistic activity inthe fifteenth century to becoming an artistic formin the present day.

The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations in Latvia,Estonia and Lithuania maintain and develop theregions tradition of performing folk art. Large-scalefestivals lasting several days take place every fifthyear in Estonia and Latvia and every fourth year inLithuania providing a showcase for up to 40,000,mainly amateur, singers and dancers.

The Zafimaniry communities of Madagascarhave developed and continue to practise theirknowledge and skills revolving around wood,from forestry to building to the elaborateornamental sculpting of practically all woodensurfaces whether decorative features orfunctional objects such as tools.

In most regions of Mexico, communitiescommemorate the temporary return to Earth ofdeceased relatives and loved ones on el Da delos Muertos (Day of the Dead). These festivities,which fuse pre-Hispanic religious rites withCatholic feasts, take place at the end of Octoberto the beginning of November each year alsomarking the annual cycle of the cultivation ofmaize, the countrys biggest food crop.

Barkcloth making in Uganda involves some ofhumankinds oldest knowledge, a prehistorictechnique that predates the invention ofweaving. Barkcloth is mainly worn atcoronation and healing ceremonies, funeralsand cultural gatherings, but is also used forcurtains, mosquito screens, bedding andstorage. With the introduction of cotton cloth byArab caravan traders in the nineteenth century,production slowed and barkcloths cultural andspiritual functions diminished, until its revival inrecent decades.

Safeguarding a living heritageJust like culture in general, intangible heritage isconstantly changing and evolving, and beingenriched by each new generation. Manyexpressions and manifestations of intangiblecultural heritage are under threat, endangeredby globalization and cultural homogenisation,and also by a lack of support, appreciation andunderstanding. If intangible cultural heritage isnot nurtured, it risks becoming lost forever, orfrozen as a practice belonging to the past.Preserving this heritage and passing it on tofuture generations strengthens it, and keeps italive while allowing for it to change and adapt.

In order to safeguard intangible culturalheritage, we need different measures from theones used for conserving monuments, sites andnatural spaces. For intangible to be kept alive, itmust remain relevant to a culture and beregularly practised and learned withincommunities and between generations.

L The Al-Sirah Al-HilaliyyahEpic, Egypt

I The Samba de Roda ofRecncavo of Bahia, Brazil


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For intangible to be kept alive, it must remain relevant to aculture and be regularly practised and learned withincommunities and between generations.


Communities and groups who practise thesetraditions and customs everywhere in the world have their own systems for transmittingtheir knowledge and skills, usually dependant onword of mouth rather than written texts.Safeguarding activities must therefore alwaysinvolve the communities, groups and, whereappropriate, individuals that bear such heritage.

There is a risk that certain elements of intangiblecultural heritage could die out or disappearwithout help, but how can we safeguard andmanage a heritage that is constantly changingand part of living culture without freezing ortrivializing it? Safeguarding them is about thetransferring of knowledge, skills and meaning. In other words, safeguarding focuses on the processes involved in transmitting, orcommunicating intangible cultural heritage from generation to generation, rather than onthe production of its concrete manifestations,such as a dance performance, a song, a musicinstrument or a craft.

Safeguarding means making sure that intangiblecultural heritage remains an active part of life fortodays generations that they can hand on totomorrows. Safeguarding measures aim atensuring its viability, its continuous recreationand its transmission. Initiatives for safeguardingintangible cultural heritage might includeidentifying and documenting such heritage,research, preservation, promotion, enhancementor transmission of it particularly through formaland non-formal education as well asrevitalizing various aspects of it.

Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage is alsoan important source of economic development,though not necessarily through income-generating activities like tourism, which maydamage living heritage. Instead, the focus shouldbe on enhancing the functions of intangiblecultural heritage within society and promotingits mainstreaming in economic policy planning.

Intangible cultural heritage includesoral traditions, performing arts,social practices, rituals, festiveevents, knowledge and practicesconcerning nature and the universeor the knowledge and skills toproduce traditional crafts.

A Convention for international recognitionAs a driving force of cultural diversity, intangiblecultural heritage has received internationalrecognition and its safeguarding has becomeone of the priorities of international cooperation.

The Convention adopted by the GeneralConference of UNESCO in 2003 is the firstinternational treaty to provide a legal,administrative and financial framework tosafeguard this heritage. A Convention is anagreement under international law entered into byStates and that establishes rights and obligationsbetween each party and every other party.

The 2003 Convention aims at safeguardingintangible cultural heritage that is in step withinternational agreements on human rights andthat meets requirements of mutual respect amongcommunities and of sustainable development.

At a national level, the Convention calls for thesafeguarding of the intangible heritage present ona States territory. Among other things, it also askseach State to identify and define such heritagewith the participation of communities, groups andrelevant non-governmental organizations.

All States that have ratified the Convention meetin a General Assembly that elects the 24members of an Intergovernmental Committeein charge of promoting the Convention's aimsand monitoring its implementation. Amongother things, the Committee makes decisionsabout which intangible heritage should beinscribed on the lists of the Convention, aboutproviding international financial assistance ordisseminating good safeguarding practices.

When an element is found on the territory ofmore than one State Party, the State Partiesconcerned are encouraged to jointly submitmultinational nominations.

If selected by the IntergovernmentalCommittee, the intangible cultural heritageelement will be inscribed on the List of theIntangible Cultural heritage in Need of Urgentsafeguarding, or on the Representative List ofthe Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.The Urgent Safeguarding List is the mostimportant list since it aims at taking appropriatesafeguarding measures for those intangiblecultural heritage expressions or manifestationswhose viability that is whose continuousrecreation and transmission is threatened.Inscribing an element on the Representative Listis done in order to ensure its visibility andawareness of its significance and to encouragedialogue, thus reflecting cultural diversityworldwide and testifying to human creativity.

The Committee also publishes and updates aregister of programmes, projects and activities thatit has selected as best reflecting the objectives andprinciples of the Convention. These programmes,projects or activities may serve as safeguardingexamples and be disseminated as good practices.

Although only governments from States Partiesto the Convention can nominate intangiblecultural heritage elements for the Committee toconsider, the proposal must be made with thefull participation and consent of the communityor group concerned.

JJ The Space of GongCulture, Viet Nam

J The Oral Heritage ofGelede, Benin, Nigeria andTogo

I The Arts of the Meddah,Public Storytellers, Turkey

J Slovcko Verbnk, Recruit Dances, Czech Republic

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Where do we start?Just as monuments and works of art areidentified and collected, intangible culturalheritage can also be gathered and recorded. Infact, for a State, the first step in safeguarding it isto identify those expressions and manifestationsthat can be considered intangible culturalheritage and making a record, or inventory, ofthem. These inventories may then serve as basisfor developing safeguarding measures for themanifestations and expressions of the intangiblecultural heritage included, and described, in theinventory. The communities themselves musttake part in identifying and defining theirintangible cultural heritage: they are the oneswho decide which practices are part of theircultural heritage.

Inventories of the intangible cultural heritage should include all kinds ofexpressions, no matter how common or rare they are, how many orhow few people in the community take part in them, or how much ofan effect or influence they have in that community. It might also beadvisable to think about what intangible cultural heritage is most underthreat or under the greatest pressure. Indeed, how widespread themanifestations and expressions are, how many participate in them andhow much of an impact they have will be noted in inventories in orderto show how weak or strong each of them is. Since intangible culturalheritage is constantly subject to changes, inventories should beregularly updated.

The Convention supports the efforts of its States Parties (countries thathave ratified the Convention) in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.States Parties can submit requests for international assistance to theIntergovernmental Committee for the safeguarding of the heritageinscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List, for the preparation ofinventories and for the support for programmes, projects and activities.

L The Cultural Space of theBrotherhood of the HolySpirit of the Congos of VillaMella, Dominican Republic

I The Patum of Berga,Spain

I The Polyphonic Singingof the Aka Pygmies ofCentral Africa


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Communities themselves must take part in identifying anddefining intangible cultural heritage: they are the onesdeciding which practices are part of their cultural heritage.


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Intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation togeneration, is constantly recreated by communities and groups,and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thuspromoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

With the support of the Government of Norway

Documents

01851-EN.pdf