Events and meetings on intangible cultural heritage (co-)organized by UNESCO

Within the framework of national capacity-building strategy for the implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture in partnership and the UNESCO Office in Bujumbura organized a workshop in Bujumbura from 26 to 28 May 2011. The workshop brought together 40 participants (36 Burundian delegates and two delegations from neighboring countries, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo).

The workshop focused on familiarizing participants with the Intangible Heritage Convention, its basic concepts, measures and mechanisms, recognizing that effective implementation depends upon profound knowledge and understanding of all the people involved in the safeguarding of living heritage. The workshop facilitated by M. Domitien Nizigiyimana and M. Louis Bazubwabo, two members of the network of 65 experts who participated in a training-of-trainers workshop series on how to use the UNESCO curricula specifically designed to build capacity on implementing the Convention. Currently the curriculum includes four themes: (a) ratification, (b) implementing the Convention at the national level, (c) community-based inventorying, (d) elaborating nominations to the Intangible Heritage Convention’s List.

The global capacity-building strategy put in place with the support of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and UNESCO’s regular programme budget. Some US$7 million in extra-budgetary resources have been mobilized to implement the capacity-building strategy. This generous support was granted by the Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Flanders (Belgium), Hungary, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain and the United Arab Emirates. It will l continue to enjoy highest priority. It will continue to enjoy highest priority in UNESCO’s Programme.

The Bujumbura workshop is part and parcel of this important initiative.

• Liste of participants: French

The consultative meeting of experts and training “Strengthening national capacities for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage” takes place in Minsk (Belarus) from 18 to 21 May 2011. The event aims to strengthen national capacities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova and the Russian Federation for the Safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage present in their territory. It also aims to raise awareness of the importance of this heritage for sustainable development, taking into account the perspectives of gender and youth.

The training utilizes materials developed by UNESCO and the network of regional facilitators trained as part of the overall strategy of the organization for capacity building in the implementation of the Convention on Intangible Heritage (2003).

The event is organized by the Cluster Office of UNESCO in Moscow in partnership with the Institute of Arts, Ethnography and Folklore, with the participation of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus and the National Commission of the Republic of Belarus for UNESCO.

• Liste of participants: English
• Agenda: English

Within the framework of UNESCO’s global capacity-building strategy for the implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), a four day training session was held in collaboration with PNCA (Pakistan National Council of the Arts), Islamabad from 2-5 May 2011. A second Training Session was also held on 25th June 2011 at PNCA, which focused on the preparation of the Urgent Safeguarding Lists, Representative List and Best Practices within the framework of the Convention. The details for the related workshops are below.

WORKSHOP 1: 2-5 MAY 2011
A four day training session was held in collaboration with PNCA from 2-5 May 2011. There were thirteen participants including staff members of PNCA, Lok Virsa (The National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage), and two journalists. The training session focused on National Implementation and Community-based inventorying components, which was delivered through lectures and field visits. The presentations for this component of the Training were based on the material generated by UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Section, Paris, which was tailored to the Pakistani situation. Lectures/presentations were made by Sajida Vandal supported by a lecture given by Yawar Ansari on the GIS Cultural database system and a presentation by Abid of the Mardan University, who was earlier the field coordinator for the Cultural Mapping of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. A presentation was also made by Adnan, Jawad (UNESCO staff) and Abid on the Cultural Mapping template, equipment and sharing of experiences gained through their work in KP.

Within the framework of UNESCO’s global capacity-building strategy for the implementation of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003), and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2005), the UNESCO Cluster Office in Accra organizes a workshop on “The Power of Culture in Development”. This workshop brings together 41 representatives from Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, National Commission on Culture, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana (Legon), Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Education, Environmental Protection Agency of the Ministry of Science and Environment and other key institutions involved in the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage. The Workshop is presided by the Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture of Ghana. Such as Ghana and Liberia have not ratified the two conventions, a holistic and multisectoral approach was adopted by the Accra Office in order to create an inclusive understanding and appreciation of the questions tackled by these normative instruments.

The key objectives of the meeting and other follow-up activities aimed:

A. Familiarize all participants with the UNESCO Conventions for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) and the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Cultural Expressions

B. Promote the ratification of the conventions by the Parliament and the Government of Ghana

C. Raise awareness all participants about the importance of recognizing the cultural heritage – particularly living heritage - in national policy development and implementation of development programs.

The workshop is facilitated by the Programme Specialist of UNESCO for Culture in Ghana, a traditional chief, academics, practitioners and militants of the culture in Ghana.

The Accra workshop is part of the global strategy of UNESCO capacity building , implemented with the support of the intangible cultural heritage fund and the budg

The States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacities of developing countries to effectively implement the Convention. In response, UNESCO has focused its programmes for the 2010-2011 biennium on a global strategy of capacity building among Member States and will continue to do the same in future years. UNESCO is developing a global network of experts who will be well trained in our curricula and methods. This meeting is one in a series of workshops devoted to ‘training of trainers’ in different regions from January to March 2011 to create this network of expert trainers.

The workshop is funded by the UNESCO/Abu Dhabi Authority for Cultural Heritage Funds-in-Trust, and hosted by ADACH. Additional support is provided by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and UNESCO’s Regular Programme.

General Documents

• Abu Dhabi workshop outline (strategy, timetable, participants): English|French
• Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: basic texts: English

The States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacities of developing countries to effectively implement the Convention. In response, UNESCO has focused its programmes for the 2010-2011 biennium on a global strategy of capacity building among Member States and will continue to do the same in future years. UNESCO is developing a global network of experts who will be well trained in our curricula and methods. This meeting is one in a series of workshops devoted to ‘training of trainers’ in different regions from January to March 2011 to create this network of expert trainers.

The workshop is funded by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, with additional support from UNESCO’s Regular Programme.

General Documents

• Havana workshop outline (strategy, timetable, overview of materials, list of participants): English|Spanish
• Practical information - Havana workshop: English|Spanish
• Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: basic texts: English

The States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacities of developing countries to effectively implement the Convention. In response, UNESCO has focused its programmes for the 2010-2011 biennium on a global strategy of capacity building among Member States and will continue to do the same in future years. UNESCO is developing a global network of experts who will be well trained in our curricula and methods. This meeting is one in a series of workshops devoted to ‘training of trainers’ in different regions from January to April 2011 to create this network of expert trainers.

The workshop is funded by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, with additional support from UNESCO’s Regular Programme.

General Documents

• Practical information - Sofia meeting: English
• Sofia workshop outline (strategy, timetable, overview of materials): English
• Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: basic texts: English

The ICH training workshop was organized from 23-25 February 2011. As trainers served B. Kaldun and a Chinese danceexpertand Vice-Director of the Institute of Dance, Mr. Jiang Dongwho received training under the UNESCO China workshop in January 2011.
The workshop was attended by 40 researchers, academia and government officers involved with ICH. The workshop addressed three main areas, overall commitment under the ICH Convention, safeguarding measures of ICH with focus on inventorying and a brief introduction on the nomination process.

The States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacities of developing countries to effectively implement the Convention. In response, UNESCO has focused its programmes for the 2010-2011 biennium on a global strategy of capacity building among Member States and will continue to do the same in future years. UNESCO is developing a global network of experts who will be well trained in our curricula and methods. This meeting is one in a series of workshops devoted to ‘training of trainers’ in different regions from January to March 2011 to create this network of expert trainers.

The workshop is generously supported by the UNESCO/Government of Bulgaria Funds-in-Trust, with additional funding from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and UNESCO’s Regular Programme.

General Documents

• List of participants: French
• Practical information - Libreville workshop: French
• Libreville workshop outline (strategy, timetable): French

The States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacities of developing countries to effectively implement the Convention. In response, UNESCO has focused its programmes for the 2010-2011 biennium on a global strategy of capacity building among Member States and will continue to do the same in future years. UNESCO is developing a global network of experts who will be well trained in our curricula and methods. This meeting is one in a series of workshops devoted to ‘training of trainers’ in different regions from January to March 2011 to create this network of expert trainers.

The meeting is co-hosted by Oral Traditions Association of Zimbabwe (OTAZ). It is funded by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and UNESCO’s Regular Programme.

General Documents

• Practical information - Harare meeting: English
• Harare workshop outline (strategy, timetable, overview of materials, participant list): English
• Welcoming remarks by Prof. Luc Rukingama, Director and Representative, UNESCO Office in Harare: English
• Keynote address by H.E. Lazarus D.K. Dokora, Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture: English
• Closing remarks by Mr Josiah J. Mhlanga, Secretary General, Zimbabwe National Commission for UNESCO: English

The States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage have repeatedly emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacities of developing countries to effectively implement the Convention. In response, UNESCO has focused its programmes for the 2010-2011 biennium on a global strategy of capacity building among Member States and will continue to do the same in future years. UNESCO is developing a global network of experts who will be well trained in our curricula and methods. This meeting is one in a series of workshops devoted to ‘training of trainers’ in different regions from January to March 2011 to create this network of expert trainers.

The workshop is hosted by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, in cooperation with the International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region, and made possible through the generous support of the Government of China. Additional funding is provided by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund and UNESCO’s Regular Programme.

General Documents

• General information (from the Chinese hosts): English
• Beijing workshop outline (strategy, timetable, overview of materials, participant list): English