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Intangible cultural heritage

Traditions, knowledge, craftsmanship techniques  
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Photo: © UNESCO/James Muriuki

Intangible cultural heritage

What do the dialect of Montafon, avalanche risk management and scythe-forging have in common? They all constitute intangible cultural heritage according to UNESCO. Whether oral traditions, performing arts, social practices and festivals, knowledge concerning nature or craftsmanship - intangible cultural heritage is living heritage. This heritage is borne by human knowledge and skills and passed on from one generation to the next. Intangible cultural heritage plays a role in social cohesion and significantly contributes to the sustainable development of societies. Among the objectives of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003) is the effort of listing and highlighting intangible cultural heritage in the respective states by means of National Inventories. The Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria collects and documents these diverse practices since the ratification of this international convention in 2009. By highlighting previously hidden traditions and practices, it becomes possible to develop a new understanding of regional particularities, functioning communities as well as the sustainable use of local resources.

International scale

© Christian Leibundgut

The Representative List of Human Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Representative List primarily serves to visualise living heritage, whereby the elements entered are representative of all examples of intangible cultural heritage.

© Textiles Zentrum Haslach, 2014

Register of Good Safeguarding Practices

The Register of Good Safeguarding Practices for maintaining intangible cultural heritage contains a regularly updated selection of international, national and regional measures, programmes and projects, which optimally implement the principles and objectives of the Convention, i.e. maintaining, raising-awareness of and promoting intangible cultural heritage.

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culturecraftsdealing with naturecapacity buildinginternational listsevents

Key figures

  • 2003 adopted by the UNESCO General Conference
  • 2009 ratified by Austria
  • 183 States Parties
  • 172 elements on the national inventory
  • 2 Periodic Reports for Austria (2015 & 2021)
  • The role of the Austrian Commission for UNESCO (ÖUK): Drawing-up National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, raising awareness about the safeguarding, transmission and promotion of intangible cultural heritage in Austria