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Photo: © UNESCO/James Muriuki

New publication: Immaterielles Kulturerbe im Dialog ("Intangible Cultural Heritage in Dialogue")

As a supplement to the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), the Department fo Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Austrian Commission for UNESCO presents the publication “Intangible Cultural Heritage in Dialogue”. It summarizes the central discussions, results and reflections from the events that took place in 2023 to mark this anniversary.

The publication is available in German only!

The anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the past years and the implementation of the Convention in Austria and to discuss recurring and current issues, successes and shortcomings. At national level, a series of events were organized by the Austrian Commission for UNESCO in cooperation with various institutions and partners in several federal states. These created the opportunity to address current debates, challenges and wishes for the ICHand to review the 14 years that have passed since Austria ratified the Convention. Three events, each with three different formats (conference, discussion and workshop), also provided an opportunity for organizations from the various federal states to come together and exchange ideas. Key questions about the role of intangible cultural heritage in a changing society were discussed:

  • What lessons can we learn from the last 20 years?
  • What challenges exist for the safeguarding and dissemination of ICH?
  • What new perspectives and strategies are needed for the future?

The publication documents the most important results and content from these events and brings together the voices of stakeholders from different areas. The following events were held with different themes:

Interdisciplinary conference: “Intangible cultural heritage as an opportunity for participation and regional development”
in cooperation with Slovenski narodopisni inštitut / Slowenisches Volkskundeinstitut „Urban Jarnik“
On the one hand, the event focused on the exchange of experiences between bearers on the development of their cultural heritage since the inscription in the National Inventory of ICH in Austria. On the other hand, the conference focused on the question of how living heritage enables participation and how cultural heritage practices have developed in many ways through participation and have thus also contributed to a broader acceptance of certain practices.

Discussion: “Intangible cultural heritage: a tourism factor?”
in cooperation with Montafoner Museen
Tourism can promote cultural heritage, but also carries the risk of appropriating living practices. The event was therefore dedicated to the question of how a sustainable balance between the safeguarding and touristic use of cultural practices can be achieved. Recognizing practices as valuable cultural assets and cooperating with bearers are important approaches to finding solutions.

Workshop: “20 years of intangible cultural heritage: experiences, perspectives and ethical principles”
in cooperation with I N D I G O elementar
In this context, the participants reflected on previous successes, challenges and current ethical issues. In a World Café format, they developed proposals for the Austrian Commission for UNESCO and other relevant institutions and bodies in order to better meet the current needs of cultural heritage institutions. Among the most important results of the workshop were the formulation of the desire for increased networking, improved visibility of practices on the list, the establishment of opportunities for financial support and the promotion of an appreciative attitude towards the bearers.

The results of the events make it clear that the Convention and the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Austria have achieved a great deal and opened up in-depth discussions, contrary to what was originally assumed when the Convention was ratified. However, they also show that there is still great potential to further raise awareness of the importance of the Convention and intangible cultural heritage practices.

<<< You can download the results publication here>>> (in German only!)

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intangible cultural heritage capacity building