NGO Activities for Safeguarding and Promoting ICH 2014 Intangible Cultural Heritage Symposium Held in Seoul
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ISSN 2092-7959 VOL.19 NGO Activities for Safeguarding and Promoting ICH 2014 Intangible Cultural Heritage Symposium Held in Seoul A New Horizon for Cultural Heritage Sun-hwa Rha Administrator Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea We are entering a new phase of human civilization, one in which the world is integrating into a single global culture. In such a context, a nation’s cultural heritage should be seen as a cultural resource that serves to reinforce national Discussion at the NGO Symposium © ICHCAP identity. This is because spiritual culture, he 2014 Intangible Heritage more about the different activities taking consisting of ideology and philosophy, Symposium was held on 11 March in place among NGOs internationally. Equally as is passed down over centuries through Seoul, Korea. This symposium was co- important, the symposium afforded a chance cultural heritage. Cultural transmission T includes not just inherited phenomena but organized by ICHCAP and the Korea Cultural to promote collaboration between Korean also the values and ideas contained within. Heritage Foundation under the theme of NGO NGOs and NGOs in other regions. A central Thus, it is our great responsibility to ensure Activities for Safeguarding and Promoting theme related to the spirit of collaboration that our cultural heritage gets passed Intangible Cultural Heritage. The meeting and the spirit of the Convention included the down to future generations, just as it has began with opening speeches delivered by Dr ideas on how NGOs can link communities with been passed down to us by our ancestors. Samuel Lee (Directore-General, ICHCAP) and government organizations in safeguarding Efforts are being made all over the Mr Jongjin Kim (President, CHF). activities. This work towards collaboration world to safeguard cultural heritage, In the morning session of the symposium, is expected to contribute to building an but many intangible cultural heritage elements in the Asia-Pacific region are Mr Diego Gradis (Chairman, Traditions pour international ICH NGO network. facing a real threat of extinction due to Demain) and three other international NGO In addition, on 12 March 2014, the ICH widespread industrialization. We have to experts in the field of ICH gave presentations NGO Forum coordinators and Korean NGOs accurately assess the situation and pool on the roles of NGOs in ICH safeguarding. participated in a planning meeting for the our insights to safeguard these treasures, These presentations also included fresh 2014 International Conference of ICH NGOs. which can be seen as parts of humanity’s views on the current situation of NGOs as At the forum, participants discussed the shared heritage. well as their prospects for the future. The conference that will be held later in the year As Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration and Chairperson presentations for the afternoon sessions in Jeonju, where the National Intangible of ICHCAP’s Governing Board, I aim to picked up on the idea of the ICH safeguarding Heritage Center of Korea will be opened. contribute in whatever way I can to the activities of NGOs, but the presentations With organizing the 2014 International safeguarding, transmission, and sharing of focused more on Korean organizations and Conference of ICH NGOs as momentum, endangered intangible cultural heritage included relevant information on the Korean ICHCAP will continue to work with ICH in the Asia-Pacific region. I hope to be able communities working to safeguard ICH. NGOs to help strengthening their networks to share our valued traditions with future This symposium provided a platform for nationally, regionally, and internationally. generations and call on your support towards creating a flourishing cultural participants to share their experience and environment in the future. Thank you. offered the attendees an opportunity to learn Pilyoung Park (ICHCAP) VOL. 19 | 1 아태뉴스레터 19_영문.indd 1 2014-04-08 오후 2:09:26 ICH Issues Safeguarding Ethnic Minority Groups’ ICH to Promote Cultural Diversity Developing collaborative projects based on the current situation in Myanmar and Laos CHCAP visited Myanmar and Laos from 17 to share information about projects being to 24 February to examine the progress carried out by the respective organizations. I of ongoing collaborative projects and Mr Alam stressed the need for substantial discuss future plans. support to be sustained in Myanmar, and the In the meeting with the Fine Arts De- two organizations agreed to cooperate on partment under the Ministry of Culture in safeguarding ICH in the country. Myanmar on 18 February, ICHCAP and the On 21 February, ICHCAP visited the Department jointly examined the progress of Phone and Nayang villages in Vientiane, the collaborative project on the craftsmanship Laos, to meet local practitioners of traditional and performing arts of Myanmar traditional basket-making techniques. The delegation musical instruments. ICHCAP also proposed then moved on to Luang Prabang on the 22 Meeting with the Fine Arts Department, Myanmar © ICHCAP projects targeted at the ethnic minority February to examine the progress and discuss groups to support video documentation, the future direction of the joint project with that will promote the ICH of minority ethnic performances, and exhibitions, which will the Ministry of Information, Culture and groups in both countries. ICHCAP will also help safeguard and promote their ICH. Tourism. The film director, Mr Peter Livermore, collaborate with the UNESCO Myanmar Office On 19 February, ICHCAP visited the pointed out that support is concentrated to ensure that effective practices and activities UNESCO Myanmar Office in Yangon to meet in regions such as Luang Prabang and that are tailored to the situation in the region. with its office head, Mr Sadar Umar Alam, and there isn’t enough attention being paid to the diverse cultures of other minority ethnic Minyung Jung (ICHCAP) groups. Dr Samuel Lee, Director-General of ICHCAP, and the Laotian authorities agreed to pursue projects to promote the ICH of ethnic CONTENTS minority groups in Laos with proposing the ICH Issues ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 01 Laotian government to establish concrete Director’s Note ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 02 plans for future projects under this shared Expert Remarks ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 03 goal. Windows to ICH ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 05 Through this visit, ICHCAP obtained Field Report ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 10 a detailed understanding of the current Inventory-Making Efforts ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 12 progress of the collaborative projects Safeguarding Pioneers ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 14 underway with Myanmar and Laos while Working meeting with the Laos Ministry of Information, ICH News Briefs ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 15 Culture and Tourism © ICHCAP reaching agreements towards future projects Director’s Note had the chance to visit Myanmar and Laos Myanmar and 230 in Laos. But this is precisely of intangible cultural heritage in the for a week, from 17 to 24 February, to part of the problem—these are rough figures region’s numerous tribes and communities I observe on-site efforts and collaborative of elements listed by name only with no other contributing to sustainable development projects for safeguarding intangible cultural information. and cultural diversity, I am convinced that heritage in the region. Due to time constraints, I was able to visit Myanmar and Laos are truly treasure troves It seemed that a lot of cultural heritage only a few communities. Of the communities I of intangible cultural heritage that humanity remains hidden in Myanmar and Laos, which visited, people of Phone village near Vientiane should strive to preserve. have populations of 50 million in 130 tribes left a lasting and deep impression on me. and 5 million in 46 tribes, respectively. The people lead contented lives on income In conversations with officials from earned from making sturdy baskets, bowls, cultural ministries and intangible cultural and tables out of rattan and bamboo. This heritage experts working in the field, I was cultural knowledge has been passed down for told that it was a challenge to keep track over 300 years, generation after generation. of the intangible cultural heritage in the The community and their ability to safeguard region due to the diversity in language and their heritage strike me as being worthy of environment. I was told there are roughly 400 inscription as a best practice. kinds of intangible cultural heritage listed in Contemplating the hidden wealth Dr Lee visited Phone village, Laos © ICHCAP 2 | ICH COURIER 아태뉴스레터 19_영문.indd 2 2014-04-08 오후 2:09:30 Expert Remarks Strengthening NGO Networking in the Field of ICH Jorijn Neyrinck (Belgium – Coordinator for the UNESCO-accredited NGO Tapis Plein, Centre of Expertise for Intangible Cultural Heritage & Participation; Co-organizer of the ICH NGO Forum) Introduction In the context of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, a wide field of NGOs is active in between governments and communities to translate concepts, facilitate and support safeguarding programs, advocate bearers’ perspectives and interests, etc. In doing so, they often turn out to be key actors for successful heritage processes engaging communities. The types of NGOs affiliated with the Convention seem to be as diverse as their working contexts. Just like ICH itself, defined to be dynamic and contextual in nature,1 NGOs differ strongly in focus and working methods, depending on geographical, political, historical, sociological,