Lecture 1.3 Intangible Cultural Heritage CHAU Hing-wah 1 Lecture 1.3 Intangible Cultural Heritage Lecture Outline Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: International Perspective International co-operation in preserving cultural heritage commenced in the 1930s. After years of discussion, the United Nations adopted a number of recommendations and declarations on the protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in the 1990s with extensive support from countries all round the world. In 2003, UNESCO adopted the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which promulgated the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. States Parties of the Convention then started to hold meetings to discuss the way forward in the safeguarding of ICH. z 1972. “Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage”（《保護世界文化和自然遺產公約》）aims at preserving cultural heritage with outstanding universal value. z To counter balance the globalization. z 1989. “Recommendation for the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore”（《保 護傳統文化和民俗建議書》） z 1992. UNESCO advocated “Cultural Rights” in which ethnic minorities have the right to develop their own cultures. z 1998. UNESCO launched the programme of Proclamation of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.（人類口頭及非物質遺產傑作宣言）。 z Nov 2001. “Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity” of UNESCO（《世界文化多樣 性宣言》） z May 2001. First Proclamation of 19 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. z 2003, 2005. Second and third proclamation of masterpieces. z Masterpieces in China: Kun Qu Opera, the Guqin and its music, the Uyghur Muqam of Xinjiang and the Traditional Folk Long Song Urtiin Duu (together with Mongolia). z Oct 2003. Adoption of “Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”（《保護非物質文化遺產公約》） z April 2006. The Convention was enacted. The first General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention was held in Paris in June, and 18 State Parties, including China, were elected as members of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The first meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee was held in Algiers in Nov 2006 while the second was in China in May 2007. Two more 1 Lecture 1.3 Intangible Cultural Heritage extraordinary sessions of the Committee were held in Tokyo and the Republic of Bulgaria in Sept 2007 and Feb 2008 respectively. These sessions aimed at drafting Operational Directives. z June 2008. The second General Assembly was held in Paris. During the meeting, the Operational Directives of the Convention were adopted. States Parties were then requested to submit their applications for inscription on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to the UNESCO before 30 Sept 2008. Definition of Intangible Cultural Heritage The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage defines ICH as follows: Article Two: 1. The “Intangible Cultural Heritage” means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artefacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity. For the purposes of this Convention, consideration will be given solely to such Intangible Cultural Heritage as is compatible with existing international human rights instruments, as well as with the requirements of mutual respect among communities, groups and individuals, and is of sustainable development. 2. The “Intangible Cultural Heritage”, as defined in paragraph 1 above, is manifested inter alia in the following domains: (a) Oral traditions and expressions, including language as a vehicle of the Intangible Cultural Heritage; (b) Performing arts; (c) Social practices, rituals and festive events; (d) Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe; (e) Traditional craftsmanship. 2 Lecture 1.3 Intangible Cultural Heritage Safeguarding of ICH at the National Level The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage formally came into force in April 2006 when it was ratified by the 30th country. States Parties are required to compile an inventory of the ICH present in their own territories for protection. The Convention also includes articles concerning the safeguarding and promotion of ICH, which provides a very useful guide for the States Parties to comply with. Article 12 – Inventories 1. To ensure identification with a view to safeguarding, each State Party shall draw up, in a manner geared to its own situation, one or more inventories of the Intangible Cultural Heritage present in its territory. These inventories shall be regularly updated. 2. When each State Party periodically submits its report to the Committee, in accordance with Article 29, it shall provide relevant information on such inventories. Article 13 – Other measures for safeguarding Article 14 – Education, awareness-raising and capacity-building Article 15 – Participation of communities, groups and individuals Article 29 – Reports by the States Parties Safeguarding of ICH at the International Level The Convention established the “Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”, the “List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding” and the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund” to promote and to ensure better visibility of ICH and to offer technical and financial support to those countries in urgent need of safeguarding the disappearing ICH - Article 16 – Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Article 17 – List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding Article 25 – Nature and resources of the Fund Article 26 – Contributions of States Parties to the Fund 3 Lecture 1.3 Intangible Cultural Heritage Article 27 – Voluntary supplementary contributions to the Fund Article 28 – International fund-raising campaigns Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China China started her preservation work long before ratifying the Convention in 2004. The Ministry of Culture announced in September 2006 that the Chinese Academy of Arts（中國藝 術研究院）in Beijing was accorded the title “The Protection Centre of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China”. The State Council issued policy documents which requested that safeguarding of the ICH should be on an inter-ministerial basis and that the first territory-wide survey of ICH in China should be conducted, and a system for inscribing ICH on the national list should be established. z 1998. The set up of Center of Ethnic and Folk Literature and Art Development in Ministry of Culture, Peoples Republic of China. z Jan 2003. The Project of Preserving China’s Ethnic and Folk Culture was launched through collaboration between Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Finance, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Chinese Cultural and Art Association. The project will be completed in 2020. z May 2002. The Chinese Academy of Arts convened a seminar on the Safeguarding of ICH in China and formally launched the Project of Identifying, Safeguarding and Protecting the ICH in China. z 8 Aug 2004. The Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress approved the submission of ratification document to UNESCO such that China became the sixth country to ratify the “Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”. z 26 March 2005. The State Council issued a policy document: “Directives on Strengthening the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Our Country”（《關於加 強我國非物質文化遺產保護工作的意見》）which promulgated that: - Policy: Protection is the aim, salvaging comes first, reasonable use of the ICH resource, ensure transmission and succession. - Principles: Government Guidance, Society Participation, Explicit Responsibilities, Join forces Formation; Long-term Plan, Step-by-step Practice, Integration and Co-ordination, Promote Efficiency - Set up a liaison meeting system among 9 ministries for protecting ICH. - Establishment of a system of listing ICH at respectively national, provincial and county 4 Lecture 1.3 Intangible Cultural Heritage levels. z 22 Dec 2005. The State Council issued another policy document: “Notice on Strengthening the Protection of Cultural Heritages”（《關於加強文化遺產保護的通知》） z May 2006. State Council announced the first national list of 518 items of ICH. z Sept 2006. The Ministry of Culture announced that the Chinese Academy of Arts was accorded the title “The Protection Centre of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China” so as to undertake the preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage and conduct the territory-wide survey in China. z June 2008. State Council announced the second national list of 564 items of ICH. Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong Following China’s ratification of the Convention, Hong Kong SAR Government designated the Home Affairs Bureau to be responsible for the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong. The Government is actively planning to conduct the first territory-wide survey of ICH in Hong Kong. An Intangible Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee was set up