UNESCO established its lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage with the
aim of ensuring the better protection of important intangible cultural heritages
worldwide and the awareness of their significance. Through a compendium of
the different oral and intangible treasures of humankind worldwide, the
program aims to draw attention to the importance of safeguarding intangible
heritage, which UNESCO has identified as an essential component and as a
repository of cultural diversity and of creative expression.
The list was established in 2008 when the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding
of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took effect.
As of 2010 the programme compiles two lists. The longer Representative List of
the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity comprises cultural "practices
and expressions [that] help demonstrate the diversity of this heritage and raise
awareness about its importance." The shorter List of Intangible Cultural
Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is composed of those cultural elements
that concerned communities and countries consider require urgent measures to keep
them alive. In 2013 four elements were inscribed on
the List Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, which helps
States Parties mobilize international cooperation and assistance to ensure the
transmission of this heritage with the participation of the concerned
communities. The Urgent Safeguarding List now numbers 35 elements. The
Committee also inscribed 25 elements on the Representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which serves to raise
awareness of intangible heritage and provide recognition to communities’
traditions and know-how that reflect their cultural diversity. The List does
not attribute or recognize any standard of excellence or exclusivity. Four of
the 158 States Parties to the Convention—Ethiopia, the Republic of
Macedonia, Niger and Ukraine — had their first inscriptions on that List, which
as of 2010 totalled 281 elements. Representative List of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage of Humanity = Gallery =
Statistics = Ratification =
States that ratified the Convention, by region:
= Elements inscribed in 2008–2013 = Total of inscriptions to date: 337, of
which 18 are multinational Proclaimed masterpieces
The Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage were established in 2008, when
the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage took
effect. Prior to this, a project known as the Masterpieces of the Oral and
Intangible Heritage of Humanity has already been active in recognizing the
value of intangibles such as tradition, custom and cultural spaces and the local
actors who sustain these forms of cultural expressions through a
Proclamation. Identification of the Masterpieces also entails the commitment
of states to promote and safeguard these treasures, while UNESCO finances plans
for their conservation. Started in 2001 and held biennially until 2005, a total
of three Proclamations occurred, encompassing 90 forms of intangible
heritage around the world. The 90 previously proclaimed
Masterpieces have been incorporated into the Representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as its first entries, to be known as
elements. Subsequent elements will be added following the assessment of
nominations submitted by national governments acceding to the UNESCO
Convention, termed as member states, who are each allowed to submit a single
candidature file, in addition to multi-national candidatures. A panel of
experts in intangible heritage and an appointed body, known as the
Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural
Heritage, then examine each of the nominations before officially inscribing
the candidates as elements on the List. Notes
See also Intangible Cultural Properties of Japan
Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea
World Heritage Site UNESCO Collection of Representative
Works References
External links Official website – The Intangible
Heritage Lists; complete list of the proclaimed masterpieces.