Messages to the 2003 Convention

Introduction to ‘Messages’ – Editorial

Français plus bas Introduction to Messages – Editorial In the autumn of 2023, an open call was launched by the ICH NGO Forum to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders to contribute messages and creative expressions in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage,…

Workshop Intangible Heritage – NGO – Belgium

Video Message from NGO Workshop Intangible Heritage - Flanders, Belgium

Warsaw Intangible Cultural Heritage Team – Poland

"Happy Birthday" toast on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Convention, taken during the Intangible Warsaw conference, 16-17th October 2023, organised in the Praga Museum of Warsaw. For 4 years, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Team has been operating in the capital city of Poland, Warsaw, established at the…

Valentina Zingari – UNESCO ICH Global Facilitator – SIMBDEA NGO – Italy

Letter for the XX Anniversary of the Convention ICH. Ritorno ai sogni Ho pensato di condividere un sogno con voi. Il sogno di essere presente quel giorno, quei giorni, durante quegli incontri che portarono all'elaborazione e all'approvazione della definizione di patrimonio culturale immateriale che troviamo nell'articolo 2 della Convenzione. Il…

Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland – NGO – Scotland UK

Twenty Year Syne A sense o the past, in ballad and tale, Buried ower deep, it whiles can seem frail But it aye wants tae thrive, tae dance an tae sing Tradition’s a chiel that juist winna ding Sae let’s hae a cheer for the auld clootie well A cheer…

Tim Curtis – UNESCO – Former Secretary Intangible Heritage Convention (2016-2023) – Australia

Video message by Tim Curtis Former Secretary Intangible Heritage Convention (2016-2023) UNESCO

Susan Keitumetse – UNESCO Chair University of Botswana – Botswana

Message on the Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the UNESCO Convention From Dr Susan O. Keitumetse - Botswana UNESCO Chair on African Heritage Studies and Sustainable Development, University of Botswana The UNESCO 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is a vital international instrument that has brought…

Sol Rubin De La Borbolla – NGO Member ICH Evaluation Body 2023 Cycle – UNESCO

Anniversary Message from Sol Rubin De La Borbolla ICH Evaluation Body NGO Member for The 2023 Cycle Daniel Rubin De La Borbolla Center – NGO – Mexico

Serfenta Association – NGO – Poland

Shadhona – A Center for Advancement of Southasian Culture – NGO – Bangladesh

Shadhona - A Center for Advancement of Southasian Culture - Bangladesh UNESCO Accredited NGO

Sekou Berte – President ICH NGO Forum – Mali

Messsage from Mr. Sekou Berte President - ICH NGO Forum Executive Board 2022-2023 Mali Cultural Heritage Agency - NGO - Mali

Saudi Heritage Preservation Society SHPS – NGO – Saudi Arabia

Shedding light on the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society’s role in safeguarding heritage through working with local communities throughout Saudi Arabia. Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, Saudi Arabia Accredited NGO in the field of ICH Download PDF: Saudi Heritage Preservation Society SHPS - NGO - Saudi Arabia.pdf

Rieks Smeets – UNESCO – Former Secretary Intangible Heritage Convention (2003-2008) – Netherlands

Video message by Rieks Smeets Former Secretary Intangible Heritage Convention (2003-2008) UNESCO

Rimvydas Laužikas – ICH Evaluation Body 2023 Cycle – Expert Representative for Lithuania

Anniversary Message from Rimvydas Laužikas - Lithuania ICH Evaluation Body member for the 2023 cycle Expert Representative of State Party Non-Member of the Committee

Riet de Leeuw – (former) Ministry for Education, Culture and Science, The Hague – Netherlands

The Intangible Cultural heritage (ICH) Convention has been the leading policy document for the Netherlands to develop policies on safeguarding ICH; set up the Dutch Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage; launch the bottom-up procedure for inventory making; and develop a research agenda on ICH. The Convention has been successful in…

Reme Sakr – NGO Member ICH Evaluation Body 2023 Cycle – UNESCO

Anniversary Message from Reme Sakr ICH Evaluation Body NGO Member for the 2023 Cycle Syria Trust For Development – NGO – Syria

Pier Luigi Petrillo – UNESCO Chair ICH and Comparative Law – Italy

Pier Luigi Petrillo UNESCO Chair Professor on Intangible Cultural Heritage and Comparative Law Past President ICH UNESCO Evaluation Body Download PDF: Pier Luigi Petrillo - Italy - ICH after 20 years.pdf

Nigel Encalada – Chair ICH Evaluation Body 2023 Cycle – Expert Representative for Belize

Anniversary Message from Nigel Encalada Chair - ICH Evaluation Body for the 2023 cycle Expert Representative of State Party Non-Member of the Committee – Belize

NAKS – NGO – Suriname

OUR MESSAGE ICH NGO NAKS SURINAME The year 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. We are so excited to be joining in on the Celebrating of 20 years of safeguarding living heritage. So, here is our message in which…

Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia – State Party – Armenia

A video message from Armenia for the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO 2003 Convention

Milivoj Pacenti – Istarski Pljočkarski Savez – Croatia

Which major subjects, goals or ambitions do you hope to be developed by the Convention in the next 20 years? ✓ I believe that in the future, the Convention should pay more attention to nonprofit organizations and NGOs as the bearers of cultural heritage, because they are the only ones…

Mila Santova – NGO Member ICH Evaluation Body 2023 Cycle – UNESCO

Anniversary Message from Mila Santova ICH Evaluation Body NGO Member for The 2023 Cycle European Association Of Folklore Festivals – NGO – Bulgaria

Martin Andrade Perez – UNESCO ICH Global Facilitator – Erigaie Foundation NGO – Colombia

From the Erigaie Foundation, a Colombian NGO accredited to provide services to the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, we began to work on the idea of intangible heritage by making the first inventory for a Colombian region in 2005. Our organization has a long history working…

Marilena Alivizatou – Academic – Greece & UK

Intangible heritage, from safeguarding anxiety to sustainable futures – A message for the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Convention This year marks the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage (2003 Convention); an opportune moment to reflect on its significance. It is also the…

Marcel Zounon – Towara EAC – NGO – Benin

Rôle par rapport à la convention 2003: sensibiliser les communautés à la sauvegarde de leur patrimoine, assurer la transmission vers la couche juvénile par trois(3) répétitions par semaine en vue de la recréation du patrimoine dont la promotion est faite au plan national, régional et international ( participer aux activités…

Marc Jacobs – Academic – Belgium

Tug of Peace. Marc Jacobs Since 2001 I have been involved and engaged in the making of global tools for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Today many of those instruments are presented (and updated every two years) by UNESCO as a set of so-called Basic Texts, either in printed form…

M. Öcal Oğuz, Evrim Ölçer Özünel & Ahmet Erman Aral – Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University – Türkiye

Celebrating 20 Years of Safeguarding Living Heritage Türkiye The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage strongly emphasizes individuals, communities, and their active involvement in heritage-safeguarding processes. Community participation, both at local and national levels, in the planning and execution of the Convention, remains a pivotal concern for…

Lucas Lixinski – Academic – Australia

The ICH Convention turns 20 – what a ride it has been! This treaty was my very first exposure to a cultural heritage instrument. It was early 2004, I was a fourth-year undergraduate student looking for a topic for my presentation at a student research conference. The topic of intangible…

Lia Gianchristofaro – Academic – Italy

The ICH Convention has the great merit of having demonstrated the organisational capacity of civil society, and I still believe in it. However, today the communities often focus too much on their economic interests, the governments are unfair, and it is rather difficult to compare and consider the contents of…

Laurier Turgeon – Folklore Studies Association of Canada – NGO – Canada

All On Board to Tackle Climate Change Message for the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO 2003 Convention The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage has been a success story. Although criticized at its outset, to the point that a number of countries refused to adopt it in…