The Hormozgan Cultural Heritage Custodians Association (HCHCA) is a non-governmental organization established in 2018 in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. Since its founding, the association has worked alongside local communities to safeguard, document, identify, revitalize, and promote intangible cultural heritage.
Over the years, we have been actively involved in identifying and documenting elements of intangible cultural heritage, supporting the preparation of nominations for national inventories, and contributing to safeguarding and revitalization initiatives.
Our activities also include field research, community-based documentation, educational workshops, awareness-raising programs, and collaboration with cultural institutions, researchers, and local practitioners. Our main areas of work include maritime cultural heritage, oral traditions, endangered languages, performing arts, traditional knowledge, and other living cultural practices of the Persian Gulf region. Through these activities, we aim not only to preserve cultural heritage but also to strengthen the role of communities in shaping its future.
Year of accreditation: 2026
Main domain(s) of the ngo’s activities: Oral traditions and expressions, Performing arts, Social practices, rituals and festive events, Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, Traditional craftsmanship
Main safeguarding measures: a) identification, documentation, research (including inventory-making), b) preservation, protection, c) promotion, enhancement, d) transmission, (non-) formal education, e) revitalization
Main country where the NGO works: Iran
