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Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Italy advanced through a capacity-building programme
Organised by UNESCO through its Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe in cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Culture, the first session of the capacity-building course on the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Italy took place on 15 September 2023. The course will equip participants with the skills, knowledge and competencies needed to effectively safeguard living heritage, contributing to the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.
Intangible Cultural Heritage is about people, resilience and knowledge passed on from generation to generation. It provides communities with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity. However, the viability and safeguarding of this heritage are exposed to numerous threats which need to be addressed in an inclusive and coordinated manner by all actors involved, spanning institutions, communities, experts, and relevant organisations.
In line with the principles set out in the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, UNESCO and the Italian Ministry of Culture joined forces to launch a capacity-building course on the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Italy. Convened by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and in close cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture, the course was officially presented during a launch event in Rome, on 5 June 2023.
The aim of the training, which is part of UNESCO’s global capacity-building programme for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, is to enhance the knowledge and competencies of participants regarding the safeguarding of living heritage in the country by leveraging good practices, sharing common experiences, and supporting networking. The course is specifically aimed at institutions, communities and organisations involved with the , as well as at practitioners, researchers and experts in the field of living heritage.
The course runs from September 2023 to January 2024 and consists of 15 online meetings, touching upon topics such as the safeguarding and promotion of living heritage and community-based participation, all while reinforcing existing cooperation networks. Intersecting themes such as ethics, formal and informal education, and sustainable development will also be addressed throughout the programme.
On 15 September 2023, the first training session was held online to introduce the objectives and expected outcomes of the programme, as well as the basic concepts of the 2003 Convention. Opening remarks were delivered by a message from the Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Culture, On. Giancarlo Mazzi, stressing the importance of promoting intercultural and intergenerational dialogue to collectively safeguard living heritage. Ana Luiza M. Thompson-Flores, former Director of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Geneva, also spoke via video message.
I trust that this course will serve to promote the conceptual and ethical principles related to this very special typology of heritage, as well as to enhance the skills necessary to safeguard it, each of us according to our own roles and responsibilities.
Ana Gonzalez Medina, Programme Specialist at the Living Heritage Entity at UNESCO, joined the introductory session to frame the initiative in the context of UNESCO’s Global capacity-building programme and this year’s celebrations for . A presentation on the specifics and commonalities of the 2003 Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention was delivered by Matteo Rosati, Officer in Charge of the Culture unit at the UNESCO Regional Bureau.
The 2-hour session adopted an inclusive and participatory approach, including a presentation of the programme by 2 UNESCO-trained facilitators, Benedetta Ubertazzi and Vanessa Achilles, as well as an open discussion with participants on their expectations and desired outcomes in terms of technical advice, capacity building and networking.
Following the introduction to the programme, participants were asked to share their perceptions of intangible cultural heritage and its importance. Key concepts and definitions were presented by the 2 facilitators to establish a foundational understanding for the rest of the course. The facilitators involved the participants in some interactive activities to further the discussion on the definition of intangible cultural heritage as "living heritage", and the significance and relevance of the elements inscribed on the UNESCO Lists.
The opening session of the course was attended by more than 80 participants, demonstrating the need and interest for such an unprecedented initiative. Despite being the first appointment of its series, participants have already shown a high level of enthusiasm and willingness to participate, which is expected to spur enriching dynamics and discussions throughout the remaining sessions. Their active engagement will be encouraged through various interactive and participatory activities concerning participants’ experiences and skills related to the Intangible Cultural Heritage elements that they wish to promote and safeguard.
