salvaguarda

The boletim of ICH civil society

A first for China: new law to preserve ICH

Chinastoplegislaturehaspassedthe countrysfirstlawforintangiblecultural heritage.Aftertenyearsofdrafting,the legislationisfinallyexpectedtoensure betterpreservationofthecountryscultural legacies.
Thelawisresponsibleforthetraditionalcultural expressionsandpracticesofChinasvarious ethnicgroupswhichhavebeenhandeddown throughgenerations.Itspecificallycovers traditionaloralliterature,performingarts, craftsmanship,medicineandfolkcustoms.

Underthelegalframework,thecountrywill Asearlyas1998,authoritiesorganised assistintheprotectionofeffortsforethnic nationwideinvestigationsintofolkartandethnic minoritiesandremoteareas.Thenewlawalso customs,layingthefoundationforthelaw. supportsrepresentativeheirsincarryingforward SincetheprimarytargetofChinasheritage withintangibleculturalheritageelements.Under protectioneffortsusedtobetangibleitems thelaw,foreignorganisationswillhaveto includingallartefactsandhistoricrelics,the conductsurveysincooperationwithChinese enactmentofthisnewlawmeansthatforthefirst researchinstitutions. timeChinesetraditionalculturalpracticesnow [Source:GlobalTimes] havelegalprotection.

The Tabriz Historical Bazaar Complex, Iran, inscribed on UNESCOs World Heritage List in 2010, was a leading hub of commercial and cultural exchange on the legendary Silk Road.

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News from our network

OArteSolnasceudapreocupaosensveldepessoas reunidasemtornododesejoedanecessidadedeoferecer respostasadesafioscolocadospelarealidadesocialbrasileira. Inicialmenteidealizadocomoprojetodecombatepobreza emregiescastigadaspelaseca,oArtesanatoSolidrio/ ArteSolfoiconcebidoem1998comoumprogramasocial,ea partirde2002,tornouseumaOscip(Organizaoda SociedadeCivildeInteressePblico). Suasaesbeneficiamparticularmentebrasileirossituados nascomunidadesmaispobresdopas.umainiciativa norteadapelaconvicodequeasprticasculturais populares,comooartesanatotradicional,soumpoderoso acervoparatransformaessociais.Movidoporessaideia foraeassociadoaumateiadeaessolidrias,oArteSolvalorizaaidentidadeculturaldascomunidadesonde atuaepossibilitaoflorescimentodesoluescapazesdemudarocotidianodecentenasdebrasileiros talentosososartesos,levandotrabalhoerendasfamliasmas,sobretudo,orgulho,reconhecimentoe

Few fellowships for culture, Unesco 2010 annual report shows

The2010UNESCOAnnualReporthas revealedaworryingimbalancethathas implicationsforthestudyofICH.Asthepie chartshows,theproportionoffellowshipsand travelgrantsawarded.Theculturesectorhas only3%andisunderrepresented.Ifnomore than9studiesweresupportedduringtheyear lessthanaquarterofthenumberforsocial andhumansciencesresearchintoICHwill doubtlesssufferforlackofsupport.

Art, new humanism, memory

The new issue of Museum International (N. 247) is available. Issues taken up here are the role of art and memory in the process of reconciliation, and the need for a new humanism in response to instability in various parts of the world. The writer Imre Toth draws subtle distinctions between different parts of the world based on relationships between art and power. Liubava Moreva emphasises the need to continue the dialogue between art and philosophy, understood as a clue to the diversity of culture in contemporary society. Jean-Pierre Daogo Guingane describes his experiences in Burkina Faso and, through them, reflects on the direct repercussions on economic and social development of organising performances in African villages.

A total of 280 fellowships and travel grants were awarded under both regular and extrabudgetary programmes.

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More than 53,000 people attended WOMAD Abu Dhabi 2011 this month. The festival was held in Abu Dhabi, on the popular Corniche, and in Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain

WOMAD rocks Abu Dhabi

aboutwhentheyprovidedauniquefusionof localandinternationalflavourtoamemorable eveningofsongs,danceandartistic presentations. ThethreedayWOMADfestivalorganisedfor TheNorthAfricancollaborationoftheFrench thethirdconsecutiveyearbytheAbuDhabi AuthorityforCultureandHeritage(ADACH)in MoroccansingerHindiZahraandEgyptian collaborationwithWOMADFestivals,concluded mastermusiciansElTanburaprovedvery successfultoo.Otherstandoutperformersonthe withacaptivatinglineupofperformancesby festivalsconcludingnightwerethePakistanisufi artistsfromPakistan,Egypt,Europe,Iraq, singerSainZahoor,andthecheekygypsy AlgeriaandtheUAE. ThecollaborationbetweenEmiratisTarabAl rhythmoftheGoranBregovicWeddingand EmaratandtheIraqiHungarianoudplayer FuneralBand. OmarBashir,reallyshowedwhatWOMADwas Wehopetheyllbetherefor6COMinBali!

New Institutes and Centres under the auspices of UNESCO (category 2)

Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage, Bahrain Regional Heritage Management Training Centre, Brazil Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Sofia, Bulgaria Regional Centre for the Living Arts in Africa, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso International Training Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region, China Regional Research Centre for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia, Tehran, Iran International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region,

Japan Regional World Heritage Institute, Zacatecas, Mexico Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria Institute for African Culture and International Understanding, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region, South Korea Moscow Regional Museum Centre, Moscow, Russia African World Heritage Fund, South Africa

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How an ancient warning system saved Aneyoshi, Japan

In this March 31, 2011 photo, A centuries-old tablet that warns of danger of tsunamis stands in the hamlet of Aneyoshi, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan. Hundreds of such markers dot the coastline, some more than 600 years old. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) indisasterplanningatTohokuUniversityinSendai,a tsunamihitcity.Ittakesaboutthreegenerationsfor peopletoforget.Thosethatexperiencethedisaster themselvespassittotheirchildrenandtheir grandchildren,butthenthememoryfades,hesaid. ThetightlyknitcommunityofAneyoshi,wherepeople builthomesabovethemarker,wasanexception. Everybodyhereknowsaboutthemarkers.We studiedtheminschool,saidYutoKimura,12,who guidedarecentvisitortoonenearhishome.When thetsunamicame,mymomgotmefromschooland thenthewholevillageclimbedtohigherground. Aneyoshi,partofthecityofMiyako,hasbeenbattered repeatedlybytsunamis,includingahugeonein1896. IsamuAneishi,69,saidhisancestorsmovedtheir familyruninntohighergroundmorethan100years ago.

The Tohoku earthquake and tsunami 2011

Highdwellingsarethepeaceandharmonyofour Buthisthreegrandchildrenwereatanelementary descendants,thestoneslabreads.Rememberthe schoolthatsatjust500feet(150meters)fromthewater calamityofthegreattsunamis.Donotbuildany homesbelowthispoint.Itwasadvicethedozenorso householdsofAneyoshiheeded,andtheirhomes emergedunscathedfromadisasterthatflattenedlow lyingcommunitieselsewhereandkilledthousands alongJapansnortheasternshore. Hundredsofsuchmarkersdotthecoastline,some morethan600yearsold.Collectivelytheyforma crudewarningsystemforJapan,whoselongcoasts alongmajorfaultlineshavemadeitarepeatedtarget ofearthquakesandtsunamisoverthecenturies.The markersdontallindicatewhereitssafetobuild. Somesimplystandorstood,untiltheywere washedawaybythetsunamiasdailyremindersof therisk.Ifanearthquakecomes,bewareoftsunamis, readsone.Inthebustleofmodernlife,manyforgot. Peoplehadthiscrucialknowledge,buttheywere busywiththeirlivesandjobs,andmanyforgot,said YotaruHatamura,ascholarwhohasstudiedthe tablets.Onestonemarkerwarnedofthedangerinthe coastalcityofKesennuma:Alwaysbepreparedfor unexpectedtsunamis.Chooselifeoveryour possessionsandvaluables.TetsukoTakahashi,70, safeinherhillsidehouse,watchedfromherfront windowasothersignoredthatadvice.Shesawaship sweptahalfmile(nearlyakilometer)inland,crushing buildingsinitspath. Earliergenerationsalsoleftwarningsinplacenames, callingonetownOctopusGroundsforthesealife washedupbytsunamisandnamingtemplesafterthe powerfulwaves,saidFumihikoImamura,aprofessor

A 12-year-old girl and her 10-year-old sister carry baskets on their backs to help their grandfather take relief supplies from an elementary school in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, to seniors in the quake-hit city in this recent photo. Photo: The Mainichi Daily News inChikei,alargertowndownthewinding,cliffside road.Theschoolandsurroundingbuildingsarein ruins.Thebodiesofhisgrandchildrenhavenotbeen found.Farthersouth,thetsunamiwashedawaya sevenfoot(twometer)tallstonetabletthatstoodnext toaplaygroundinthemiddleofthecityofNatori.Its messagewascarvedingiantJapanesecharacters:If anearthquakecomes,bewareoftsunamis. [Source:AssociatedPress:Tsunamihittownsforgot warningsfromancestors,06April2011.]

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Sculpture symposium
African Stones Talk: 2011 International Stone Sculpture Symposium, Kisii, Kenya / Sponsored by UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity This symposium will bring together internationally renowned artists for a month of intensive exchange of cultural expressions with local soapstone carvers in Kisii County, Kenya. The programme will introduce new technologies, tools and expression of diverse cultural values. There will be a three-day Cultural Conference at Kisii University College campus to deliberate on the role of cultural industries in Kenya, and the place of art teaching/learning in Kenyan educational institutions. Participants will discuss policy and technical concerns that have led to gaps in the protection and promotion of cultural values through formal education, and will draw the links with socioeconomic development. The pre-symposium conference starts on August 1-3, followed by the sculpture programme from 5-31 August. Contact: The Programme Coordinator, African Stones Talk. Tel:+254 722948166 / astsymposium@gmail.com This posting comes from Easter Ciombaine of the African Cultural Regeneration Institute.

Capacity building
From early January 2011, UNESCO held a series of regional 'training of trainers' workshops in order to further the work of the 2003 Convention. As of mid-April 2011, this training series has been concluded, and the participants of the six workshops will be called upon to conduct training in their respective regions. The 'training of trainers' workshops and their dates were: Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), 10-14 April 2011 Havana (Cuba), 28 March-01 April 2011 Sofia (Bulgaria), 14-18 March 2011 Libreville (Gabon), 31 January-04 February 2011 Harare (Zimbabwe), 24-28 January 2011 Beijing (China), 10-14 January 2011 This file contains the full list of UNESCO personnel involved in the course design and training, regional experts and observers from all six workshops.

Online learning
The University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Amherst Center for Heritage and Society is scheduling an online course on 'Safeguarding intangible heritage'. This course will be held from May 16 to June 6 and can be attended remotely by anyone interested in intangible heritage. This course aims to equip participants with an understanding and a working appreciation of both theoretical and operational approaches to intangible cultural heritage. It also aims to equip participants with the necessary skills to safeguard intangible heritage in full cooperation with concerned communities. All through this course, the 2003 ICH Convention will serve as a reference point. This course targets heritage professionals, community leaders, non-profit organisation staff members and civil servants, as also humanities students. The deadline for registration is 01 May 2011.

Dialogue
An interregional philosophical dialogue has been planned between Africa and the Americas - called "Africa and its Diaspora". The conference will bring together philosophers from throughout Africa, its diasporas, and the Americas to address contemporary challenges. It is being organised in the framework of the celebration of the International Year for People of African Descent (2011) proclaimed by the UN General Assembly at its 64th session. The dialogue around the theme Africa and its Diaspora is founded on the very rich intercultural exchanges between the regions which have given birth to intellectual wealth. Such wealth is embodied by the very valuable and insightful philosophical and theoretical debates on the meaning of African Philosophy, African-American Philosophy and Caribbean/Latin Philosophy.

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This is a picture from an exhibition about the lives of Afghan women - journalists, producers, managers, writers, photographers, filmmakers, human rights activists and parliamentarians - and their bravery and commitment to their work. They face daunting social and cultural barriers while doing their job and fulfilling their calling. The exhibition of photographs, an effort by Khorshied Samad and Jane McElhone, was held in November at Unesco headquarters in Paris, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. Lataria Farshad/ Pajhwok Afghan News

salvaguarda
The boletim of ICH civil society
ThecompletionoftheintensivetrainingoftrainersprogrammecarriedoutbytheSecretariatofthe2003 Conventionisamajormilestoneintheworkofsafeguarding.Forthenexttwoyears,statespartiesandcivil societywillhavethetoolsandtheframeworktocooperateonidentifyingandsafeguardingICH.Between nowandtherunupto6COMinIndonesia(November2011),ICHcivilsocietywillhavelearningfromthe fieldtoexchangeandshare. Pleasesendinyourthoughtsandsuggestionstoanyworkinggroupmember(names andemailidsbelow)inFR,ES,EN,IT,PT,CN,RU,ARwhateveryoure comfortablewith.Pleasesendinnewsaboutyourgroup/yourinstitution,wherever itis.Gotathemeoranidea?Letusknow.Wewillcarryitinournextboletim. Ournetworkneedsresourcefulideasandproposalsforfundingouractivityandcomplementingtheworkof theICHSecretariat.PleasedownloadandreadthedocumentsonourmeetingwiththeICHSecretariat(see boletimNo.2)andwritetoanyworkinggroupmember. Thisisyournetworksboletim.Sopleasedosendusyourannouncements,alerts,linkstomaterialsonline (video,audio,text,research. The Working Group: Carmen Padilla <carmen@carmenpadilla.com>, Emma Chen Hoefler <emmachenhoefler@yahoo.de>, Rose Ateng Mbah <rose_mbah@yahoo.com>, Valentina Zingari <vzingari@gmail.com>, Antonio Arantes <antonioarantes@terra.com.br>, Diego Gradis <tradi@fgc.ch>, Eivind Falk (secretary) <eivind.falk@nhu.no>, Rahul Goswami <makanaka@pobox.com>

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